Indemnity Insurance
ITIC Warns Shipmanagers on Lay-Up Liability
The International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has urged its shipmanager members to seek legal advice before entering into any contracts with owners relating to the laying-up of vessels. ITIC said there has been a recent sharp increase in the number of lay-up contracts which it has been asked to review. Some of these agreements are based on amended shipmanagement contracts, where the manager acts as agent for and on behalf of the owner. Other agreements involve the manager offering lay-up services to the owner as a principal rather than as agent. ITIC points out, “Where the manager offers these services as an agent of the owner, it will arrange for the appropriate anchorage to be sourced and also arrange for the maintenance and repair of the vessel. If the manager contracts to actually undertake the maintenance and repair of the vessel itself, the contractual relationship between the owner and the manager changes completely. In those circumstances, the manager is taking on the role of a contractor and therefore may require ship repairers’ liability insurance in the event of damage being caused to the ship by anybody who is actively engaged in its maintenance and repair on behalf of the shipmanager. “Such maintenance and repair insurance is available, but it may be substantially more expensive than existing professional indemnity insurance
ITIC: Professional Indemnity Cover Needed
ITIC says professional indemnity cover essential in litigious shipping industry. International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has warned that, in today’s increasingly litigious business environment, there is a growing need for shipping professionals to have third-party indemnity insurance cover. This can be the case even in those sectors where insurance has not previously been deemed necessary, and in cases where, despite a favourable outcome to legal proceedings
ITIC Launches Terms for Surveyors and Consultants
Despite most companies in the transport and shipping industries having their own trading terms and conditions, very few surveyors and consultants follow suit. In a bid to encourage them to adopt their own conditions, the International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has launched its Standard Terms for Surveyors and Consultants. Available to all ITIC members free of charge, and downloadable from www.itic-insure.com, ITIC's standard terms offer surveyors and consultants a
U.S. Extends Marine War Risk Insurance
Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta has approved an extension of the authority to provide war risk insurance under Section 1202 of the 1936 Merchant Marine Act (Act). Unlike Section 1205 insurance, which is provided to the Department of Defense (DOD) on vessels chartered to them at no premium and with a full DOD indemnity, Section 1202 insurance is underwritten by DOT in return for a premium from shipowners. This insurance or reinsurance of vessels is available for vessels (including
Piracy Expected to Rise as Monsoons End
Operators of vessels off the East coast of Africa are being warned by a leading insurance expert to prepare for an increase in pirate attacks after the southwestern monsoon ends in coming weeks. “There is a temporary lull in pirate activity at the moment off the East coast of Africa…but we expect this to be just that - a temporary lull,” said William Tobin, of the not-for-profit mutual organization Shipowners’ Protection Ltd
UK P&I Club: 7.5% Rate Increase
At its annual board meeting on 29 October 2012, the board of the UK P&I Club (the Club), one of the oldest shipping protection and indemnity insurance mutuals, agreed that the general increase for 2013 renewal will be 7.5 percent. The premium rating increase is in addition to any increase in the cost of the International Group reinsurance premium for 2013 for the mutual members, which will be determined in the New Year.
World's Largest Mutual Marine Insurer Formed
The world's largest mutual marine insurer -- or Protection & Indemnity (P&I) Club -- is set to be created this summer after a management company acquisition. The manager of the Standard P&I Club reportedly will acquire the manager of the Britannia Club -- the third largest club -- with the intention of merging the two clubs.
K-Sea Barge Strikes Object, Fuel Spills
AP reported that K-Sea Transportation Partners LP on Friday said one of its tank barges struck an underwater object in the middle of the night, taking in water and leaking unspecified amounts of fuel into the Gulf of Mexico. The company, which runs a fleet of about 100 oil tank barges and tug boats, said the tug boat master reported that the barge rammed an unidentified object in gulf waters. The company noted that it carries both protection and indemnity liability insurance
Great Lakes Shipyard Receives Safety Award
Great Lakes Shipyard, Cleveland, Ohio, has received the 2009 – 2010 Industry Leader Safety Award from the Signal Mutual Indemnity Association. This is the second time in recent years that the Great Lakes Shipyard was chosen to receive this award because of their outstanding safety performance with no “lost time” accidents. The shipyard’s commitment to safety is not new. The previous outstanding safety award was presented in 2004 - 2005
Falvey Announces New Pollution Insurance Division
Falvey Insurance Group has formed a new division, Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance. Offering some of the broadest terms available in the commercial market, Safe Harbor's Global Vessel Pollution Policy provides comprehensive protection for any vessel, owner or operator. Veteran insurance professionals Russ Brown, Tony Gerone and Sean Quinn bring over 35 years of experience in underwriting marine pollution coverage to the new Long Island-based company.
China Delegation Visits UK P&I Club
A delegation from Xiamen, China accompanied by the CEO of COSCO UK visit the London offices of Thomas Miller. The purpose of the visit by the delegation was to understand more of the shipping/insurance sectors in London and to foster good relations.
Book Review: There’s a Page Missing
Maritime fraud, international intrigue and an indefatigable investigator – all add up to a fascinating account of the extraordinary people bent on fooling the system with mind boggling schemes. Author Don Oliver is a specialist maritime insurance surveyor who has visited countless ports
Seacurus Welcomes New Lloyd’s Seafarer Abandonment Risk Code
Specialist marine insurance intermediary Seacurus has welcomed the decision of Lloyd’s to amend its risk codes to include a new class of insurance covering seafarer abandonment (SA). Lloyd’s provides guidance to underwriters on the classification of business into
TT Club Reports Positive Trading Performance
Specialist liability insurer for the international transport and logistics industry TT Club said it had another good performance for the year ended December 31, 2012, with further increased gross written premiums, and the club now maintains its A- (Excellent) rating for the past eight years.
WQIS Bolsters Executive, Support Staff
The Water Quality Insurance Syndicate welcomed new Senior Vice President, John Ryszetnyk to the team. A graduate of Kings Point, The United States Merchant Marine Academy, Ryszetnyk holds a USCG 3rd Mate Unlimited Tonnage License and is a former U.S. Naval Officer
‘Parallel Track’ at Upcoming IMUA Meeting
The Inland Marine Underwriters Association (IMUA) annual meeting will be held in Atlanta, May 19-22, 2013 and will feature Parallel Track. The Parallel Track addition is specifically focused on newer, less experienced inland marine underwriting and claims personnel
INTTRA to Offer Cargo Insurance on e-Commerce Network
Hong Kong headquartered FP Marine Risks provides insurance program to INTTRA network members via INTTRA's e-commerce platform. Leveraging the buying power of the INTTRA network, INTTRA members can elect to purchase cargo insurance at competitive rates during the shipping process through Alto
LOC Group Acquires SCUA Middle East Consultancy
LOC Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of SCUA Middle East Consultancy with effect from April 1, 2013. This acquisition combines LOC Middle East and SCUA Middle East to form a team of nearly 30 staff, including marine engineers, master mariners
U.K. War Risks Club Awarded Excellent Financial Rating
The United Kingdom Mutual War Risks Association Limited (U.K. War Risks Club) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded an A- "excellent" financial strength rating with a "stable" outlook from AM Best, the insurance rating and information source.
Seacurus Provides Industry First
Specialist marine insurance intermediary Seacurus launched a new insurance policy to indemnify seafarers in the event of the financial default of their employers which, for the first time, offers recompense in respect of unpaid crew wages.
Understanding the Ups and Downs of Insurance
Business is cyclical, and nowhere is there more evidence of its cyclical nature than in the insurance market, characterized by ups and downs in insurance premiums, coverages and profitability. By most accounts, the current insurance market has been one of the most competitive in recent memory
WQIS Strengthens Underwriting Department
John Moy has joined the team at Water Quality Insurance Syndicate as Vice President of Underwriting. John will lead the WQIS underwriting department. John came to WQIS from Crum & Forster where he served as the Vice President of United States Fire Insurance Company for the past five years
Medicare Set Asides – and You
Jones Act and LHWCA employers must protect Medicare’s interest or pay the price. It may be boring, but it is important. Read and heed. Attention maritime entities that employ Jones Act Seamen covered by liability insurance, including self-insurance
Unpaid Crew Wages: New Seacurus Insurance
Seacurus has launched a new insurance policy to indemnify seafarers in the event of the financial default of their employers. CrewSEACURE is a new insurance product now available to all employers of seafarers required to satisfy new regulatory obligations under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006
Crewsure Appoints G2 Crew Services
Crewsure appointed G2 Crew Services, the recently formed partnership between Griffin Global Group Limited and Gulf Agency Company Limited, to act as its global correspondent. Crewsure provides medical and personal accident insurance directly to crew and is underwritten by the Munich Group