OUR MAN IN …………

ITIC Around the Globe

ITIC, like the shipping markets served by its Members, is truly international.  The Club has Members in 93 countries. We, at our London office, have wide specialist knowledge of the problems that affect our Members wherever they may be based.  This concentration of experience is unrivalled.  A shipbroker in Singapore can receive advice from ITIC executives who have handled similar problems for brokers in Oslo, London and Hong Kong.  Ship managers based in Cyprus, Germany and Hong Kong can equally profit from the Club’s vast experience of ship management contracts.

The Club’s expertise is not, however, restricted to the London office.  In this article we profile a  member of the ITIC team who has moved from the London office to assist Members in Dubai.  ITIC also enjoys the benefit of long established relationships with experts worldwide, and we conclude this article with a portrait of Correduria General Maritima S.L., who have, for many years, assisted Members in Spain.

Our Man in Dubai – Andrew Webster

Andrew spent 3 years in the London office having previously been with the UK P&I Club.  His previous experience in the Middle East resulted in his appointment as area executive for that region to which he travelled frequently on ITIC business.  In April 2000 he moved to Dubai to take over the TT Club regional office (TTMS (Gulf)) and combine his new role with that of ITIC Middle Eastern Representative.  Although based in Dubai, Andrew travels extensively in the region and is often found speaking at conferences and seminars.  He is however, always contactable via the Dubai office to assist with claims or other enquiries that are not connected with the underwriting process.

Our friends in Spain  - Correduria  General Maritima S.L.

Correduria General Maritima S.L. was founded by Mr Pedro Lachiondo in Bilbao in 1939 when this city and port was the main shipping centre in Spain.  The origins of the business are much older as Correduria was the continuation of the English insurance brokers, shipowners and shipbrokers Harris & Dixon who had opened an office in Bilbao, Harris & Dixon Limitada, in 1898.  Mr Pedro Lachiondo had joined that firm in 1918 and some years later became the first non-British partner.

The onset of World War II caused Harris & Dixon to close their office and Mr Pedro Lachiondo took the opportunity to continue the business and become one of the first insurance brokers in Spain specialising in marine business.  In addition the company carried out other activities such as ship agency and ship broking.

Since then Correduria have been the exclusive Spanish representatives of the Britannia P&I Club, which for many years has insured around 90 percent of the Spanish controlled merchant fleet.  This, together with the representation of ITIC, is now Correduria’s main activity.  Their head office is still in Bilbao but the company has a branch office in Madrid.  These offices contain highly qualified and professional staff who are eager to provide the Members with the best possible service.

Correduria remains a family business (the third generation) now under the leadership of Mr Jon Lachiondo who took over from his father and two uncles a few years ago.  He originally joined the firm in 1989 after training at Tindall, Riley & Co and Harris & Dixon in London.  At that time Tindall Riley were the managers of the Britannia and CISBA Clubs and following the merger in 1992 of CISBA and TIM the connection with ITIC was retained.

ITIC has about 50 Members in Spain, which is a traditional maritime country with ship agents located in the many medium sized ports situated along the coast line.  The largest ship agents usually have their head offices in Madrid, which is also the chosen location for many other shipping intermediaries such as ship brokers and surveyors.

The claims and enquiries from existing Members as well as the task of attracting new Members to the Club has, for many years, been undertaken by Mr Jon Lachiondo and Mr Pedro Mendezona.  Three years ago they were joined by Mr Imanol Basterrexea.  Correduria’s long standing relationship with ITIC means that Members in Spain can draw upon the services of this well known and experienced local company at any time.