Commercial Insurance

DOT Offers Insurance For Commercial Ship Owners

Maritime Administrator William G. Schubert today announced that the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is now accepting applications for war risk insurance to cover commercial ship operations in the Middle East. President Bush authorized the Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide the insurance at the request of Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. U.S.-flag vessels are eligible, as are ships owned by U.S. companies. Other vessels may be covered if their cargoes are considered to be in the security interests of the United States. The insurance covers cargoes as well as the ships and crews. It is underwritten by DOT in return for a premium from shipowners. “War Risk Insurance, which protects vessel operators and seafarers against losses resulting from war or war-like actions, will be provided only if commercial insurance is not available to them on reasonable terms,” said Administrator Schubert. Schubert added that applications must be made on an individual-vessel basis, and that each case will be considered separately. Additionally, applicants must provide full details from insurance brokers or underwriters of the amounts, terms, and rates of the commercial insurance and justification for the conclusion that the rates are not fair or reasonable. The insurance is available only for areas currently excluded in commercial war risk trading warranties: the Persian or Arabian Gulf and adjacent waters, Israel, Lebanon, Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, Yemen

Moore Stephens Strengthens Regulatory Advisory Team

Moore Stephens has further strengthened its regulatory advisory capability with the appointment of John Westlake as compliance manager. John Westlake has a broad perspective of the insurance industry acquired through a variety of roles, which has enabled him to support insurers and brokers in establishing effective compliance solutions. He has a strong commercial background, having acted as operations director with a personal lines insurer

State of the P&I Market: As Stocks Drop, Rates Will Rise

The 13 P&I Clubs within the International Group continue to dominate the world market for shipowners' liability insurance despite increasing competition in recent years from fixed premium facilities. The development of the fixed premium market and, in particular, the rapid growth of the P&I account of the marine and energy syndicate 329 at Lloyd's led by Jonathan Jones, served to increase pressure on premium rating in recent years

Standard Absorption Clause Welcomed by Industry

Insurance underwriters and average adjusters have welcomed the recent publication of BIMCO’s Standard General Average Absorption Clause. It is hoped that the initiative will help to promote a broad move away from declaring general average for small and uneconomic claims in all sectors of the industry. The Standard Absorption Clause is designed to be of benefit both to shipowners and insurers by avoiding the time and expense associated with pursuing small general average claims

Treasury Changes Terrorism Risk Insurance Program

The Treasury Department reminded all participants and observers of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program that there will be two important changes in the program’s administration in 2004. As mandated by Congress, beginning on January 1, 2004 and throughout the remainder of 2004, an insurer’s deductible will increase from 7 percent to 10 percent of the insurer’s direct earned premium over the previous calendar year. Second

CMK’S Furman Authors Security Pamphlet

Richard L. Furman, Esq., member of Carroll McNulty & Kull LLC (CMK) of New York, has authored “Cargo Transportation Security: Legislation and Regulation Through 2009,” a pamphlet published by Matthew Bender.   The terror attacks on September 11, 2001, made clear the need for comprehensive and integrated cargo and transportation security laws and regulations. Furman’s pamphlet discusses the principal legislation and regulations currently in effect, directed at cargo

Study: Title Issues Abound in Maritime Deals

A recent study conducted by First American Transportation Title Insurance Company, a subsidiary of First American Title Insurance Company, finds that more than 35 percent of recorded maritime vessel ownership records contain potential title issues. The October study evaluated more than 100 randomly selected commercial and recreational vessels listed on the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) registry.

Builders Risk Policy Serves as Inland Marine Insurance

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled that, under Michigan law, a builders risk insurance policy is a form of inland marine insurance and is controlled by the statute of limitations applicable thereto. For our purposes, the decision is probably most interesting in its historical analysis of the insurance industry and the division of casualty insurance into two large groups: fire insurance and marine insurance

Vessel Title Insurance Helps Protect Assets

By Sharon Donovan When maritime liens turn up, an unsuspecting vessel owner and the lender can be left in the wake of a deal gone sour. But thanks to a new form of title insurance tailored to the maritime industry, owners, lenders and lawyers who might have green-lighted the transaction with a legal opinion are insulated from the potential risk. First American Transportation Title Insurance Co., a member of The First American Corp

P&I Invests in Singapore Branch

P&I insurance provider, The Shipowners’ Club, continues to expand business in the Asia-Pacific region by investing in its Singapore branch. Growth in demand for its liability insurance cover for small and specialist vessels of all types is cited as a major imperative behind Shipowners’ moves to expand its team of underwriters and claims handlers at its Singapore branch.  Improved customer service to members and their brokers based on local