Maritime Reader

NEWS INTELLIGENCE ARCHIVE
03 AUG 2026 MONDAY
Advanced filters
Keywords | type to search… Date: All time Sources: All Topics: All
STEAMSHIP MUTUAL UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION LIMITED Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (Registered in England and Wales – Registration number 105461. PRA and FCA registration number 202548) MANAGERS: STEAMSHIP P&I MANAGEMENT LLP SPIM is an appointed representative of Steamship Insurance Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Registered in England and Wales – Registration Number OC376859. FCA registration number 597046) Club Circular Rights of Recourse October 2025 Dear Members With effect from 20 February 2026, it will be a requirement under mutual P&I cover that Members preserve certain rights of recourse for the carriage of dangerous goods in contracts for carriage. Specifically, any liabilities that would not have arisen but for a waiver, a limitation of or a failure to incorporate rights of recourse for the carriage of dangerous goods which are found in Article IV Rule 6 of the Hague or Hague Visby Rules, will only be recoverable at the discretion of a Club Board/Committee. This evolution in cover reflects the Group Clubs’ support for laws that have automatic application to the contract for carriage, such as the Hague and Hague Visby Rules, representing a long-established and fair system, with the parties’ rights and obligations being clearly defined, including the express right of the carrier to recover from a shipper in respect of the carriage of dangerous goods where notice that the goods are dangerous has not been given. 1 In contrast to contractually negotiated or implied rights, the carrier’s right of recourse for the carriage of dangerous goods in these circumstances is one of strict liability that, in the majority of maritime jurisdictions, is automatically applicable under a bill of lading as a matter of statute/law, unless expressly waived or restricted by the carrier. The requirement to uphold such rights of recourse is therefore simply an expression of the well-established principle of P&I cover that Members should contract on terms that are no less favourable than the Hague or Hague Visby Rules, a principle based on the premise that sharing risks requires a level playing field. The concept of mutuality would be breached if greater liabilities were to be incurred because a Member agreed less advantageous terms for commercial benefit. 1 For the avoidance of doubt, references in this Circular to “dangerous goods” are not aimed at situations where the carrier is made expressly aware of the dangerous nature of the cargo and has thus accepted the risk of such danger. STEAMSHIP MUTUAL UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION LIMITED Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority (Registered in England and Wales – Registration number 105461. PRA and FCA registration number 202548) MANAGERS: STEAMSHIP P&I MANAGEMENT LLP SPIM is an appointed representative of Steamship Insurance Management Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Registered in England and Wales – Registration Number OC376859. FCA registration number 597046) Moreover, the liabilities that can be incurred through the carriage of dangerous goods are potentially very large. Several significant cases involving dangerous goods have impacted the Pool in recent years. In such circumstances, where Grou
← Back to latest
pi_circular Steamship Mutual ·2026-02-26

London IGPI Circular

Steamship Mutual
Read full article at Steamship Mutual →
Opens Steamship Mutual in a new tab

Topics & segments

← Back to latest

Related Knowledge

Documents on the same topic from the archive