News

As vessels and equipment on board become increasingly smarter, seafarers are required to learn additional skills for the ongoing operation and maintenance of this technology.

The final article in our cyber risks series, produced in collaboration with Secure State Cyber, focuses on the benefits of antivirus software, the importance of contingency plans in the event of a cyber-attack and what actions Members can take to ensure good security practice on board their vessels.

In this, the second FAQ article in the cyber risks series, Secure State Cyber highlight the responsibility of crewmembers in maintaining the security of IT systems on board, safeguarding personal devices and identifying which equipment is most vulnerable on board.

In collaboration with Secure State Cyber, the Club will be releasing a series of short FAQ articles identifying common cyber risks on board and what actions Members can take to ensure the security of their vessels. The first article focuses on passenger vessels and the cyber risks associated with on board Wi-Fi and passenger devices.

President Trump has issued Executive Order 13871 (the ‘Order’) of 8 May 2019 ‘Imposing Sanctions with Respect to the Iron, Steel, Aluminum, and Copper Sectors of Iran’.

Reducing Members’ exposure to claims is central to the function of the Club’s Loss Prevention department. The department is able to fulfil this mandate by proactively addressing areas of concern which are identified by the Club or within the industry.

As of 31 December 2018, compliance with the Passenger Liability Regulation (PLR) became compulsory for all Class B passenger ships carrying out domestic voyages in all EU and EEA member states.

Canada will become party to the Nairobi Convention on the Removal of Wrecks, 2007 (“the convention”) effective 30 July 2019 (by way of agreement dated 1 May, 2019).

Further to our circular Venezuela — U.S. sanctions imposed on PdVSA, and based on recent developments and statements by the U.S. authorities, caution should be exercised in all dealings with PdVSA.

Further to the Club’s previous article on 1 February 2017, The Compulsory Insurance Scheme for Ships Carrying Passenger has now come into law with effect from 11 January 2019.

Over the past two years, the Club has seen eight damage to property claims allegedly caused by the snagging of fishing gear on subsea cables. Although the number of claims is reasonably low, due to the nature of the property suffering damage, the quantum of such claims is invariably high, sometimes reaching into millions of dollars. To raise awareness of such incidents the Club, in collaboration with Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW), has produced the following guidance which supplements our…

It has been brought to the Club’s attention that there have been an increased number of vessel detentions in the Eastern portion of the Singapore Strait, mainly in the waters around Bintan Island. These waters are often misconstrued as being the Outer Port Limit (OPL) of Singapore. The Club wishes to stress that these waters are in fact within the territorial waters of Indonesia.

The Club is pleased to inform Members of changes to the Marine Legal Costs Cover Policy for 2019. The changes will take effect for all policies incepting as from 20 February 2019.

On January 27^th 2019, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) lifted sanctions imposed on En+ Group plc (“En+”), UC Rusal plc (“Rusal”), and JSC EuroSibEnergo (“ESE”).

With the development of technology on board vessels it is becoming increasingly important for Members to be able to identify and respond, by way of procedures and appropriate actions, to cyber risk.

Entry into enclosed spaces is a critical operation which, if not carried out diligently, can seriously jeopardise the safety of the personnel entering the enclosed space.

It is no secret that the Shipowners’ Club is the leading provider of insurance solutions for smaller and specialist vessels. Currently the Club has over 33,000 vessels entered worldwide.

Members are urged to exercise caution when trading to Libya, due to an increased risk of vessel seizure and crew arrests. The situation is volatile.

In our Half Year Report, it was noted that the Club had delivered a Combined Ratio of 106.4%, representing an underwriting deficit of US$ 6.17 million. This represented a deficit marginally higher than budget, with claims in the year at a higher level than 2016 and 2017 and development of those years being slightly worse than anticipated.

In 2011, following the outbreak of civil war in Libya and subsequent human rights violations, the UN and the EU imposed sanctions on Libya.

The Environment Protection Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region recently issued a press release which stated that their Legislative Council has approved the Air Pollution Control (Fuel for Vessels) Regulation (Cap. 311AB) (“the Regulation”) thereby applying a 0.5% sulphur limit for ships visiting their ports from 1 January 2019. This effective date precedes the implementation of the IMO’s Global Sulphur Cap 2020 by one year.

Drones can carry out a wide range of commercial and leisure functions, but their primary advantages are just like any other mode of air transport, they provide height, speed and reach.

The Managers are aware that, from time to time, Members have been offered contractual terms with counterparties that require the shipowner to provide a continuing warranty of seaworthiness for the entire duration of the voyage.

Reference is made to circular issued in May 2016 referring Members to the Inter-Club New York Produce Exchange Agreement 1996 (the “ICA”), as amended in September 2011, that provides a mechanism whereby liability for cargo claims arising under the New York Produce Exchange Form (NYPE) or Asbatime…

In an attempt to maintain the principles established under the JCPOA framework, to facilitate the continuation of trade activities between European businesses and Iran, and to counteract the extraterritorial effect of U.S. secondary sanctions, the European Union has replaced the annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96, otherwise known as the Blocking Regulation.

Managing stress and sleeping well at sea is an integral part of positive health and wellbeing on board. In partnership with ISWAN, the Club has produced this information booklet as part of their series of Good Mental Health Guides for seafarers.

In accordance with the Solvency II regulations the Club has produced its Solvency & Financial Condition Report (SFCR) as at 31 December 2017.

The Shipowners’ Club recently had the great pleasure of holding a day seminar on the topic of Autonomous Ships & the City. The full day event, which was held in conjunction with Maritime London, aimed to identify and examine the increasing autonomy of vessels.

The decision by President Trump announced on 8th May, 2018 to cease the US participation in the JCPOA and to begin re-imposing US nuclear-related sanctions which were lifted to implement the JCPOA, is likely to have significant ramifications for maritime trade with Iran and the insurance of such trade.

From 20 March 2017, the discount rate applied when calculating compensation for future losses in personal injury claims reduced from the 2.5% rate set in 2001 to -0.75%.

You will be aware of the decision by President Trump, announced on 8 May, to withdraw the United States (U.S.) from its participation in the JCPOA

On 6 April 2018, a number of Russian entities and individuals were placed on the United States Specially Designated Nationals List (‘SDN List’).

In partnership with International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), the Club is pleased to present the latest addition to the Good Mental Health Guides series: ‘Managing stress with relaxation techniques’.

The marine transportation of containers is a dynamic operation which requires close supervision from the moment the containers are taken under the Member’s care until such time when they are safely delivered to the receiver. It comes as no surprise that the nature of this trade gives rise to a considerably large volume of claims, many of which could have been easily avoided had greater oversight and diligence been exercised.

In partnership with the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), the Club is releasing a series of Good Mental Health Guides to better mental wellbeing on board. This includes guidance on how to maximise Psychological Wellbeing at Sea.

The Mission to Seafarers, and the project founder Steven Jones, have released the first edition of the Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI).

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is set to come into force on 25 May 2018. This new regulation will have direct effect in the EEA/ EU and will change the way in which businesses and public sector organisations worldwide, handle the personal information of European Citizens.

As a provider of P&I insurance for vessels trading worldwide, the wellbeing of seafarers serving on Member’s vessels remains a key focus of the Club’s Loss Prevention department.

In November 2017, the Club held a webinar on Managing in a Crisis. The webinar, held in partnership with Steven Jones and Louise McWatt of McWatt and Jones, covered key crisis management aspects such as how to react to an emergency, respond to a crisis and deal with affected stakeholders.

Following our recent Update on piracy attacks, the International Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO and Intertanko have published an Interim Guidance on Maritime Security in the Southern Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandeb which is to be followed in conjunction with Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy (BMP 4).

Automation presents a set of unique challenges to designers, insurers and operators of ships. In this article, Keir Gravil, a naval architect at Frazer-Nash Consultancy in Bristol, UK discusses some of the key issues that could face automated ships of the future from a design perspective.

Members will be aware from the Club’s Circulars issued in June 2016 and October 2016, concerning the implementation of financial certification requirements in accordance with the amendments to the Maritime Labour…

When it comes to the placing of P&I risks, we know that Members and their brokers have several choices. The long tail nature of P&I claims must never be underestimated and therefore the long-term stability of a mutual P&I Club and the partnership forged between the Member and the Club in understanding the risks associated with their individual operations is essential.