Claims Handling Guide

A Guide to Casualty Investigation and Claims Handling

The way in which a claim is handled can have a substantial impact upon its ultimate cost. Effective claims handling is crucial to minimising the Members’ financial exposure. It requires co-ordinated effort from all concerned – the Club, the Member, the correspondents, experts, and lawyers. It is a team effort.

This innovative guide to claims handling was first produced in 2004, in the form of a CD-Rom, with the support of The Ship Safety Trust (SST). The SST was established by the Club’s Managers to support loss prevention and safety initiatives, and through this means, to make high quality safety and training materials available to the Club’s Members. Through the involvement of the SST, these materials are produced without cost to the Club.

The Guide contains an overview of the claims handling requirements that are applicable generally to P&I incidents, and a more detailed review of the essential measures necessary to handle claims that fall within the categories most frequently encountered by the Club: – Crew, Passengers, Stowaways and Others, Collision and Non-Contact Incidents, Fixed and Floating Objects, Pollution and Property (Cargo and Third party Property).  Cross references are made to the Club Rules and any relevant articles and Club Circulars.

There are also sections dealing with general matters such as Guarantees, Time Bars and Written Statement and Documentary Evidence.

The Guide is intended for use both ashore and onboard the Members’ vessels.  By providing Masters with guidance on matters of essential importance in the handling of particular claims, loss minimisation is facilitated.

"A Team Effort" - CD-Rom

Details of the CD-Rom version of this guide can be found by clicking here.