Fire Insurance

Conference Focuses on Fire

Who is in charge when a land-based fire brigade responds to a blaze at sea? What are the fire risks for ships in port and under construction? How can design and technology enhance marine fire protection? Prevention, detection and control on ships and offshore structures will be examined at a new forum in London in March by key personnel including ship owners and managers, ship and harbour masters, safety officers, marine and fire protection engineers, insurance executives and senior fire-fighters. The first International Fire on Ships Conference takes place at the Inmarsat Conference Centre on March 11-12, organised by Lloyd’s List Events and supported by UK body the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers’ Association (CACFOA). A fire science and investigation workshop hosted by Lloyd’s Register follows on March 13. The conference, chaired by UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency chief executive Maurice Storey, opens with a keynote address by Tom Strang, principal safety manager for Carnival Cruise Corporate Shipbuilding in London, assessing the challenge of bigger, more complicated ships; the availability of trained crew; the effectiveness of current regulations; and the lessons to be learned from other industry sectors. Session One picks up the training theme with Jack Boland, principal marine fire-fighting instructor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, among speakers explaining the special demands of fire at sea and the need for realistic shipboard drills

Safety Program for Commercial Fishing Vessels

The Chesapeake Marine Training Institute (CMTI) offers a maritime safety program specifically for commercial fishing vessels. “Since its inception, hundreds of boats and crew members have completed the program and the demand just keeps increasing,” said John O’Leary, maritime safety instructor for CMTI and the head of the safety and survival program. “In an industry that is already struggling

Shipowners Raise Onboard Security Amidst Mideast Fighting

With the worsening conflagration in Lebanon-Israel and the resulting consequences for maritime traffic, ship operators are bracing themselves for a hike in war risk insurance premiums for vessels that transit the Eastern Mediterranean. The 12-member Europe Mediterranean Trade Agreement that includes A.P. Moller-Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company and CMA CGM issued a statement: "In the event that extra costs do arise for war risk insurance

R&B Falcon Drilling Barge Destroyed In Explosion

R&B Falcon Corp. reported one of its inland drilling barges was destroyed in an explosion and fire at a natural gas well in southern Louisiana but nobody was injured. The company believes the loss of the barge, Rig 16, worth about $15 million, will be covered by its insurance and would therefore not have a material financial impact. The explosion occurred on July 1 at a well being drilled for The Meridian Resource Corp. two miles southeast of Amelia, La

Insurance Industry Instability Triggers Upward Trend

By Trey Bryant Commercial Marine & Insurance Brokers Having been rather "soft," or in layman's terms "very competitive" for the last several years, the marine liability insurance market has begun what appears to be an upward trend in the pricing cycle over the last few months. There are, to be certain, several factors influencing this trend. The collapse of marine insurance giant Reliance Insurance Company and its subsidiaries has caused quite an uproar among various underwriters still

Court Interprets Settlement Agreement

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit interpreted a settlement agreement between an insurance company and a shipowner in order to determine whether the insurance company was entitled to share in the shipowner’s subsequent settlement with a third party in a claim relating to loss of the ship. Home Insurance Company v. Pan American Grain Manufacturing Co., Inc., No. 03-2625 (1st Cir., February 4, 2005)(HK LAW)

Moore Stephens Says Insurance Industry Must Embrace Business Intelligence

Regulatory developments mean that failure to make proper use of business intelligence systems and actuarial consultancy to assess risk could lead not only to significant financial losses but also to disciplinary penalties for insurance underwriters and brokers, according to leading accountant and consultant Moore Stephens. John Harbor, head of the Moore Stephens Insurance Industry Group, says, "Professional risk analysis and modern data management techniques are

LIG Marine Managers 2011 CMIP Seminars

LIG Marine Managers’ sister company, LIG Educational & Consulting Services, in conjunction with the International Institute for Marine Insurance Studies, announced the 2011 CMIP Seminar Schedule for those individuals working towards earning the Certified Marine Insurance Professional (CMIP) Designation.    The designation is designed for agents, brokers, CSRs, Insurance Company Personnel, Underwriters or other insurance industry professionals who wish to expand their

ENSCO Jackup Rig Damaged in Gas Blowout, Fire

ENSCO International Incorporated and Forest Oil Corporation reported that one of ENSCO’s jackup rigs sustained extensive damage while operating in the Gulf of Mexico. ENSCO 51 was on location in Eugene Island Block 273 drilling a development well over a platform (the “A” platform) for its customer, Forest, the operator of the block. Eugene Island Block 273 is located approximately 75 miles offshore. Shortly after midnight on Thursday, March 1

Legal Notes

Repair Duty Repealed President George Bush has signed into law legislation repealing a four year old rule imposing a 50% duty on the cost of routine repairs and maintenance carried out by U.S. merchant mariners while their vessel is at sea. The elimination of the duty, which customs authorities have levied on US-flag carriers since April 2001, represents a victory for the domestic shipowning community. The community has lobbied hard against it since its introduction.