P&I War Risks Cover and US Terrorism Risk Insurance Act 2002
We refer to our previous circular No.02-016 of 28 January 2003 on the US Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 ("TRIA").
At the meeting of the Association's Board on 17 February 2003 the Directors considered the P&I War Risks Cover could be made available to Members in accordance with the P&I War Risks Clause of the Association's Rules and the extent to which this can include cover arising from acts of terrorism as defined in the TRIA, aiming at the possible recovery to be prepared thereof. Following the receipt of US legal advice and reinsurance quotations, the Directors have resolved that special cover can be provided to Members for the 2003 policy year, including cover arising from acts of terrorism as defined in the TRIA under the P&I War Risks Clause. The terms of resolution of the Directors are attached hereto. The followings are main features of this cover for the 2003 policy year.
1. Subject to 2. below, the limit of this cover will be increased from US$200 million to US$400 million each ship, any one accident or occurrence.
2. As before, the cover will only respond to claims in excess of the US dollar equivalent of the proper value of the entered ship as referred to in Rule 35.2(2) or the amount recoverable from the ship's war risks underwriters, whichever is the greater. For the purpose of this cover, where the proper value exceeds US$100 million, the proper value will be deemed to be US$100 million.
3. A premium for cover arising from acts of terrorism as defined in the TRIA will be US cents 0.25 per G/T.
P&I WAR RISKS COVER
SPECIAL COVER UNDER P&I WAR RISKS CLAUSE
TERMS OF DIRECTORS' RESOLUTION OF 17 FEBRUARY 2003
WHEREAS, in accordance with Rule 35-1-(2) of the Association's Rules coverage for certain war and similar risks, including acts of terrorism, is excluded under the general mutual indemnity undertaking, special cover is nevertheless provided for these same certain risks under the P&I War Risks Clause and in accordance with each individual Member's terms of entry;
WHEREAS, on 26 November 2002 the United States' Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-267) ("the Act" or "TRIA") was signed into law by US President George W. Bush; and
WHEREAS, the Act provides for a three-year program of US Federal quota share indemnification to participating insurers for insured losses resulting from certain acts of terrorism occurring through year-end 2005; and
WHEREAS, entities meeting the definition of "insurer" in the Act are required to participate in the program; and
WHEREAS, it remains uncertain whether this Association comes within the definition of "insurer" until detailed regulations are promulgated in near future, but on the other hand it cannot be decided now that the Association does not fall in the defined "insurer."
WHEREAS, the Act requires "insurer" to make available in all of its "commercial property and casualty policies" coverage for "acts of terrorism" as defined, and
WHEREAS, the term "act of terrorism" is defined as an act certified by the US Treasury Secretary after a finding that the act: (1) was committed on behalf of any foreign (i.e., non-US) person or interest; (2) was a violent act dangerous to human life, property, or infrastructure that resulted in damage within the United States or to a US air carrier or US-flag vessel wherever located; (3) is part of an effort to coerce the civilian population of the US or to influence the policy or affect the conduct of the US Government by coercion; and (4) resulted in damages exceeding $5 million; and
WHEREAS, under the TRIA program the US Government will indemnify insurers for 90% of losses resulting from certified acts of terrorism in excess of an insurer deductible; and
WHEREAS, insurers are required to notify policy holders of the existence of the TRIA program and the premium to be charged for coverage for such acts of terrorism; and
WHEREAS, the Directors on behalf of the Association's membership have considered whether coverage of TRIA-defined acts of terrorism could be removed from the special cover and made subject to the general mutual indemnity undertaking; and
WHEREAS, the Directors have concluded that acts of terrorism, as the other perils subject to the special cover, remain unsuitable for a general mutual indemnity undertaking; and
WHEREAS, no Member responded affirmatively to the initial offer made by this Association to provide cover of TRIA-defined acts of terrorism on the basis of supplemental premium rates designed to fund the TRIA deductible and retention without mutual indemnity or the reinsurance available to the special cover; and
WHEREAS, the Directors have determined, based on new reinsurance arrangements of the International Group of P&I Clubs, that special cover under the P&I War Risks Clause can be provided at twice the limit provided in the 2002 Policy Year and that the estimated portion of the cost of that cover for TRIA - defined coverage is US$0.0025 per gross ton.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with the P&I War Risks Clause of the Association's Rules, where a ship is insured under the insurance contract with no fixed sum insured or Special Cover for Charterer, special cover be provided to the Members of the Association for the year commencing at 21:00 JST on 20 February 2003 against risks, including TRIA-defined acts of terrorism, which are excluded from cover solely by virtue of the provisions of Rule 35-1-(2), at an increased limit. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, such cover shall be subject to all other terms and conditions of a Member's entry in the Association and shall be provided upon and subject to the following terms and conditions.
(1) | The risks covered shall be those set out in the P&I War Risks Clause of the Association's Rules in accordance with each individual Member's terms of entry as set out in the relevant certificate of entry. |
(2) | This special cover shall be subject to an excess of either: |
(a) the "proper value" of the entered ship (which, for the purpose of this resolution only, shall be deemed not to exceed US $100 million), or |
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(b) the amount recoverable in respect of the claim under any other policy of insurance, whether of war risks or otherwise, |
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whichever shall be the greater, save that such excess shall not apply where the ship is entered with the Association for the Special Cover for Charterer. Directors may authorise the payment, in whole or in part, of any claim or part of a claim which falls within such excess, if in their discretion and without having to give any reasons for their decision they decide that the Member should recover from the Association.. |
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(3) | The limit applying to this special cover shall be US $400 million each ship, any one accident or occurrence or the amount insured as specified in the relevant certificate of entry for the entered ship, whichever shall be the lesser. |
PROVIDED ALWAYS that where a ship entered in the Association by any person is also separately insured in the name of the same or any other person by the Association or by any other Association which participates in the Pooling Agreement and/or Group Excess Loss Reinsurance Contract for losses, liabilities, or the costs and expenses incidental thereto covered under this cover of the Association and/or the equivalent cover of such other Association, the aggregate of claims in respect of such losses, liabilities, and the costs and expenses incidental thereto, shall be limited to US$400 million each ship, any one accident or occurrence. If such claims exceed this limit, the liability of the Association to each such person shall be limited to such proportion of that limit as maximum claim otherwise recoverable by such person from the Association bear to the aggregate of all such claims otherwise recoverable from the Association and from all such Associations, or the amount insured as specified in the relevant certificate of entry for the entered ship if less. |
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(4) | All perils included in the special cover shall be subject to the following: |
"Chemical, Biological, Bio-chemical, Electromagnetic Weapons and Cyber Attack Exclusion Clause This clause shall be paramount and shall override anything contained in this insurance inconsistent therewith: 1. In no case shall this insurance cover loss damage liability or expense directly or indirectly caused by or contributed to by or arising from: |
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(5) | At any time or times before, or at the commencement of, or during the currency of any Policy Year of the Association, the Directors may in their discretion determine that any ports, places, countries, zones or areas (whether of land or sea) be excluded from this special cover. Save as otherwise provided by the Directors this special cover shall cease in respect of such ports, places, countries, zones or areas at midnight GMT on the seventh day following the issue to the Members of notice of such determination in accordance with the P&I War Risks Clause of the Association. Unless and to the extent that the Directors in their discretion otherwise decide there shall be no recovery from the Association under this special cover in respect of any claim howsoever arising out of any event, accident or occurrence within the said area after such date. |
(6) | Whether or not notice has been given under clause (5) above, this special cover shall terminate automatically: |
(a) upon the outbreak of war (whether there be a declaration of war or not) between any of the following countries: United Kingdom, United States of America, France, the Russian Federation, the People's Republic of China and this insurance excludes loss, damage, liability or expense arising from such outbreak of war;
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(7) | Notwithstanding any other term or condition of this insurance, the Directors may in their discretion cancel this special cover giving 7days' notice to the Members (such cancellation becoming effective on the expiry of 7 days from midnight GMT of the day on which notice of cancellation is issued by the Association) and the Directors may at any time after the issue of notice of such cancellation resolve to reinstate special cover pursuant to the P&I War Risks Clause of the Association on such terms and conditions and subject to such limit as the Directors in their discretion may determine. |