Mr. George Alexandratos - General Manager of Apollonia Lines S.A - Chairman of the BoD of the PMC opened the conference which represents the quality of events that the Piraeus Marine Club would like to host with remarkable personalities discussing the hot topics of Shipping. This year’s event was a sold out organization and fully interactive with the audience voted against or for the motion.
Ms. Maria Prevezanou - Director of Evmar Marine Services Ltd. - Treasurer of the BoD of the PMC / Organiser of the Conference focused on the p&i’s seminar 23rd anniversary and presented the distinguished speakers and Mr. Lou Kollakis - Honorary Chairman of Chartworld Shipping Corp. described the broader trend and scene of the marine insurance market which highly influenced by the war conflicts around the world and the economic uncertainties.
The following motion was discussed by the panel: “This House believes the current retention level of $10 million remains an appropriate attachment point for the International Group.”
Mr. Jerry Westmore Head of Underwriting Steamship Insurance Management Services Limited supported the motion which as he said the $10m limit protects the interests of the members and pricing stability.
Mr. Dimitris Batalis General Manager – Greece The Shipowners Club (SOP) also spoke for the motion marking that there is no obvious reason to increase the level of $10m as this would mean more expenses for the insureds.
Ms. Victoria Papageorgiou Associate Director The London P&I Club claimed that because of the different types and the volatility of casualties that come into the IG it is appropriate a retention limit of $10m to be maintained.
Mr. Ludvig Nyhlen Area Manager Team Greece The Swedish Club told that due to the retention level the Clubs handle more efficiently the different casualties protecting the interests of Clubs and its members.
Mr. Sean Geraghty Regional Director of Greece Thomas Miller P&I Ltd ( UK Club) spoke Against The Motion. He supported that it is very important the IG to cope with the ordinary claims that will come into the IG after a review of the retention level which will also have a positive effect on the underwriting discipline of the clubs and he suggested an increase to $14-15m.
Next motion was “This House believes that the International Group of P&I Clubs, given the unsurpassed size of its constituency, should do more to intercede with regulators across the globe on policies which inhibit the free conduct of maritime commerce.”
Mr. George D. Gourdomichalis Managing Director Phoenix Shipping & Trading S.A moderated the discussion.
For The Motion spoke Mr. Daniel A. Tadros Chief Operating OfficerAmerican Steamship Owners Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association, Inc. who insisted that the more involvement of the IG in the international forum the most will be for the benefit of the P&I Club and its members.
Mr. Mike Salthouse Head of External affairs NorthStandard Ltd also agreed that further collaboration with the governmental and regulatory and especially in UN will protect our industry from substandard practices that harms the image of shipping and promote the remarkable engagement of shipping in the development of world trade and economy. IG has a collective experience that might help the governmental bodies to cope with several challenges like sanctions imposed against various countries that have an illegal and terrorist activity.
The 3rd motion of the conference was about UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. Andrew Cutler Chairman of the International Group of P&I Clubs supported that ‘The IG should be more proactive in supporting the UN’s SDGs’.
Mr. Dinos Caroussis Director Chios Navigation ( Hellas ) Ltd. moderated the panel of speakers that discussed the following motion: “This House believes that, bearing in mind that certain ship-types would appear to attract more significantly large Pool claims than others, and recalling that in the past clubs within the International Group were required to apply minimum rates to tanker tonnage, to say nothing of surcharges to tankers trading to the United States post-OPA 90, there may be virtue in entertaining a similar regime going forward, for example in relation to pure car carriers, given the hazards of Li-ion batteries.”
For The Motion : Mr. Kjell-Ake Augustsson Senior Vice President, Head of Skuld Hellas Skuld Against The Motion spoke Mr. Bjørnar Andresen Group Chief Underwriting Officer Gard As who supported that there is no any extra danger in the pure car carriers from Li-ion batteries as this material is used extensively in the construction of all vessels that incorporate new technology.
Final motion: “This House believes that the increasing danger of transiting the Red Sea Bab el Mandeb Straits allows Owners to refuse Charterers’ orders to do so.”
Moderator : Mr. Dinos Caroussis Director Chios Navigation ( Hellas ) Ltd.
For The Motion : Mr. Ian Clarke Head of Claims & Regional Director (Hellas) West of England Insurance Services SA. who told that the master and the shipping company have the duty to examine the objective conditions and decide how to approach the risks posed by the voyage.
Against The Motion spoke Mr. Dale Hammond Director Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Limited. argued that wouldn’t be applicable for owners to cancel the terms of the charter party and deviate around the Cape. It depends on the charter party clauses to reject or not the charterers orders.
The event was concluded with the Closing Remarks by the Chairman Mr. Lou Kollakis.
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