UNDERWRITING

SELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS

When assessing potential new Members, the Managers will ensure that those accepted for entry bring benefits to the existing membership and are broadly compatible with Britannia’s existing risk exposure. To this end a knowledge of a new Member’s standards of operation and attitude to risk avoidance will have been built up over a period of time.

APPROACH TO UNDERWRITING

For both new and existing Members, the Managers seek a contribution by way of calls with the aim of achieving equity between all Members. In calculating individual call requirements, underwriters analyse the existing loss record and future risk exposure of each Member. As Members wish to avoid unnecessary volatility in their call contributions, the underwriters review loss records over a ten year period to identify any claim patterns and where necessary make adjustments to individual Members’ rates in an endeavour to achieve long-term stability.

COST OF COVER

A combination of good quality membership and equitable underwriting has ensured Members have achieved stable, predictable and competitive calls over a long period.

Any unexpected volatility in the Association’s underwriting result is protected by the reinsurance arrangement with the Bermuda based reinsurer, Boudicca (this reinsurance provides equivalent protection to that formerly offered by the Association’s General Reserve). Otherwise, Britannia avoids whole account reinsurance, preferring to retain funds within the Association rather than dissipating them to conventional reinsurers. The administration and management costs of running Britannia are kept under constant control and are vetted by the Committee of the Association.

SERVICE

Control and management of the underwriting function is from London though Singapore and Hong Kong have regulated underwriting authority as well. An understanding of the operations and needs of each Member is achieved by frequent contact. Prompt service on such matters as mortgage undertakings, oil pollution certification and related insurance issues is the underwriters’ target. Access to a variety of specialised insurance and reinsurance programmes enables the Managers to provide cover to suit the needs of each Member.

FINANCIAL SECURITY

Whilst the cover provided by the Association is broad, situations may arise that require extra commercial insurance to be arranged. The Managers are able to assist in this and currently have the following facilities available for Members :-

  1. Breach of contract of carriage (deviations) – for liability to cargo, for example arising out of geographical deviations, transshipments, drydocking etc.
  2. Members liabilities – for liabilities arising under contracts which fall outside the scope of Club cover for example towage, indemnities etc.
  3. P&I risks prior to delivery of a new ship.
  4. Extended cargo liability – for liabilities greater than those under Hague or Hague Visby Rules.
  5. Floating production storage and offloading system vessels (FPSOs)
  6. Container cover – for liabilities normally outside the scope of Club cover.
  7. Extended through transit cover – cover for liabilities to third parties arising from the containerised cargo itself even though the cargo was not on the entered ship at the time of the incident.

Further information on the extra commercial insurance cover offered by the Association can be found on the Additional Insurances webpage.

Britannia