News has broken today that Six Arab countries have cut ties with Qatar. This coordinated move to withdraw diplomatic relations comes from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Yemen and Libya. The six countries cite Qatar’s ties to terrorism, pointing to its alleged backing of so called Islamic State (IS), and the need to maintain their own national security. Qatar has called the decision ‘unjustified’ and with ‘no basis in fact’.

On 16th January 2016, Implementation Day, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran had complied with its nuclear obligations in line with ‘the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’ (‘JCPOA’). As a result, certain EU and US nuclear related sanctions on Iran were lifted. Implementation Day heralded, for many, the prospect of great business opportunity in a country locked down to the outside world for a number of years.

Following a request by The Shipowners’ Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association (Luxembourg) (“Shipowners” or “the Club”), as from 19 May 2017 AM Best will  no longer provide a rating of the Club.

The Shipowners’ Club has been in existence for over 160 years and was established by ship owners, for ship owners.  We have always operated on a mutual basis – that is, the Club exists for the benefit of its Members.

Any outbreak of fire on board a ship poses a significant risk to the safety of the vessel and to anyone on board.