Member circulars
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4/2017: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments and US Ballast Water Management (BWM) Regulations
MEMBER CIRCULAR 04/201715 JUL 2017
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We refer Members to our Circular 17/2016 on the IMO’s International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (the “Convention”) that will enter into force on 8th September 2017, and the US Coast Guard (USCG) regulations requiring the installation on most vessels operating in US waters of a BWM system that meets the USCG’s stricter testing standards at the first scheduled dry docking after 1st January 2016.
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3/2017: BIMCO/ISCO Standard Spill Response Contracts, RESPONSECON and US RESPONSECON
MEMBER CIRCULAR 03/1710 JUL 2017
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Members are informed that BIMCO and ISCO have launched two standard contracts, RESPONSECON and US RESPONSECON, for the hire of specialised spill response services and equipment. The contracts were drafted by a project sub-committee representing industry and chaired by a representative from the International Group. They conform with the International Group's Guidelines on Vessel Response Contracts.
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2/2017: Notice of Annual General Meeting of Assuranceforeningen Gard - gjensidig -
MEMBER CIRCULAR 02/201715 JUN 2017
The Annual General Meeting of Assuranceforeningen Gard - gjensidig - will be held at the offices of Gard AS, in Arendal, Norway on, on 1 September 2017.
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1/2017: Review of policy years - Release calls
MEMBER CIRCULAR 1/201709 MAY 2017
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The Boards of Directors of Gard P. & I. (Bermuda) Ltd. and its subsidiaries have noted that the Association’s financial position continues to strengthen, and are pleased to report that no Deferred Call for the 2016 policy year will be levied against the Members.
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20/2016: STOPIA 2006 (as amended 2017) and TOPIA 2006 (as amended 2017) – 2017 amendments
MEMBER CIRCULAR 20/201620 FEB 2017
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The International Group initiated a review at the start of 2016, with the participation of the 1992 Fund Secretariat and the OCIMF. The outcome of the review initiated by the International Group at the start of 2016 highlighted that the total cost of claims paid by shipowners under the system in this ten year period was significantly higher than the total cost of claims paid by cargo contributors in the same period. However, following consultation with ICS and Intertanko, the International Group decided on this occasion not to implement any of the measures in the Agreements to adjust the financial burden.
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19/2016: Reinsurance arrangements for the 2017 policy year arranged through the International Group of P&I Clubs
MEMBER CIRCULAR 19/1615 FEB 2017
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This Circular sets out the reinsurance arrangements for the 2017 policy years for P&I entries with Gard.
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18/2016: Amendments to the Rules 2017
MEMBER CIRCULAR 18/201618 JAN 2017
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This Circular outlines the amendments to the Rules for Ships and the Rules for Mobile Offshore Units of both Assuranceforeningen Gard - gjensidig – and Gard P. & I. (Bermuda) Ltd which will enter into force at noon GMT on 20 February 2017.
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17/2016: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments 2004 and US Ballast Water Management Regulations
MEMBER CIRCULAR 17/201613 JAN 2017
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The IMO’s International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 will enter into force on 8 September 2017. Under the Convention, all ships engaged on international voyages will be required to manage their ballast water and sediments to a certain standard, according to a ship-specific BWM plan, approved by the Member’s Flag Administration. All ships will also have to carry a ballast water record book and an international BWM certificate. The United States (US) is not a State Party to the Convention but has its own requirements. This Member Circular contains information on the BWM Convention itself and details of the US requirements. -
16/2016: Maritime Labour Convention 2006 as amended (MLC) - Application process for MLC Certificates
MEMBER CIRCULAR 16/201604 NOV 2016
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Reference is made to our Circular No. 13/2016 dated October 2016 advising that all Clubs in the International Group would shortly provide information to Members about the process for obtaining MLC Certificates. The purpose of this Circular is to inform Gard Members of the application process.
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15/2016: A transparent approach to remuneration, compliance and authorisation for brokers and other intermediaries
MEMBER CIRCULAR 15/1627 OCT 2016
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The Gard group wishes to promote the exercise of proper practice when conducting business through brokers and other intermediaries. Besides improved ‘Know Your Client’ procedures, we will in particular ensure that payments of remuneration to brokers, and other intermediaries being the agents of the insured, are transparent and meet the best practice requirements under governing legislation.
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14/2016: Review of policy years, premium rating for the 2017 policy year, half year status report as at 20 August 2016
MEMBER CIRCULAR 14/1627 OCT 2016
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The financial position of Gard P. & I. (Bermuda) Ltd. and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as at the end of the second quarter of 2016 (20 August), remains strong.
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13/2016: Maritime Labour Convention 2006 as amended (MLC) - Financial security requirements
MEMBER CIRCULAR 13/201607 OCT 2016
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Once the amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 enters into force on 18 January 2017 ships that are subject to the MLC will be required to display certificates issued by an insurer or other financial security provider confirming that insurance or other financial security is in place for liabilities in respect of outstanding wages and repatriation of seafarers together with incidental costs and expenses and compensation for death or long-term disability.
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12/2016: General Average - “York Antwerp Rules (YAR) 2016” adopted by the Comité Maritime International (CMI)
MEMBER CIRCULAR 12/201622 JUL 2016
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Following four years of consultation and an extensive review by a CMI International Working Group, the YAR 2016 were adopted by the CMI Assembly at its conference in New York in early May.
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11/2016: Update on the Maritime Labour Convention
MEMBER CIRCULAR 11/201628 JUN 2016
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In April 2014 the ILO agreed several amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention which will enter into force on 18 January 2017. Ships must, after this date, display certificates confirming that insurance for, inter alia, the cost and expense of crew repatriation, as well as wages following abandonment. International Group Clubs propose to provide the necessary MLC certification by way of an extension clause to the P&I rules, but with a right of indemnity from Members and on the basis that these new MLC liabilities will not fall within the IG’s existing pooling arrangements.
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10/2016: Notice of Annual General Meeting
MEMBER CIRCULAR 10/201616 JUN 2016
The Annual General Meeting of Assuranceforeningen Gard - gjensidig will be held at the offices of Gard AS in Arendal, Norway, on Friday, 2 September 2016.
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9/2016: US Vessel Response Plans – Alaska and Oregon
MEMBER CIRCULAR 09/201631 MAY 2016
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There have been some changes to the oil spill response contractors in Western and South East Alaska as well as the state of Oregon. Users are also reminded that some oil spill contractors in Alaska, Oregon and Hawaii have contracts that do not conform with the International Group's Guidelines for vessel response plans.
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8/2016: Syria sanctions
MEMBER CIRCULAR 8/201616 MAY 2016
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Both the European Union and the United States continue to apply trade sanctions against the Government of Syria and a number of designated Syrian persons and entities. This circular provides a general overview of key sanctions that apply to Syria shipping and related insurance activities and also describes the potential impact of certain recent developments.
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7/2016: New IG/CINS guidelines for the carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite in containers
MEMBER CIRCULAR 7/201610 MAY 2016
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Updated 27 January 2017
The International Group of P&I Clubs and the shipping line members of the Cargo Incident Notification System have collaborated to produce a new set of guidelines for the carriage of Calcium Hypochlorite in containers.These new guidelines can essentially be considered “IMDG Code plus precautions” in that they include selected provisions from the IMDG Code plus additional precautions
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6/2016: Review of Policy Years – Release Calls
MEMBER CIRCULAR 6/201610 MAY 2016
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On a group basis, Gard reported a result after tax of USD 85 million with a combined ratio net of 83 per cent. The Boards unanimously resolved to levy a 15 per cent Deferred Call for the 2015 policy year, which is 10 percentage points less than the original estimate of 25 per cent and represent a reduction of USD 37 million in the amount of premium actually called. As at 20 February, 2016 the consolidated contingency reserves of the Associations, which provide security and stability for the joint membership, stood at USD 1,017 million.
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5/2016: Draft charterparty clause promoting the use of the Inter-Club New York Produce Exchange Agreement 1996 (as amended September 2011)
MEMBER CIRCULAR 5/201606 MAY 2016
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The Inter-Club New York Produce Exchange Agreement 1996 provides a mechanism whereby liability for cargo claims arising under the New York Produce Exchange Form (NYPE) or Asbatime charterparties and/or contracts of carriage authorised under such charterparties can be swiftly and fairly apportioned between owners and charterers.