Cargo Liabilities


As P&I Club Correspondents, we do our utmost to reduce the exposure of our clients and their Members to any cargo claims, either by advising and arranging the most efficient protective measures available (draft surveys, loading surveys/tallies, discharge surveys/tallies and preliminary hatch opening reports) or by appointing competent and cost-effective surveyors to identify the causes and extent of any damage and/or attend court survey meetings. Throughout the surveyor's intervention, we keep our clients fully informed of all developments, forwarding and checking all tally and survey reports, and providing our advice as required. Our experienced claim handlers supervise the activities of the surveyors they appoint, ensuring that they receive clear and appropriate instructions, and that these instructions are followed, and also that reporting is both timely and consistent.

Service Description:

1. Incident Management

Incident Investigation


Ascertain facts and circumstances of the incident, instructing and supervising competent surveyors as needed
Assist Master in dealing with local Authorities
Take statements from crew and other relevant witnesses 
Collect relevant documentation

Damage

Ascertain nature and extent of the damage, instructing and monitoring competent surveyors as needed
Recommend steps to mitigate loss 
Assist in salvage sale

Vessel Arrest or threat thereof


Recommend steps to avoid an arrest  
Ascertain circumstances of the arrest or threat thereof 
Negotiate nature and amount of security 
Issue LOUs on P&I underwriters' behalf and authority  
Assist in setting up other types of security  
Assist in satisfying other demands from claimants (documentation, statements, inspections, etc.) 
Instruct, monitor and assist competent lawyers as needed

2. Claims Management:

Out of Court

Act as Focal Point for claims submission  
Claim inventorying, indexing and reporting  
Claim analysis  
Propose strategy to handle claim  
Reject claims or negotiate settlement  
Arrange settlement & obtain relevant releases

In Court


Ascertain circumstances of the legal action  
Attempt to stay proceedings and continue handling amicably  
Instruct and monitor competent lawyers as necessary  
Assist appointed lawyers with facts and technical advice  
Monitoring legal proceedings  
Assist with settlement payments

3. Recovery Actions: 

Identify possible liable third parties  
Recommend steps to protect recovery actions 
Assist in conducting recovery actions in China