Specialist marine insurance intermediary Seacurus has launched a new insurance policy to indemnify yacht crew for their monetary loss, including repatriation in the event of the financial default of their employers.
Unlike the extension to the P&I club rules which cover repatriation only, the policy offers recompense in respect of unpaid crew wages as required by Regulation 1.4 of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC). The policy will enable all employers of yacht crew to meet their regulatory obligations under the MLC, which enters force on 20 August, 2013.
The new policy, CrewSEACURE, provides up to $10m of cover in the event of an employer’s financial default. It includes personal accident protection and covers medical expenses as well as subsistence and repatriation costs. It will also respond, unlike any other product currently on the market, in respect of the non-payment of crew wages, for a period of up to six months.
Underwritten by insurers in the Lloyd’s and Company markets in London, it offers an independent round-the-clock claims service managed by Thomas Miller Claims, the world’s leading maritime ‘people claims’ service provider.
It also includes a claims mandate which protects the interests of yacht owner, employer and crew member alike, to ensure a fair claims process. A 24-hour helpline is available for crew members and their advisers, who are afforded direct access to the insurers’ claims adjusters.
In order to deliver the product to market, Seacurus will act as managing general underwriters with access to Lloyd’s security led by Brit Syndicates Ltd and companies’ market security provided by Aspen Insurance UK Ltd.
CrewSEACURE provides cover which meets flag state and port state control approval, and is authenticated by a yacht-specific MLC2006 insurance certificate to demonstrate compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention. Comprehensive cover is provided at low cost, with premiums of as little as 50 cents per crew member per day.
Nick Maddalena, Director of UK-based Seacurus, says, “We have designed this product to cover the requirements of the MLC. Whereas abandonment of crew is not the scourge that it is in the commercial shipping sector, we recognise the significance of ensuring that all code-compliant pleasure yachts are provided with the requisite certification to ensure that they conform to their flag state laws and that there is the minimum delay during port state control inspections undertaken within member states that have ratified the convention.
“We understand that the UK government will be ratifying the convention in August this year and that very shortly afterwards it will be extended to other Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies. For instance, the Cayman Islands has been reworking its legislation for some time and has said there will be major changes, including some completely new regulations.
“Employment protection must include crew wages. For that reason, we provides an effective system of financial security for yachting crews, and satisfies the requirements of the MLC.”
Further details of the CrewSEACURE insurance coverage can be found at www.crewseacure.com
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