News

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.

The Club is delighted to be taking part in London International Shipping Week 2021, 13-17 September.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) met in June 2021 and agreed amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI that will require,as applicable, vessels to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

This document has been produced by the thirteen P&I Clubs which are members of the International Group of P&I Clubs in order to answer a number of questions that are frequently asked about P&I Club cover relating to the vaccination of seafarers.

This circular confirms approval by the International Group of an updated version of essDOCS’s electronic trading system.

At their meeting in Luxembourg on the 3 June 2021 the Board considered the open policy years and in particular the 2018 policy year, which is now three years old.

The Club would like to inform Members that the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) recently launched ‘Operation Jangkar Haram’, pursuing vessels which are anchored illegally in the eastern waters of Johor as reported by our correspondents Spica Services Malaysia.

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

A large majority of the claims handled by the Club involve crew illness or injury, with this in mind, the Club seeks to inform Members that understanding the basis of a Shipowners’ liability and how international conventions may apply is of vital importance to them in their operations.

When I spoke to the Club CEO, Simon Swallow, last week we reflected on the strange year we’ve all been through and I congratulated him and all of the Club’s staff for the way in which they had adapted and shown remarkable dedication in the new working environment forced upon them.

This Circular provides information on the recent designation by the Government of the United States of Venezuela’s Maritime Authority (Instituto Nacional de los Espacios Acuaticos – “INEA”).

The fines for causing pollution in Turkey have rien once again by 9.11%. This is in accordance with the declaration by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation in Turkey, which was published in the Official Gazette dated 24 December 2020, numbered 31318. With effect from 1 January 2021.

The latest Seafarers Happiness Index report, published by The Mission to Seafarers, reveals that small investments can make a tangible difference to the lives of seafarers.The survey, with the support of the Shipowners’ Club and Wallem Group, reports on the experiences of seafarers between October and December 2020.