Insurance Committees News

At the Comité Maritime International (CMI) Conference, in New York this week, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) will be pressing to ensure that the proposed revision of the York Antwerp Rules of General Average delivers a clear improvement on the present system and does not touch on fundamental principles. ‘General Average’ is a method of equitably allocating and spreading the costs of dealing with a maritime casualty among the parties that benefit from the ship and cargo being saved. The York Antwerp Rules set out rules for the distribution of losses and expenses, for example in incidents when cargo is jettisoned in order to save the ship and the remaining cargo.

With the assistance of its members, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) in association with the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA), has compiled a useful reference document collating the policy and rules of Flag States on the carriage of arms and private armed guards on board vessels. The document, providing tabulated information on Flag States’ rules, has been added to the ICS website and is proving to be a popular reference tool for shipowners and other interested parties within the shipping community.

Admiral Jerry Johnson has been elected to the Board of Directors of Wärtsilä-Lips, Inc. as the Vice President, Business Development, and member of the Government Security Committee. Wärtsilä-Lips with offices in Chesapeake, VA and Poulsbo, Wash., is a leading manufacturer and supplier of propulsion equipment to the U.S. Navy. A Texas native, Admiral Johnson attended Texas A & M University before entering the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Commissioned and designated a Naval Aviator in 1956, he served on active duty for 38 years. At sea he commanded Attack Squadron Twenty-seven (VA-27), the combat stores ship USS San Jose, the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea, Carrier Group Four, the U.S. Second Fleet, and NATO’s Striking Fleet Atlantic.