The world of maritime liability is fraught with significant and unpredictable risks. In the 19th century, shipowners faced a challenging landscape where commercial insurers were reluctant to cover more than just hull risks. This led to the creation of mutual associations, which evolved into Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs starting

SHARING KNOWLEDGE Striving for zero damage in international shipping is a utopia. Despite all efforts in prevention, training, and education, and the involvement of IMO, classification societies, port state control, and other initiatives to enhance shipping safety, incidents will remain inevitable. The inherent dangers of the sea, together with human

CHARTERERS & LIABILITY How are charterers exposed to liabilities and how can they benefit from a charterer’s liability insurance? Once having agreed a contract, whereby a ship is made available, the identity of that party is as a CHARTERER. Liabilities may vary but cannot be eliminated or ignored. A voyage

We must follow strict compliance and sanction screening processes for all transactions to avoid financial risks. Violating these rules could lead to regulators freezing our bank accounts, endangering the company’s existence. 

The Dutch VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) The Dutch VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) was founded in 1602 with the main objective of promoting trade between the Netherlands and Asia. The VOC played a crucial role in the rise of the Netherlands as a maritime and economic powerhouse in the 17th and

LEGAL & CLAIMS AS A SERVICE  Expertise in claims handling is integral to marine liability insurance. In most cases, insurers offer legal costs insurance, also known as FD&D insurance, or Marine Defense. In both cases, clients rely on insurers and their Claims Handlers to actively engage in resolving claims and disputes.

Underwriting insurance risks requires deep technical knowledge. On the one hand, the underwriter must have a profound knowledge of the policy terms, conditions, and other matters to ensure the technical integrity of the insurance business. On the other hand, the underwriter needs to understand the clients’ business to accurately assess risks. Additionally, a strong understanding of

The Netherlands as a powerhouse in the maritime world.  I am often asked why I am still doing this. When this question touches upon my age, I respond: “Warren Buffett is 93, so I have quite a future ahead of me!” Being from Rotterdam, the connection to the maritime world came