08.30-08.55

Registration and Refreshments sponsored by Sioli Alexander Pino

08.55-09.00

Welcome Address

Presenter: Grant Attwell, Events Director, Cannon Events

09.00-09.30

Fireside Chat: Longer-Term Health Issues Arising from Conflicts

Industry fears that the Gulf conflict may well result in some longer-term claims as crew suffer mental health episodes months or even years after the crisis has passed. This session will provide a deeper understanding of trauma and how it might lead to claims. We will consider how reactions from both owners and insurers now might shape future claims and help reduce the trauma for seafarers.

Participants: Sioli Alexander Pino and ISI Claims

09.30-09.50

Presentation: Collecting Evidence in Wartime

Claims always require plenty of evidence to support the application, however in wartime this can be extremely challenging, if not almost impossible. In this session, we hear from explosive experts who can explain what the evidence should look like and whether explosives were actually involved.

Presenter: Ray Luukas, Consultant Engineer, Brookes Bell

Andrew Yarwood, Business Director, Brookes Bell

09.50-10.10

Presentation: Surviving the Unknown

Recent tragic events have reverberated through the forensic community and the maritime sector. In this session, we are going to look at some of the risk factors that can emerge in the post-emergency response phase. These risks can impact on all who are involved in the recovery and investigative phase and awareness can contribute to safe outcomes, thus ensuring that all involved can go home safely.

Presenter: John Gow, Principal Associate, Hawkins

10.10-10.50

Panel Discussion: Geopolitics – Where will the Next Pinch-Point Develop?

Recent events, from the blocking of the Suez Canal to the drought in the Panama Canal and now the blocking of the Straits of Hormuz, have all shown up the potential pinch points for shipping around the world. In this panel, we will explore the other possible pinch points caused by war, political interference or climate change.

Moderator: Iryna Petrenko, Manager of Claims and P&I Department, Nordic Marine Solutions

Panellists: Marie Kelly, Vice President Charterers and Traders and Defence Global, Gard

NorthStandard P&I Club

Jonathan Evans, Partner – Global Risks, DWF Law

Caglar Coskunsu, Founding Partner, Cavus & Coskunsu Law Firm

10.50-11.20

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by

11.20-12.00

Panel Discussion: Ports of Refuge – Finding a Safe Haven

Finding a port of refuge after a casualty is becoming ever more complicated as environmental rules increasingly dictate the behaviour of coastal authorities. Combine that with conflict across the world and salvors are challenged more than ever when considering the options. For example, casualties in the Indian Ocean may result in the vessel being towed towards the Arabian Gulf, where the UAE has recently adopted IMO Resolutions into its domestic legislation. We discuss how that has changed the landscape, while considering the impact of the Gulf war on decision making.

Moderator: Marlena Truszczynska, Director – Head of Shipping Claims, Tysers

Panellists: Maurice Schreurs, Commercial Director (ER), SMIT Salvage

Helene Peter-Davies, Legal Director – Master Mariner, Hill Dickinson

Anthony Cage, Claims Manager, London P&I Club

Jasmin Fichte, Managing Partner, Fichte & Co

12.00-12.30

Lucky (or Not) Dip

We have a bit of fun here and invite three salvage companies to pitch for business. There are only three sealed envelopes and a set casualty which our Salvor’s can pick…..Lloyd’s Open Forum, Bimco Tow Hire, Bimco Wreck Hire.

Participants: Elias Psyllos, Vice President, T&T Salvage

Henk Smith, Owner/Director, Marine Masters

Daniel Dettor, Director of Business Development, Resolve Marine

12.30-12.50

Case Study: The Malaysia Challenge…

In this case study we will explore the challenges of a major wreck off the Malaysian coast. It involved a large oil rig/platform and presented some unique difficulties along the way. We will look back at the case and explore how it provided lessons for future such incidents.

Presenter: Elias Psyllos, Vice President, T&T Salvage

12.50-13.50

Lunch Break and Networking

13.50-14.30

Panel Discussion: Cargo Navigating Tariffs – The Implications for Claims Trends

The world has changed dramatically in the past 18 months, not least as a result of tariffs imposed by the US. We have seen changing cargo routes and resulting impacts on claims costs. In this session, we not only look at the continuing impact of misdeclared cargoes on claims, but the impact of tariffs and how that has changed the type of claims the market is facing.

Moderator:

Panellists: Suzanne Byrne, Group Head of Claims, West of England P&I Club

14.30-14.50

Presentation: Cargo Theft in the US – Thieves Costing the Insurance Industry Dearly

Cargo theft is on the rise. The trend has been particularly noticeable in the US, so in this session we analyse the numbers to see if there are any predictable patterns emerging that might help reduce the problem going forward. We also look at the impact on claims results in the US.

Presenter:

14.50-15.10

Legal Briefs (x3): Around the World from the Courts

These three brief sessions look at some of the most interesting cases in the past year from around the world, providing insight into the mood of the courts and the way litigation might shape claims into the future.

Presenter: Anthony Menzies, Partner, DAC Beachcroft

15.10-15.40

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by

15.40-16.00

Presentation: The Inbox is the System

Before a claim exists in any system, it exists somewhere else: in inboxes, attachments and message threads carrying survey findings, broker updates and master’s reports. This session looks at that gap between when information appears and when it is formally captured and asks whether it is something the market has simply accepted, or something worth designing for. 

Presenter: Anna Łukaszczyk, Strategic Initiative Lead, Insurance, Future Processing

Karol Urbańczyk, Insurance Technology Consultant, Future Processing

16.00-16.40

Panel Discussion: Staying on the Compliant Side of Sanctions

Sanctions continue to present the marine world with massive headaches and remaining compliant is becoming ever more complex, resulting in some of the highest numbers of enquiries that P&I Clubs have dealt with. Members are asking about the sanctions risks of dealing with contractual counterparties, cargoes and other actors. In this discussion, we look at the challenges and provide some of the answers.

Moderator: Oliver Caplin KC, Barrister, Twenty Essex

Panellists: Konstantin Krasnokutskiy, Managing Partner, Navicus Law

Simon Leslie, Associate Director, London P&I Club

Kateryna Liashevych, Claims Manager, GMT+ Insurance Brokers

NorthStandard P&I Club

16.40-17.10

Debate: Jurisdiction Matters – Nordics vs London

There is nothing new in jurisdictions competing for global trade and the debate between which is best continues unabated. In this debate, we pitch London against the Nordics to discuss the advantages (and disadvantages) of either jurisdiction and the wordings used by each market, ultimately leaving it up to you, the audience, to decide the merits of each argument.

Participants: Andreas Meidell, Partner, Thommessen

Bea Bray, Associate, HFW

17.10

Close of Conference Day One followed by Gala Dinner

09.00-09.30

Registration and Refreshments sponsored by Sioli Alexnder Pino

09.30-09.35

Welcome Address

Grant Attwell, Events Director, Cannon Events

09.35-09.55

Presentation:

Presenter: 7KBW

09.55-10.15

Presentation: What is Blocking and Trapping in War Risk Insurance

In this discussion, we explain exactly what blocking and trapping is and how it impacts marine claims. We will look at the war in Ukraine and at more recent events in the Gulf to show the different way policies will respond and what claims might follow.

Presenter: Dr. Felix Goebel, Partner, DWF Law

10.15-11.00

Panel Discussion: Claims Inflation – What Goes Up Never Comes Down

Though not solely responsible, the Gulf war has certainly been fuelling rising claims costs. In this session, we look at the way claims costs are escalating and ask whether there is more that insurers can do with their insureds to keep a lid on prices. We also look at other drivers for inflation beyond the Gulf war.

Moderator: Rebecca Hill, Senior Claims Handler, Starr Insurance

Panellists: Roshan Kumar, Head – Marine Claims Department, India International Insurance

Melis Otmar, Executive Dirctor – Head of Marine Claims London, Howden

Caroline Avgerinou, Syndicate Manager, Thomas Miller BV Greek Branch

11.00-11.20

Presentation: Keeping the Wheels in Motion

The use of condition-based maintenance, as well as predictive maintenance, have become more routine in the past couple of years. However, the approach has resulted in some unexpected claims. The question for this session is whose fault does that become? Is it the manufacturers or the owners? We will discuss the changing approach on maintenance as well as some of the emerging claims.

Presenter:

11.20-11.50

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by

11.50-12.10

Presentation: Future Salvage in a Multi-Fuel World

The transition towards alternative marine fuels extends well beyond vessel design and propulsion technology. While LNG, methanol and ammonia each present different operational characteristics, they also introduce new challenges when casualties occur. This presentation examines how alternative fuels may reshape future marine salvage operations, the implications for insurers and responders, and why preparedness, training and cooperation across the entire response chain will be essential in a multi-fuel shipping industry.

Presenter: Oliver Timofei, Director, BlueTack

12.10-12.45

Debate: Is the Admiralty Court Fit for Purpose?

The marine world is a specialist and complex area, with dispute resolution being the way that the law is developed and enhanced to remain relevant in supporting the industry. However, are the Courts at the heart of this market fit for purpose? In this debate, we look at this question from both sides, leaving the result to an audience vote.

Participants: Ian Teare, Partner – Head of Shipping, Hill Dickinson

Robert Thomas KC, Barrister, Quadrant Chambers

12.45-13.05

13.05-14.30

Luncheon and Close of Conference