Following the UK Club's Board Meeting in Tokyo on 27th October, the Club hosted a reception at the Palace Hotel. The event was well attended by guests from the local shipping community. The Club managers were represented by the London Underwriting department together with the local office staff. UK Club Chairmen Alan Olivier presented on the importance of the Japanese shipping community and how its support reflects the UK Club's total tonnage.
Alan also confirmed how busy the board have been, and the steps taken to sustain sound underwriting and financial health. These current dynamics confirm the reasons behind the decision for the 6.5% General Increase for 2015.
The preparation of cargo holds for the next intended carriage is a critical operation which requires careful planning and execution; this article considers a number of legal issues which may arise, including terms commonly used in charterparties to describe the cleanliness of cargo holds, the consequences of failing to comply with such terms, potentially resulting in off-hire claims and damages, and the role of the independent surveyor.
Hold preparation is probably the most vital part of bulk carrier operations; if it is not undertaken properly, it can result in substantial cargo claims, delays, additional cleaning, survey costs and expensive off-hire disputes.
In collaboration with I.M.E.Q., Sophia Bullard, Crew Health Director at UK P&I Club, discusses the issue of grief and its impact on crew, exploring the stages, signs and symptoms of grief, as well as coping mechanisms.
During the initial stages of the voyage, the vessel encountered heavy weather, with spray and seas shipped on deck and all hatch covers over a period of 8 days; this video explores how this affected the maize cargo.
