Colombian ports in general present drug trafficking risks. Some, such as Barranquilla, are deemed at lower risk, even though they have recently had a few security- or drug-related incidents. Drug searches by members are not mandatory, nor do members need to take special measures in most Colombian ports, excepting Puerto Bolivar and Puerto Drummond, where they are expected. However, our local correspondents advise searches be conducted in any Colombian port. Such inspections can be undertaken by the navy or by private diving companies. Guidelines for members when trading in Colombia ...

Against the positive backdrop of a benign claims environment in some sectors, IUMI’s statistics show an increasing mismatch between premium income, covered risk and claims costs. On a global average basis, buffers to cover extraordinary single or accumulation losses are non-existent. Today, IUMI – the International Union of Marine Insurance – presented its annual statistical report on the marine insurance market at this week’s annual conference in Cape Town. Whilst global marine premiums were up by 2%, IUMI highlighted an increasing mismatch between income levels and covered risk. Vice-Chair of ...

Speaking at this week’s IUMI (International Union of Maritime Insurance) conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Donald Harrell, chair of IUMI’s Facts & Figures Committee, reported a successful conclusion to IUMI’s large loss database pilot project. “For the past year, we have been running a project to understand if it is feasible for IUMI, through its member associations, to collect hull and cargo claims data for large losses. Once collected, we also wanted to understand if it was possible to organise that data in such a way as to deliver ...

Leading global marine insurer North P&I Club has opened a new, larger office in Piraeus. The move to the new office in Piraeus is fully in line with the Club’s long-term growth strategy, which is being promoted not only on a global but also on a national level. Centrally located in Piraeus, the new office, which has over 560 square feet of office space, is designed to hold more than double the current number of staff and reflects the Club’s commitment to future growth in the region. The Club announced ...

The Managers are pleased to report that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) have completed their latest interactive review of the Steamship Mutual Group affirming the financial strength rating of the Club (A with a stable outlook). In an update published on their website S&P highlights the Club’s robust operating performance in recent years and the significant excess capital that the Club holds over the “AAA” level according to their risk based model. S&P reports that Steamship Mutual’s recent underwriting performance reflects the strength of its competitive position, a result of the ...

The dangers associated with the carriage of nickel ore, due to the risk of liquefaction of the cargo on passage when the moisture content is higher than the cargo’s Flow Moisture Point (FMP), are well known. Following a succession of ships being lost, with liquefaction of their nickel ore cargoes being suspected of being the root cause of the sinkings, the Club published a Notice to Members in August 2013 addressing the Dangers of Carrying Nickel ore. This Notice was subsequently re-issued as No.13 2017/2018 – Dangers of Carrying Nickel ...

The Republic of the Marshall Island (RMI) published a Marine Safety Advisory (MSA 23-18) on 30 August 2018 reporting on two recent enclosed space incidents onboard RMI-flagged ships which resulted in the deaths of three seafarers and two seafarers losing consciousness. Although the details of these incidents differ, the RMI ‘s preliminary investigations reveal that both involved: -experienced officers directing junior seafarers to enter an enclosed space that they knew was not safe for entry and without complying with the ship’s established enclosed space entry procedures; -the officer not informing ...

Sources suggest that container fires may occur on a weekly basis and statistics indicate there is a major container cargo fire at sea roughly every 60 days. Tackling fires and subsequent investigations are complex activities. There have been several well publicised ship-board explosion and fire incidents involving laden containers over the past few years. As the size of container ships increases, so does the potential risk and consequence of a large explosion or fire incident. Despite certain regulatory and technical advances, there is little doubt that the capability to respond ...

In its latest video, sponsored by The Standard Club, the Confidential Hazardous Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP) investigates three recent reports that highlight hazards onboard ships. In each case, a serious incident was avoided by someone raising the issue and resolving it before it was too late. The first report is from a cruise ship passenger who was dissatisfied with the shipboard emergency evacuation plans, highlighting that they did not appropriately cater for her disabled husband, a wheelchair user. The video raises some important issues about adapting shipboard emergency measures for ...

The Ocean Cleanup was set up in 2013 to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Based on the idea and vision of Boyan Slat when still a teenager, record-breaking crowdfunding, government backing and a highly dedicated and professional team, have resulted in the world’s first passive ocean clean-up system. The launch of the 001 system, otherwise known as “WILSON”, made history on 8 September 2018 as it was towed under the Golden Gate Bridge on its way to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Boyan Slat said that it was amazing ...

Iran’s Kish P&I Club and Qeshm International Trust Alliance (QITA P&I Club) have been granted permission by India till February 2020 to provide cover to Iran tankers bringing crude to the country with a liability limit equivalent to the one extended by a London-based global insurance group. This will help in continuing oil supplies from the sanctions-hit Persian Gulf nation. Kish P&I Club and QITA P&I Club — backed by a sovereign guarantee from the government of Iran — will provide $1 billion limit on individual claims, according to the ...

Following our earlier insight on contaminated bunkers, we now focus on the bunker supplier and the supply contract. Before looking at these in more detail, however, we briefly summarize the situation at present. No new developments Little or no headway has been made in identifying the root cause of contamination and advanced testing, such as detailed Gas Chromatography combined with Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), still remains the only reliable means of establishing whether the bunkers are contaminated. There is still a considerable backlog when it ...

The GoodShipping Program, the world’s first global initiative established to decarbonise shipping through the use of sustainable low carbon marine fuels, today announced that five pioneering shippers are the first to save CO2 emissions through the scheme. The delivery of advanced, sustainable marine fuel by GoodFuels Marine means that the shippers participating in the inaugural program – Tony’s Chocolonely, Dopper, Blygold, Magic Marine and Mystic – collectively reduced their carbon footprint by over 40 tons. The milestone was reached when a Samskip-owned container vessel was refuelled with marine biofuels in ...

The Shipowners’ Club, the leading P&I insurer in the smaller and specialist vessel sector, has reported financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2018. The Club recorded a 106.4% combined ratio, which was in line with expectations and underlines the Club’s support for its Members. The Club’s investment portfolio saw a loss of US$ 13.7m in the first half, which reversed some of the US$ 47.5m gain that was reported in the prior year. Financial summary -Combined ratio 106.4% -Capital and free reserves US$ 321.6m -Earned premiums US$ ...

Introduction A recent English Court of Appeal decision provides important guidance on the applicability of charterparty time bar provisions to letters of indemnity (LOIs). Given the frequent use of LOIs in the shipping industry, this legal decision will likely be of relevance and interest to both the club’s owner and charterer members. Factual background Disponent owner of the Songa Winds fixed the vessel to voyage charterer to carry crude sunflower seed oil from Ukraine to Indian ports. Original bills of lading were not available at the discharge port. Voyage charterer ...