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Insights: H. Elder Brown, Jr.

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Fidelis Group Holdings LLC and Continental Underwriters, Ltd.   For those in the marine insurance and underwriting communities, H. Elder Brown, Jr. needs no introduction. That’s because over the course of the past 27 years, Brown has taken Continental Underwriters Ltd. (CUL) from a small family business to one of the largest brown water marine underwriters in the United States. More recently, Brown returned CUL to private ownership by purchasing CUL back from Houston Casualty Company in 2009.  Today, CUL is an industry leader in part due to the company’s excellent underwriting and claims handling. A 1974 graduate of Loyola University, Brown has steadily risen through the ranks of marine insurance, serving along the way in the Claims Department, as Assistant Underwriter, Senior Underwriter and eventually earning his current position as Chairman of the board of directors. Starting out as an Offshore Crew boat captain, Brown at one time operated and managed oilfield crew boats. As such, his knowledge of this unique market niche extends far beyond simple dollars and cents. This month, he weighs in for MarineNews readers on a host issues affecting marine insurance and those who depend on those services. How do you view the marine insurance marketplace at the current time? How about in one year? Five?

U.S. Extends Marine War Risk Insurance

Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta has approved an extension of the authority to provide war risk insurance under Section 1202 of the 1936 Merchant Marine Act (Act). Unlike Section 1205 insurance, which is provided to the Department of Defense (DOD) on vessels chartered to them at no premium and with a full DOD indemnity, Section 1202 insurance is underwritten by DOT in return for a premium from shipowners. This insurance or reinsurance of vessels is available for vessels (including

Walker Joins Moore Stephens

Moore Stephens has appointed Lloyd's insurance market expert Tim Walker a consultant to its insurance and business intelligence team. Walker has extensive experience of international - and particularly Lloyd's - underwriting markets. He was a director of Miller Underwriting Agencies for ten years until starting his own full-time Lloyd's consultancy in 1993, in which capacity he acts as manager to Charles Taylor & Co, managers of The Stop Loss Mutual Insurance Association Ltd.

Norwegian Courts Reject Insurance Forum

Wikborg Rein, a Norwegian law firm, said Norway's Supreme Court has closed a door to claimants attempting to act against foreign shipowners insuring themselves in Norway. Anders Faerden, a partner in Wikborg Rein's Oslo office, said, "A Mexican insurance company has unsuccessfully brought a claim in Norway against a major Russian shipowner. The claimant tried to sue the Russian company in Norway because it had its P&I cover with Oslo-based Skuld.

Moore Stephens Says Insurance Industry Must Embrace Business Intelligence

Regulatory developments mean that failure to make proper use of business intelligence systems and actuarial consultancy to assess risk could lead not only to significant financial losses but also to disciplinary penalties for insurance underwriters and brokers, according to leading accountant and consultant Moore Stephens. John Harbor, head of the Moore Stephens Insurance Industry Group, says, "Professional risk analysis and modern data management techniques are

Logistics Insurance Provider Opens New Corporate HQ

Tactical Insurance Group has opened a new corporate office to facilitate the expansion of the company into its targeted industry sector –  Logistics Insurance. One of the South Central region's leading insurance brokers, Tactical Insurance Group, has moved into a newly expanded corporate office facility in Dallas as part of its strategy to grow its Logistics Insurance practice throughout Texas and surrounding states.

Murphy Joins Integro’s Marine Practice

Integro Insurance Brokers announced that Patrick J. Murphy has joined the firm’s New York office as a Managing Principal in the Marine Practice. He will focus on coverage related to the global transportation and storage of cargo, among his other areas of expertise. Murphy has some 18 years experience in global transit insurance. He joins Integro from Marsh, where he served as a Managing Director and New York Cargo Department Manager. Prior to Marsh, he worked for Johnson & Higgins.

Willis Limited Awarded Contract for Panama Canal

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) announced that it has awarded a contract for insurance brokerage services to Willis Limited. Beginning October 2009, the firm will provide strategic counsel, as the ACP chooses the best policies to cover property, floating equipment, loss of income and maritime contingencies, among others. The contract will be for one year with an option to renew for three additional years.   Willis Limited is also the ACP’s broker for its Owner Controlled

Sea Marshals Gains New Armed Guard Insurance

International maritime security specialist Sea Marshals Limited announced that it has gained insurance which complies with BIMCO’s new Guardcon standards.   Launched this week, BIMCO’s Guardcon provides an industry standard contract for the employment of security guards on ships. In particular, it addresses concerns over the relationship between the Master and the Head of the Security team on board a vessel.  

Insurance Advice for Marinas & Shipyards

McDermott Costa Insurance Brokers offers risk-reducing advice to marinas & shipyards regarding third party vendors   Third party service providers can pose serious risk and liabilities for marina and shipyard owners. Without the proper due diligence these marine companies could find themselves footing large bills should a dispute occur.   As a California insurance agency that specializes in ocean marine insurance for boat yards, marinas, yacht clubs