Blue Cards and Certificates of Insurance or Other Financial Security
| CIRCULAR | Circular No. 014 (Amended) |
| SUBJECT | Blue Cards and Certificates of Insurance or Other Financial Security |
| FROM | Office of the Maritime Administrator, Vanuatu International Shipping Registry |
| TO | All shipowners, managers, operators, masters, insurers, P&I Clubs, Special Agents and Recognized Organizations |
| AMENDMENT DATE | 20 August 2026 |
| EFFECTIVE DATE | Upon publication |
| STATUS | Version 2.0 – Supersedes the prior version of Circular No. 014 |
Authority and legal status. This Circular is issued by the Maritime Administrator under the functions and powers conferred by the Maritime Act [CAP 131], as amended by the Maritime (Amendment) Act No. 21 of 2025, including section 10C where applicable, and any additional written authority lawfully applicable to the subject. It shall be read with applicable mandatory IMO instruments and controlled VISR policies. It does not convert a direct statutory power into a delegated power, transfer a function assigned by law to another State entity, or amend any valid appointment, concession or other governing instrument.
Related controlled policies: VISR-QMS-POL-REC-005 – Document and Records Control, Retention and IMSAS Evidence Management Policy; VISR-QMS-POL-REG-003 – Regulatory Monitoring, Legislative Change and Administrative Decisions Policy.
1. Purpose and scope
This Circular establishes uniform controls for Blue Cards and certificates of insurance or other financial security required under applicable liability conventions, including the Civil Liability, Bunkers and Wreck Removal regimes where applicable to the vessel.
2. Blue Card requirements
• A Blue Card must be issued by an insurer or guarantor acceptable to VISR and must identify the correct registered owner, vessel name, IMO number, port of registry, period and convention basis.
• The issuing insurer must possess adequate financial standing, claims capability and authority and must not be sanctioned, restricted or subject to material adverse regulatory action.
• Electronic Blue Cards must be sent from an authenticated issuer domain or verifiable portal. Scanned or forwarded copies may be accepted only after independent confirmation.
• Any cancellation, non-renewal, limitation, material change or doubt concerning cover must be reported immediately.
3. Application and issuance
• Submit the Blue Card, Registry details, ownership information and any supporting evidence through the official application channel.
• VISR may verify the insurer directly and request financial, regulatory, claims or sanctions information before issuing the State certificate.
• ROs and agents must not represent that a Blue Card or State certificate has been approved until VISR has issued or confirmed it.
• The certificate must be carried onboard in the approved electronic or paper form and remain immediately verifiable.
4. Fraud and loss of cover
A forged, altered or unverifiable Blue Card or certificate is invalid. Loss or cancellation of required security may result in suspension of the relevant certificate, operational restriction or Registry action until satisfactory replacement security is verified.
Compliance records and communications
All applications, approvals, notices, reports, evidence, decisions, acknowledgements and corrective-action records required by this Circular must be transmitted through an official VISR channel and retained in the controlled Registry file in accordance with the VISR records policy. Communications from unverified domains or persons without written authority must not be relied upon.
Official contact: registry@register-vu.com. Urgent safety, casualty, sanctions or fraud matters must also be copied to info@register-vu.com and reported without delay.
Enforcement, reasons and reconsideration
Non-compliance may result in enhanced inspection, corrective-action requirements, service restrictions, suspension, administrative penalties, withdrawal or revocation of documents, or deletion from the Registry, to the extent authorized by law and the applicable written authority. Except where immediate protective action is necessary for safety, security, sanctions compliance, documentary integrity or preservation of evidence, an affected person will be notified of the material grounds and given a reasonable opportunity to respond. A request for reconsideration must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Maritime Administrator with supporting evidence within ten business days of the written decision, unless a shorter period is stated because of an urgent risk.
Supersession and effective application
This amended Circular supersedes the prior version of Circular No. 014 from the effective date stated above. Existing obligations, liabilities, investigations, fees and corrective actions arising under the prior version remain enforceable to the extent lawfully incurred and are to be administered under the clearer procedures stated in this amended version. If this Circular conflicts with a later Act, regulation or controlled VISR policy, the higher or later instrument prevails and the Circular shall be updated through document control.
| Saade Makhlouf Maritime Administrator of the Republic of Vanuatu Vanuatu International Shipping Registry |
Issued in Port Vila and New York 20 August 2026 |
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