Direct Insurance

UK P&I’s Europe Club Receives Upgrade

The UK P&I Club (the UK Club), one of the oldest shipping protection and indemnity insurance mutuals, has announced that ratings agency Standard and Poor’s has extended its ‘A – ‘ rating to The United Kingdom Mutual Steamship Assurance Association (Europe) Ltd. (the Europe Club).   This news follows the November announcement that Standard and Poor’s upgraded the outlook for The United Kingdom Mutual Steamship Assurance Association (Bermuda) Ltd. (the Bermuda Club) to “Positive.”  This upgraded ‘Positive’ outlook also extends to the Europe Club.   As part of an internal reorganisation ahead of the introduction of Solvency II regulations, the Europe Club will become the group’s main provider of direct insurance from February 2013. In its review, Standard and Poor’s recognized the upcoming change and stated that it considers the Europe club to be “core to the group”. Hugo Wynn-Williams, Chief Executive of Thomas Miller P&I, the UK P&I Club’s managers, said: “Recognition for both UK Club entities with the same, positive credit rating is welcome.  The Club has worked to maintain balanced underwriting and a strong capital position in an environment of rising claims costs and volatile investments.”     

Personal jurisdiction, Venue, Insurance, Co-insurance, Salvage, and Subrogation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued a long decision regarding a lengthy and complicated litigation involving personal jurisdiction, venue, cargo insurance, co-insurance, salvage, and subrogation. Adams v. Unione Mediterranea di Sicurta, No. 03-30026 (5th Cir., April 14, 2004.) (HK Law) http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/03/03-30026-CV0.wpd.pdf

Crowley’s Menard Promoted to VP of Risk Management

William Pennella, vice chairman and executive vice president of Crowley Maritime Corporation, announced today that Dwight Menard has been promoted to vice president of risk management effective Dec. 1. Menard will be responsible for the company’s global insurance program; management of Beacon Insurance Company, Ltd; supporting the risk management and insurance requirements of Crowley’s four business lines; allocation of insurance cost and administration/management of the claim

Negligent Homicide with Yacht Leads to Loss of Coverage

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that, where the owner of a yacht was convicted of negligent homicide in connection with a fatal collision, the insurance company is not obligated to defend under a policy excluding losses “criminally caused or incurred” by the insured. In the instant case, plaintiff was operating his yacht when it collided with another boat, killing one of the passengers of the boat

Moore Stephens & Clyde & Co Set Up Insurance Intermediary Consultancy

Insurance accountant and consultant Moore Stephens has joined with international law firm Clyde & Co to provide specialist advice to intermediaries on all aspects of the authorization process and on continuing compliance with FSA requirements. The rigorous FSA regime comes into effect on January 15, 2005. Intermediaries have until July 14 this year to submit their completed registration packs to the FSA. The new rules are not voluntary

Singapore –Bunker Insurance

Singapore –Bunker Insurance The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) issued a circular providing the names of additional insurers and underwriters that it has accepted for purposes of issuing Bunker Convention Certificates. The insurers and underwriters include: ·         QBE Insurance (International) Limited ·         British Marine Luxembourg S.A.

Goshawk Chooses Moore Stephens

Moore Stephens has been commissioned by Lloyd's insurance and reinsurance underwriter Goshawk Insurance Holdings to design and maintain an online business management system. The project involves using state-of-the-art On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) and Data Warehousing techniques, in which Moore Stephens is a market leader, to improve the speed and quality of dissemination of management information. The first phase of the project, which involved identifying the

Interest Building for IUMI in September

Interest is building up in this year’s annual conference of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI), being held in Tokyo, September 17-20. New registrations by underwriters are still being received, but already the overall level of attendance seems likely to equal the Singapore conference in 2004, when the total was nearly 400. The London market alone will be represented by more than 40 underwriters from the Lloyd’s and company markets

Just2Clicks Launches Online Cargo Insurance Service

Internet firm Just2Clicks' Translinx unit has launched an on-line, fully interactive cargo insurance service, covering all forms of transport. Translinx said its new CargoCover service has no volume requirements or subscription fees, and includes instant quotations and certification, together with claims management. The firm claimed it has already achieved savings in rates of up to 22 percent for some customers.

Key Elements of Yacht Insurance, Q&A

Accidents happen. That comes as no surprise to those in the insurance industry, but what may be a surprise is the fact that the majority of maritime accidents occur in good weather with perfect visibility. In the following Q&A, Joseph McNulty, founding member of Carroll McNulty & Kull, joins Richard Furman and John Orzel, members of the same law firm, in a discussion on the key elements of marine insurance and what underwriters and claims professionals need to know about federal laws