Services

Marine Insurers and their Clients:
For marine insurers and their clients – we offer risk based surveys, loss prevention, condition based surveys, surveys of marine property, casualty response surveys, claims consultancy and technical support.
When assessing levels of risk, we tailor our approach to each assignment according to the insurance conditions and against a background of claims/loss data. We also try to be proactive and predict where future failures could occur.
For ships, we work on the basis that the majority of accidents and losses arise out of the way in which that ship is managed, operated, manned and maintained, rather than purely its physical condition. Where possible, we sail on the ships during the survey in order to see the machinery in operation and the ship’s staff in action.
The intention is to provide a survey document which reduces levels of risk for insurers while also being of benefit to the assured, by helping to improve safety and reliability. The document is not a descriptive condition survey, nor is it compiled from a simple questionnaire. It is an open ended risk assessment exercise which is designed to allow the surveyor to focus on different areas as the particular risk profile emerges.
For ships, ports and shipyards, fires remain the most prominent risk and we focus heavily on fire prevention, fire containment and fire extinguishing, however, where these risks are found to be satisfactory, the fluidity of the exercise allows us to minimize the amount of time spent looking at low risk areas, and devote more time to high risk areas.
Where possible, the surveys are closed out by a presentation of our findings to the assured, followed by a written report to insurers and the assured, usually via the broker. The final document contains useful risk reduction recommendations, which have been derived with cost effectiveness in mind. When making recommendations we always try to be realistic and look for simple, cost effective solutions. We try not to give recommendations which cannot be realistically dealt with in terms of cost, time and inconvenience.

For Hull and Machinery Insurers:
Risk Assessment Survey - is usually where we are required to survey a single ship. It is a standard format report and covers all areas of structural physical condition as well as operation and maintenance. There is a section on the management company, but we do not go out of the way to meet the management unless they happen to be in the area or if a superintendent is on board. We like to sail on the ship whenever possible, although this is really only feasible with ferries on fixed routes.
Technical Appraisal - is for smaller fleets and involves us meeting the management, and giving underwriters an understanding of the way in which the company operates, manages and maintains its vessels. We then survey a representative sample of vessels, perhaps two or three. Again, we try to sail on one of the vessels if possible.
Loss Prevention Study - is a higher level risk assessment exercise for larger fleets. We start by giving an opening presentation, which explains the purpose of the exercise. We spend quite a lot of time with the technical management, looking at maintenance, loss records, accident reporting, drydock reports, safety management system, etc. We survey a sample of the fleet, perhaps four or five vessels, and will use two or three different surveyors, each specializing in different areas. We will make a point of sailing on at least one vessel so that operational, crewing, navigating practices can all be covered. We then give a final presentation of our findings to the company so that they fully understand the issues raised, before compiling a written report with recommendations.

For P&I Insurers:
We are always pleased to carry out surveys for P&I Clubs using their preferred survey formats. We appreciate that each insurer has their own preferred survey style and we try to follow this as closely as possible, adding our own comments where we feel it is appropriate.

For Marine Property Insurers: We have developed formats for surveying shipyards in connection with repairers liability cover, ports and terminals, yacht marinas, and we are equally happy to use insurer preferred formats such as the JH143 for builders risk insurance. We try to approach each survey from a pragmatic risk based approach rather than comment purely upon condition.

Marine Loss Adjusting :
Our approach to casualty surveys is slightly different to the traditional approach. We try to give assistance to the assured in the aftermath of the casualty while gathering information and liaising with insurers. We believe that more surveyor involvement at an early stage is a good thing, in so far as the surveyor can assist with preparing repair specifications, obtaining quotes for parts and labour and guiding the assured towards a satisfactory solution at an early stage.
With marine casualties, with this helpful, hands-on approach, and where appropriate, we can take this a step further, and subject to the agreement of insurers regarding coverage etc, process the repair costs and take the claim to a point where it can be resolved satisfactorily as soon as possible.

Claims consultancy and technical support :
Among the 4 core personnel at Inserve, there is over 60 years sea going and shore based ship management experience, involving very many ship types. Add to that degrees in engineering, ship design and naval architecture, classification society work and insurance claims handling experience with average adjusters, and there is a lot of expertise on hand to offer marine insurers and their claims staff. We are pleased to offer underwriters any amount of ad hoc technical advice should they have any questions regarding the technical aspects of ships and ports. We are also happy to review claims files and offer opinions on the technical aspects such as cause of damage, timing of damage, quantum, number of accidents, etc.