Since 1987, the Club has focused heavily on using its experience of handling and analysing the causes of shipping liability claims to raise awareness of what goes wrong and to get that information to those at the sharp end. Much of this has been done in the form of contemperaneous advice on current claims trends.

Using this experience in a more focused way the Club has now modified its ship visit system  to concentrate more on claims reduction rather than that of rule compliance as covered by the many other inspection regimes.

By analysing 20 years of claims and using  the formula RISK = FREQUENCY x CONSEQUENCE the Club has identified many of the hazards, threats, consequences and  the controlling factors which have been seen to cause/prevent these claims. 

By drawing on this analysis and the experience of its claims executives, ship inspectors and underwriters, the Club has defined 76 major threat areas which cause liability claims, and some 450 controls which may be able to help reduce the likelihood of those threats causing an incident.

A visit now involves the use of a structured system which rates and records these threats/controls, so that a more scientific approach to claims prevention/control can be taken. In time the system will show trends and benchmarks which will be used to assist Members in developing a more focused approach to their own safety systems to help manage their risks better.