Insurance Agents News

The right insurance policy could help you stay above water after a workplace incident. The day-to-day job of marine construction workers has many potential hazards. While restoring shorelines, dredging harbors, repairing bridges and building docks, they often operate heavy machinery. Manning cranes, forklifts and excavators day or night, it is not uncommon to work in sweltering heat, freezing cold temperatures and an array of other challenging weather conditions. With all of this in mind…

Before port states became hyper-sensitive to security issues, shore leave was natural part of a seafarer’s life. You worked long and hard hours at sea, often for extended periods of time on long voyages. When the ship reached port, you went ashore and decompressed, connecting with family and friends. That and much more changed after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The IMO adopted the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code mandating enhanced security onboard vessels subject to the SOLAS Convention.

Artemus  Transportation Solutions will be holding its Global Commerce- International Transportation & Trade Shipping 101 Course on September 15-19 in the Seattle-Tacoma area. This is the third time the Shipping 101 course will be hosted by the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound in Seattle/Tacoma. The Marine Exchange of Puget Sound is a non-profit association that provides members certain communications and information services relative to local commercial vessel activities. Founded in 1981, members consist of Puget Sound-based steamship agents and operations, tug boat operators, ship chandlers, port authorities, and state and federal agencies.

The old expression about getting one’s sea legs speaks to how different life can be in the ocean marine environment. Those who spend most of their time on land often need to adjust to the rhythms that are second nature to old sea hands. Similarly, any company that operates both on land and water needs to adjust its risk management strategies to account for exposures in both arenas. That can range from something as simple as making sure land-based workers have the right protective equipment when they move to the waterfront, to something as complex as coordinating insurance coverage to minimize the possibility of gaps or unexpected liabilities.

Protecting Contractors As They Enter New Waters. As the economic recovery continues to sputter along, construction companies eager to land any available projects have found themselves bidding outside their normal scope of work. Maritime construction is one such industry that has seen an increase in contractors who may not typically work on marine-related projects, thereby increasing the likelihood that individual projects may fall outside their skill set. While contracts in marine construction present opportunities for income…

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. licensed by the FSA. John Harbor, head of the Moore Stephens Insurance Industry Group, says, "Most intermediaries will need to begin the registration process two-to-four months before the July 14 submission date in order to prepare the information needed to secure successful authorization.

The eight main shipping organizations said they have agreed the need to set up better self-policing and accident investigation procedures after the Erika pollution incident off France. A working group to review links in the chain of responsibility to prevent disasters like the Erika will be set up, the shipping organizations said. The 25 year old tanker Erika broke in two off France last December causing massive pollution to western French beaches after it spilled about 10,000 tons of its fuel oil cargo. The review would address issues of transparency, internal and external investigation procedures and accountability of industry self-policing, the organizations said. Weaknesses in all these elements of the industry have been criticized since the Erika sank.

The eight main shipping organizations said on Friday they have agreed the need to set up better self policing and accident investigation procedures after the Erika pollution incident off France. A working group to review links in the chain of responsibility to prevent disasters like the Erika will be set up, the shipping organizations said. The 25-year-old tanker Erika broke in two off France last December causing massive pollution to western French beaches after it spilled about 10,000 tons of its fuel oil cargo. The review would address issues of transparency, internal and external investigation procedures and accountability of industry self-policing, the organizations said. Weaknesses in all these elements of the industry have been criticized since the Erika sank.