The Bunker Oil Pollution (Liability & Compensation) (Application Fee for Insurance Certificate) Regulation will be gazetted on November 27 proposing the non-tanker insurance certificate application fee be $535.

Owners of non-tankers with a gross tonnage of more than 1,000 tonnes entering or leaving Hong Kong waters are required to take out the insurance or other financial security to cover liability for pollution damage caused by oil spills, and they need to have an insurance certificate as proof of compliance.

Owners of Hong Kong-registered non-tankers or other non-tankers not registered in any State Party to the Bunker Oil Convention can apply for a certificate either from the Director of Marine or from an authorised person.

The regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council on December 2.