"An excellent start to 2005 and the new policy year" is how Joe Hughes, chief executive of managers Shipowners Claims Bureau Inc., describes the American Club's double achievement of the past week. On February 24, at London's Banqueting House in Whitehall, the club was voted the winner among four finalists for the P&I/Insurance Services Award at Lloyd's List's 2005 Awards covering 12 categories of the maritime industry. The P&I Award, sponsored by Clyde & Co., was presented to Paul Sa, the club's chairman, by Derek Hodgson, partner and head of the maritime transportation department at Clyde. Earlier the same week, the American Club had reported a successful outcome of the annual P&I renewal, which saw the club post a further increase in entered tonnage, to approximately 21.7 gross tons.