IUMI Conference Set for September

The 2007 conference of the International Union of Marine Insurance in Copenhagen is set for next month. As finishing touches are being put to the four-day program of committee meetings, keynote speeches, presentations, panel discussions and workshops, covering all branches of marine insurance, IUMI has announced record attendance figures. With over two weeks still to go to the start on September 9, the organizing committee from the Danish Insurance Association reports that more than 750 people are expected. The core of this attendance will be 500 marine underwriters from 41 of IUMI’s 52 member national associations. Some major markets such as London and Norway are sending their delegations, about 75 from the former and 38 from the latter. And there will be strong contingents from the U.S. (50), Germany (43) and France (32). Other important groups with 20 underwriters and more will be Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy. IUMI underwriting attendees comprise official delegates (each member is allowed up to four) and accredited underwriters. Added to the underwriters are more than 30 guest speakers, IUMI affiliated members and other guests or observers, representatives from the 20 sponsoring companies and organizations, and over 200 accompanying people, making a probable total of over 750. Speaking in New York, Deirdre Littlefield, president of IUMI, said that the common theme of this year’s conference, Marine Insurance – the Technical, Financial and Human Challenge, accurately reflects the problems facing marine insurers now and going forward.