Steamship Mutual News

After 27 years’ service as Chief Executive Officer of Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc. (SCB), the Managers of the American P&I Club, Joe Hughes will stand down from that role on August 1, 2022. Dorothea Ioannou, currently Deputy Chief Operating Officer of SCB, will succeed Hughes as CEO from that date, making history as the first woman to ascend to the top executive position of an International Group P&I club in the 167 year history of the marine mutuals.At the same time, Vince Solarino will step down as Chief Operating Officer of SCB, Inc.

Singapore-flagged containership APL England, detained in Australia after losing dozens of containers off the country's southeastern coast in May, has been released and is sailing to China for repairs, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said Friday.The ship departed the Port of Brisbane without cargo and with a new master after AMSA's inspectors attended the ship and determined it is fit to sail. The ship’s previous master who is facing multiple charges relating to the incident…

The master of Singapore-flagged APL England is facing charges in Australia after the vessel under his command lost dozens of containers overboard in rough seas off the coast of Sydney last week.The offences relate to pollution and/or damage of the marine environment as a result of poor cargo loading, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.The 5,510 TEU capacity APL England had been en route from Ningbo, China to Melbourne last Sunday when a temporary propulsion loss left the 277-meter vessel rolling in heavy seas…

The Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has placed the shipping industry on high alert amid a rising death toll in China and reports that the fast-spreading illness is reaching new shores.The flu-like coronavirus, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China on December 31, has killed more than two dozen people in China and is believed to have infected more than 900 worldwide, according to several media reports. Cases have been confirmed in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, and internationally in travelers returning from China to Japan…

Protection and indemnity club Steamship Mutual P&I Club has been given a licence in Hong Kong by Hong Kong Insurance Authority , its third in the Far East after Singapore and Tokyo."Hong Kong Insurance Authority has formally authorised the Club to establish a Branch in Hong Kong from 17 August 2018," said a press statement.Steamship Mutual is the first P&I Club to gain authorisation from the independent statutory authority, which commenced operation in 2017.The Club has maintained a presence in Hong Kong for almost 30 years, and formal authorisation provides a solid platform to deliver the full range of P&I services to Members and brokers…

British ship insurer Steamship Mutual plans to set up a new Dutch subsidiary to ensure continued access to trade in the European Union in case Britain loses single market access. "We are about to apply for a licence to establish a subsidiary company in the Netherlands," Steamship Mutual's executive chairman Gary Rynsard told Reuters in an email, adding it would opt for the port city of Rotterdam. Britain dominates the global marine insurance market and losing access to specialist Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs could weaken its multi-billion pound shipping services sector. Steamship Mutual, which employs around 150 people in the UK, is one of 13 major global P&I clubs and Europe represents more than 30 percent of the insurer's global business.

The reluctance of foreign banks to deal with Iran could complicate any compensation payments resulting from the collision last week of an Iranian oil tanker and a Chinese cargo ship, sources say. The tanker Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of highly flammable condensate oil, collided with the Chinese dry cargo vessel CF Crystal on Saturday in the East China Sea, causing an oil spill and a blaze that is still raging four days later. Liability has yet to be established but lawyers…

Mairéad Ní Cheóinín has been appointed to Seafarers UK as the charity’s new Corporate Fundraising Manager where her focus will be on engaging with the commercial maritime sector. Mairéad brings a wealth of business development, marketing experience and industry knowledge to the position from her previous roles, working with Steamship Mutual P&I, TradeWinds, Informa PLC in London and the Irish Maritime Development Office in Dublin. Mairéad joins the grant-giving, campaigning and fundraising charity at an exciting time, as it celebrates its Centenary and is looking ahead to the next phase of its future. Her role will be to raise awareness of Seafarers UK’s wider impact within the maritime charity sector.

A large portion of Iran’s shipping fleet has regained Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance from Steamship Mutual, reports Mehr News Agency. Steamship Mutual, said in a statement that a considerable number of Iranian vessels have taken out insurance form the company. "We are pleased to observe return of Iranian directors to the board of one of the largest and most diverse P&I Clubs in the world,” Jonathan Andrews, Director & Head of Eastern Underwriting in Steamship Mutual, said. Steamship Mutual was the main and most favorable insurer of Iran’s shipping fleet, prior to imposition of sanctions against Iran in 2009. Islamic Republic…

Steamship Mutual advises that beginning January 1, 2016 Marine Spill Response Corporation (MSRC) will no longer provide California Shoreline Protection (CASP) and On Water Response Coverage services for vessels calling at the Port of Hueneme, Calif. and/or transiting the southbound traffic lanes of the Santa Barbara Channel. However, MSRC will continue to meet the planning standards for 12 hours and greater in the Santa Barbara Channel and Port Hueneme and will respond in these areas in the event of an incident. Furthermore, from January 1, 2016, So Cal Ship Services (SCSS) will provide CASP response services to meet the two hour skimming…

Poor’s has revised its outlook on Steamship Mutual to Positive from Stable. The A- financial strength rating has been reaffirmed. • the rating could be revised to A if a longer track record of extremely strong capital and stable earnings is demonstrated. “The Club’s underwriting performance and capital strength compare very favourably with the highest rated Clubs in the International Group. The Board is committed to maintaining this strong position which gives security to the Club’s Members.

The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association (Bermuda)  achieved a combined ratio of 78.6% for the 2014-2015 policy year, one of the strongest results in its 100-plus years of existence. Free reserves increased by US$75 million to US$376.2 million and the financial year combined ratio was 78.6%, one of the strongest results in the Club’s history. For the 2014/15 policy year, when compared to the preceding year, the Club again experienced fewer claims in the layers below US$250,000 but the average cost of such claims rose by 7%. The number of larger claims was similar to that experienced in recent years but their average cost was significantly lower and the Club incurred only one claim on the Pool.

KVH Industries, Inc. is offering Videotel's new video about Ebola safety free to all mariners worldwide in an effort to increase awareness of the prevention measures that can help keep seafarers safe. KVH has created a website, www.kvh.com/EbolaSafety, for mariners to download the free video and an accompanying workbook. In addition, KVH delivered the video program to its IP-MobileCast customers on vessels across the globe, who will automatically receive the video for immediate viewing onboard.

Brazil, Argentina and the United States have tightened port entry procedures for ships that have sailed from West Africa in a bid to control the potential spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Ebola has killed more than 3,400 people in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and its spread has become a global concern -- with worries for trade, which could affect the airline and tourism industries together with seaborne activity. The virus is already threatening to disrupt logistics activity…

Three global shipping organisations have issued guidance to their members on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus, and similar alerts have been issued by the P&I clubs, according to trade organization Maritime London. 1.     The master should ensure that the crew are aware of the risks, how the virus can be spread and how to reduce the risk. 2.     The ISPS requirements on ensuring that unauthorised personnel do not board the vessel should be strictly enforced throughout the duration of the vessel being in port. 3.     The master should give careful consideration to granting any shore leave whilst in impacted ports. 4.     The shipowner/operator should avoid making crew changes in the ports of an affected country.

The 3rd Annual Conference on Salvage and Wreck Removal in India is to be held on Thursday, July 10, 2014 for the first time in Chennai at the Hotel Vivanta by Taj - Connemara, Binny Road, Chennai 600002. The Conference this year is presented by the Institute of Chartered Ship brokers (East India Branch). 2. examine recent accidents…collisions, groundings, oil spills and other casualties 3.

Videotel, in association with Steamship Mutual, has launched a new training programme  developed in conjunction with the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) and BIMCO, informs UK trade association Maritime London. Videotel points out that it is easy to forget that the use of Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) has only become commonplace in the last few years and that the selection and deployment of armed guards is still an unknown quantity for many operators and crew. The company notes that, as part of their anti-piracy measures, many shipping companies now employ armed security guards aboard vessels that transit…

It is easy to forget that the use of Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) has only become commonplace in the last few years and that the selection and deployment of armed guards is still an unknown quantity for many operators and crew. In response to this, Videotel has made a new addition to its armoury of training materials with the creation of a brand new program – Working with Maritime Security Guards – which has been developed in conjunction with the Security Association for the Maritime Industry (SAMI) and BIMCO.

Washington State – Alaska – Non tank final rule & Washington State – Contingency Plan requirements. We refer to our circular no. B.613. As stated in that circular, every tank vessel and every other vessel over 300 GT is required under State law to file a contingency plan prior to entry into the waters of Washington State but that instead of filing his own plan an owner can subscribe to an umbrella oil spill contingency plan. Since publishing the abovementioned circular, Washington State Maritime Co-operative (WSMC) has changed its enrolment agreement and the version with footer “WSMC Enrolment Agreement – December 2013” conforms with the International Group’s guidelines on vessel response plans.

The risk of collision at sea is a hazard to which all shipowners and seafarers are exposed, regardless of ship type or trading area. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) provide a complete code that, if properly understood and applied, should avoid ships ever coming into collision. However, the club’s claims experience reveals a persistent frequency of collision incidents albeit with year on year variations in severity. The most serious collision incidents have the potential to involve a very broad spectrum of P&I liabilities.

At their board meeting on October 22, the directors of the Steamship Mutual reviewed the club’s open policy years, as well as claims in earlier years, and considered the premium ratings required for the 2014 policy year. On the basis of owned claims reported to date, the overall value of claims for the current policy year is expected to be high, continuing the trend of recent years. It was noted that the total value of claims in the layer up to $250,000 is marginally below last year…

On September 17, McAllister Towing and Reinauer Transportation will be partnering with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound and Sector New York in a major simulated marine accident and pollution incident on the waters of Long Island Sound. Responders will be faced with a simulated grounding and subsequent oil spill impacting the waters and shoreline of Connecticut and New York. The exercise is part of the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP), a voluntary program bringing together industry and government to meet the exercise and preparedness requirements of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, legislation enacted following the Exxon Valdez.

In the superyacht industry, it is particularly well understood that good relationships between owners and their crew have a direct impact on how well yachts are run, and the quality and consistency of the charter service offered. An important new insurance product, Crewsure Marine, which assists owners and managers in protecting the health and wellbeing of their crews and so meets forthcoming legal obligations under the recently ratified Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) is now being aimed at this unique sector of the market.