News

Commencing positive and committed steps towards improving seafarer wellbeing on board, the Club has created its own bespoke “Medical Enhancement Scheme for Seafarers” (Medisea).

This circular informs Members of the approval by the International Group of P&I Clubs (the Group) of the IQAX eBL system.

The broker survey results are in and they’re overwhelmingly positive. We are thrilled to report the resounding message that the Shipowners’ Club remains “a clear first choice” for smaller and specialist vessel P&I insurance.

The Club had previously notified Members of the change in ownership of E-TITLE electronic trading system and its underlying legal framework to R3. The agreement between R3 and E-TITLE has dissolved, and ownership of the legal framework has reverted back to E-Title Authority Pte Ltd. In accordance with this change, the trading name will also revert back from Corda eBL to e-Title™.

This article sets out some of the Frequently Asked Questions the Club has received regarding the IG Circular on The General Trade Licence dated 17 March 2022.

On 17 March 2022 the UK Government published a General Trade Licence in part to clarify earlier amendments to the UK Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations (the “Regulation”). Specifically, the licence addresses the issue as to whether it is lawful under the Regulation for insurers and reinsurers domiciled or operating from the United Kingdom to provide insurance for vessels calling at Russian ports or transiting Russian territorial waters.

At their meeting on the 19 May 2022 the Board considered the open policy years and in particular the 2019 policy year, which is now three years old.

On 8 April 2022 the EU adopted a fifth package of sanctions on Russia, comprising of several Regulations and Decisions:

Russia has announced retaliatory sanctions measures in response to the widespread sanctions issued by various governments, which Russia has so-called “unfriendly countries,” including the UK, EU member states and the USA.

The President of the EU Commission has today announced its fifth package of EU sanctions against Russia which is intended to sustain utmost pressure on Putin and the Russian government.

On March 31, 2022 the US Treasury Secretary issued a Determination which extends the application of Section l(a)(i) of Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 to the aerospace, electronics and marine sectors of the Russian economy.

On 30 March 2022, the UK government announced legislation which prohibits maintenance and technical services on aircraft or ships belonging to sanctioned Russian oligarchs or their businesses.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, it has been reported there is a heightened risk of drifting naval mines detected in the vicinity of the Black Sea and neighbouring countries.

Further to the Club’s previous circular in February 2021, Turkey: Revised Pollution Fines, Members are advised the fines for causing pollution have risen substantially by 36.2%. This is in accordance with the declaration by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation in Turkey, which was published in the Official Gazette dated 30 December 2021, numbered 31705.

On March 15, 2022 the EU announced its next package of sanctions against Russia, which includes designation of 15 individuals (including Russian oligarchs and people working for the “pro Russian” media), and 9 entities operating in the aviation, military and dual use, shipbuilding and machine building sectors. The list of designations can be found

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The EU in consultation with the UK, US and Canada have requested SWIFT, the financial messaging system, to disconnect certain Russian banks from using its system, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine.

The European Union announced a significant expansion of sanctions against Russia in light the deteriorating situation in Ukraine on 25 February 2022. Regulation 2022/328 sets out a wide package of measures.

The Club recognise that many of its Members currently have a number of Ukrainian personnel working on board vessels who are either awaiting repatriation on conclusion of their employment and/or are wishing to terminate their contract early in order to return to Ukraine for various reasons.

The situation in Ukraine is developing rapidly and remains fluid. The Club has provided some general guidance which addresses some of the most pressing questions at this challenging time.

On 28 February 2022, the UK Department for Transport announced that following the Russian government’s continued incursion into Ukraine, it did “not consider it appropriate for Russian vessels to continue to enter UK ports”.

Further to our update of 23 February 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has now spread beyond the Donetsk and Luhansk regions prompting widespread international condemnation and additional economic sanctions. We set out a summary of the additional sanctions imposed since our previous update.

Following the Russian government’s adoption of decrees recognising the independence of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (“DNR”) and Luhansk People’s Republic (“LNR”) regions of eastern Ukraine, new sanctions have been introduced by the US, EU and the UK.

Amendment in regards to Marine Cyber Risks.

The purpose of this Circular is to draw Members’ attention to some of the recent deceptive practices employed by parties that are engaged in activities that offend the sanctions regimes operated by national governments and or supranational bodies such as the UN.

The International Group recently became a member of the Maritime Research Institute of the Netherlands (MARIN) Top Tier project. The project has been established to examine and assess the causes of container losses arising from at-sea incidents onboard various sizes of container ships. The project has been approved by a cross section of industry, academic and government interests. MARIN will produce a report of its findings including recommendations in due course.

At the half year stage, the Club reported a Combined Ratio of 100.9%, with an underwriting deficit of US$ 0.9m. Having requested a 5% policy year General Increase in February 2021 it was expected that rating levels would be sufficient to return the Club to a breakeven underwriting position. Whilst the necessary premium increases are being secured as Members renew their entries, the level of claims arising from COVID-19 has been significantly higher than had been anticipated.

The International Group of P&I Clubs is delighted to announce the establishment of a fellowship for the academic year 2021-2022 for a student pursuing Master of Laws (LL.M.) studies in International Maritime Law at the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) based in Malta.

Members are referred to our previous circulars from 28 January 2011 and 20 June 2012 and the risks arising from the carriage of mineral ores from certain jurisdictions, including possible liquefaction of such cargoes and the lack of a regulatory oversight at the loading ports. Iron ore fines are of increasing concern, particularly shipments from Sierra Leone arising from a phased restart of iron mines in the region and with vessels loading such cargoes in the port of Pepel.

Members are referred to the Club’s previous Circular from 11 June 2011 which can be viewed here for easy reference.

Last month further sanctions were introduced against Belarus after previous action taken by the EU, US and the UK in response to the detention of journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega, following the unlawful diversion of Ryanair flight FR4978 in May 2021.