The Standard Club Celebrates 20 Years Of Partnership With Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd And Opens A Tokyo Claims Office
Twenty years after the Standard Club began its joint venture with Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire (TMNF) to underwrite P&I business in Japan, the club is celebrating its successful partnership. Tokio Standard for the 21st century (TS21) has gone from strength to strength and now underwrites 8% of P&I business in Japan.
In order to further enhance the service provided to the members of TS21, the club has opened a new claims office in Tokyo. The office is led by experienced Japanese Claims Director, Masaki Maeda, who will work with TMNF to ensure continuing first class claims service to Japanese shipowners.
Masaki Maeda will liaise with and assist TMNF in servicing TS21 members through claims handling and provision of general claims advice. He will work closely with the club’s claims team in Singapore.
Masaki joins the club after a career of 30 years with TMNF where he has held claims and managerial roles. During his career he has worked in many locations out of Japan and his expertise covers all areas of commercial claims. Masaki spent several years working with TS21 and has a longstanding relationship with the club.
Jeremy Grose, Group Chief Executive at the Standard Club said: “We are delighted to celebrate 20 years of TS21. Japan is a key market for us and TMNF is a highly valued partner. This is a significant step in continuing to enhance the service provided by TS21. We are so pleased to have Masaki Maeda join us to lead this new office. His exceptional experience, his understanding of the P&I market both in Japan and around the world, will make him an asset to our team. This is an exciting time for TS21 and we are looking forward to working with TMNF on this next phase of growth.”
Tokiko Inoue, Executive Officer, Head of Commercial Lines Claims Dept. at TMNF said: “This new claims office is testament to the club’s commitment to the Japanese market. We have a very successful partnership with the Standard Club and are pleased that such an experienced Japanese person will be leading the office. 20 is a special number in Japan and marks the coming of age of TS21. We look forward to our continued relationship with Standard Club.
Update on marine pollution fines in Turkey as of 1 January 2021
Members are advised that, further to the club’s news update on 23 January 2020, and a recent circular by the club’s correspondent, Omur Marine, the levels of pollution fines being applied by environmental authorities in Turkey have been increased by 9.11%.
As of 1 January 2021 the fine rates imposed under article 20 of the Environment Code are as follows:
For pollution caused by tankers discharging petroleum and petroleum derivatives (such as crude oil, fuel products, bilge, sludge, slop, refined product, greasy waste materials etc)
For pollution caused by tankers discharging dirty ballast
For pollution caused by ships and other naval vessels discharging petroleum derivatives (such as bilge, sludge, slop, fuel products, greasy waste materials etc.) or dirty ballast
For pollution caused by tankers, ships and other naval vessels discharging solid waste or domestic wastewater
Members should also note:
Corporate entities
The amounts quoted above will be tripled for ships owned by corporate entities.
Repeat offenders
Fines will be doubled in the event of a repeat offence within three years, and tripled for subsequent offences by the same vessel within three years.
Clean up by the member
If the member cleans up the pollution itself, fines of only 1/3 of the above sums will be imposed.
Payment and security
Fines imposed by Turkish authorities due to alleged pollution must be paid or security must be put up immediately for the full amount, otherwise the ship may be arrested.
If the fine is paid within 30 days, a 1/4 discount will be applicable to the final fine amount.
Please note that club LOUs are not always accepted. IG clubs also have experienced demands for open-ended and anticipatory LOUs for minor pollution incidents in Turkey. The requirement to negotiate any security and/or arrange for the LOU to be translated and/or notarised, can cause delay.
Criminal proceedings
Authorities that detect a pollution incident are under an obligation to report the incident to the Turkish public prosecutor immediately. Subsequently, the public prosecutor will commence a criminal investigation, which is usually followed by criminal proceedings brought against the master of the ship. These proceedings may proceed even if the fine is paid. This can also cause the vessel to be delayed/detained.
In the event of an actual or threatened pollution incident, members are advised to contact the club and/or our local P&I correspondents for immediate assistance.
Source: The Standard Club