The 170 million GT, ‘A’ rated North P&I club has reaffirmed its commitment to loss prevention following 25 years of successfully helping members to reduce accidents and claims. The club’s pioneering loss prevention department marks the occasion today (15 July 2015) with a special 100th issue of its quarterly loss prevention newsletter Signals. As well as the usual articles on topical issues and challenges facing the maritime industry, it includes a summary of North’s unique range of loss prevention guides, briefings, posters and other documents – all of which are freely available to members.
Head of loss prevention Tony Baker says, ‘North became the first International Group club to set up a formal loss prevention department and it has gone from strength to strength. One of our first initiatives was to publish a dedicated loss prevention newsletter to flag up areas of concern and to offer practical advice. Since then North has developed an unrivalled range of loss prevention publications and initiatives, which today includes 15 internationally acclaimed guide books, 47 concise ‘briefing’ documents and dozens of other poster series, fact sheets, training aids, checklists and updates.’
According to joint managing director Paul Jennings, ‘Our loss prevention service is highly valued by members and widely seen as one of North’s core strengths. We remain committed to helping members address operational issues, particularly where analysis of claims can identify systems and procedures that are not fit for purpose or are not being implemented as intended. Based on ongoing analysis of industry issues and claims trends, the loss prevention team will continue to provide timely and relevant technical information and advice on matters of concern to individual members and the wider membership.’
Joint managing director Alan Wilson says, ‘While the causes and incidence of claims in any given year are not within our direct control, it remains a priority for our loss prevention department to work with our claims and underwriting teams to seek to reduce exposure to unnecessary and avoidable claims for the benefit of the membership as a whole. The loss prevention department’s member review programme aims to identify members – even those with good loss ratios – who may present a higher operational risk, and to work with them to help address concerns.’
North’s loss prevention team has also developed and supported several initiatives over the years to provide high quality care for seafarers. These include pre-employment medical schemes in the Ukraine and the Philippines, a post-repatriation medical scheme for Filipino seafarers and the First Call service for members disembarking crew for medical treatment in the USA. In collaboration with Gray Page, North also launched the interactive maritime threats and incidents picture on www.nepia.com in January 2015.
Baker concludes, ‘Based on 25 years’ experience we know that well-targeted loss prevention initiatives contribute to claims avoidance. We aim to provide members with information on which they can base their own loss prevention and safety programmes, focusing both on the ‘software’ – the people and systems involved in the operation of the ship − and, through our survey function, the ‘hardware’ – the condition of the ship and its equipment. It works.’
“Jo”
