Insight course 2012

Twenty nine delegates from across the membership of ITIC and its sister mutuals, UK P&I Club, UK Defence, TT Club, and UK and Hellenic War Risk Clubs participated in the 15t Annual Thomas Miller Insight into Transport Law and Insurance course recently.

It was a busy week for all the delegates as they combined an intensive course programme each day with social events in the evening. 

Located in London, this combined working and social programme provided useful networking opportunities as well as time for Members to meet respective contacts at the Club. 

ITIC

Robert Hodge, Account Executive at ITIC gave lectures on the course.  One, an overview of ITIC and the nature of professional indemnity insurance.  A second lecture gave an in-depth review of ship managers, the legal framework they operate within and the claims experienced by ship managers.  A workshop was also provided, which gave a practical insight into a ship casualty and how ITIC’s cover would assist its Members involved in the loss, such as the ship manager, ship agent and naval architect. 

ITIC members attending also spent their time learning about the other insurances provided by the Thomas Miller businesses, aspects of maritime law and loss prevention. 

A guest speaker from the survey company Brookes Bell gave a presentation to the delegates, who looked at the role of surveyors investigating casualties and incidents in conjunction with the clubs and lawyers to resolve claims. 

Breadth of coverage

Breadth of coverage is one of the advantages of this course.  War, hull & machinery were covered with both lectures and case studies.  A cargo claims workshop reviewed the parties, the insurers, the legal framework, the carrier’s obligations and defences, and how such claims are resolved.  A 'people claims' workshop similarly considered the claims that are made in respect of people in marine insurance – injuries to crew, stevedores and passengers, illness claims, stowaway problems.  The implications of recent cruise ship incidents were a particularly topical part of the day. 

An admiralty, collisions and pollution workshop was given which detailed insights into the legal consequences of major incidents, covering the consequences of collisions, pollution liabilities worldwide, salvage obligations as well as practical aspects of dealing with major casualties.   Another workshop on charterparties was also given, which concentrated on the contractual framework of ship chartering, touching on payment of hire, loading and discharging responsibilities, and the commercial disputes which can arise in ship operation.

Practical and current issues

Risk assessment and loss prevention were an important part of the course. This focused on ship inspection programmes, large loss analysis and enhancing industry awareness of risk.  Topical issues in the maritime industry discussed in the following session included the economic outlook, shipping markets, piracy and sanctions. 

The course concluded with an overview of dispute resolution procedures in the maritime industry, including court and arbitration procedures, ship arrest and alternative dispute resolution followed by a mediation case study.

Social events 

Social events, for relaxation and networking, ranged from a tour of London on a vintage Routemaster bus, a visit to the Shakespearean Globe Theatre and dinner at the neighbouring Swan restaurant through to a lunch cruise on the River Thames and a visit to the historic clipper ship Cutty Sark.