Claims Handling Guidelines

During IMCC 2005 a draft leader’s claims protocol was introduced, the prime objective of which was to establish the predominant responsibilities of a claims leader with regard to information and settlement. The issues were discussed in workshop sessions at the Conference as a result of which there was a consensus that the protocol should be considered further by a working group formed of representatives of various markets who could discuss the issues with insurers in their respective markets.

The working group, whose primary objective is to establish a set of guidelines to promote the efficient handling of hull claims, is now comprised of the following:

Michael Harvey (UK) - Chairman
Paul Cunningham (UK)
Jostein Egeland (Norway)
Joe Grasso (USA)
Brian Sales (USA)
Neil Hawkins (UK)
Giles Heligon (France)
Alan Hildrew (UK)
Lars Malm (Sweden)
Andrea Papaioannu (Italy)
Florian Krampitz (Germany)

Prior to the 2008 Dublin conference the working group had drafted an introduction to the Protocol as a precise statement of its objectives and had sought to incorporate changes to address the concerns of individual markets and comments received from the broking fraternity. The group also proposed to change the name of the document to the «IMCC Claims Handling Guidelines» as it was felt that this was a better statement of the intended function of the document.
The group’s revised draft was presented at the conference and considerable feedback obtained. This enabled the group to further refine the Guidelines and present a revised draft to the appropriate market bodies for their consideration and endorsement. Having received this endorsement, the final version of the Guidelines was ratified at the 2009 Dublin conference.

A copy of the IMCC Claims Handling Guidelines - 2009 can be downloaded here. It is hoped that the use of the Guidelines will assist in the efficient and timely handling of Marine Hull Claims.

Any comments or experiences regarding the use of the Guidelines should be passed to Michael Harvey.