Now is the time to manage the “unthinkable” risks that could incur serious losses, according to IUMI President Dieter Berg.
Opening this year’s International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) annual conference on September 17 in Cape Town, South Africa, Dieter highlighted a series of losses that, until recently, would have been assessed as “unthinkable”, these included: Deepwater Horizon (insured loss $6bn), Costa Concordia (insured loss $1.5bn) and the Tianjin port explosion (insured loss $2-3bn). Nat-cats were also creating large losses such as hurricane’s Katrina and Rita in 2005 (total insured offshore energy/marine loss $12.57 bn) and last year’s hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria which resulted in more than $1bn in yacht losses.
According to Dieter, “unthinkable” risks would become more commonplace and underwriters must adapt to manage them effectively.
He said: “Growing accumulation of risks at sea and ashore is of increasing concern. On large containerships where around 20% of boxes are empty, we are likely to see a combined cargo and hull value of around US$1.5bn, and that doesn’t include any wreck removal or pollution costs. In ports and terminals, the values are even higher as was seen at Tianjin.”
“Climate change will continue to influence risk profiles. Earthquakes and wind storms are not the real issue, unless you are an offshore energy underwriter. But flooding and storm surges can create massive losses.”
He went on to say: “The political landscape is also changing with an increase in sanctions and disruptions to trade agreements. Certain regimes are entering trade wars that has led to increased protectionism. The impending Brexit is causing instability within the Eurozone and is also likely to impact our industry.”
Emerging and unquantifiable risks were of increasing concern to marine underwriters but Berg was confident that the sector would step up to the challenge.
“By identifying, monitoring, reacting and being innovative we can manage the unthinkable”. He said.
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