Concerns Remain for Global Marine Underwriting, Says IUMI

The increased risk of large, more complex and costly claims has the potential to impact all marine underwriting sectors in 2019, says the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI).

Cargo insurance

On the back of a slowdown in global economic growth (forecast to reduce from 3.2 percent in 2018 to 2.8 percent in 2020), the WTO is expecting growth in global trade to scale back to 3.7 percent this year (from 3.9 percent in 2018). As a result, the outlook for shipping is mixed.

Container trade is expected to grow by 4.8 percent in 2019 against a fleet growth of just 2.6 percent which indicates a modest recovery in rates. However, factors such as a downturn in the economy, increased tariffs and rising fuel costs have the potential to put the brakes on any future upturn.

Dry bulk trades are forecast to grow on average by 3.2 percent against a fleet growth of 2.7 percent which bodes well for a modest uptick in rates this year, albeit from a low base.

Conversely, whilst demand for crude oil is positive, the amount being transported by sea is only expected to grow by 1.4 percent against a fleet growth of 4.7 percent. This, together with the current order-book and the impact of the impending environmental regulations, makes the outlook for tanker freight rates uncertain.

Sean Dalton, Chair of IUMI's Cargo Committee, explains what this means for marine cargo underwriters: "Global cargo marine insurance has been unprofitable for a number of years – historically it was one of the most profitable lines of marine insurance. Whilst there are regional variations, on a global basis, premiums are not technically adequate to cover losses and expenses. This is major concern.

"Going forward, we see the main challenges will include larger and more complex risks, Nat Cats, and unknown vessel and port accumulations. We are also seeing an increasing gap in underwriters' technical competencies. For many years, accounts have been largely underwritten and priced on loss experience with less attention paid to exposures which have now grown in size and complexity. Coverage has also broadened significantly. Market conditions, however, are slowly improving and underwriters are now addressing the issues of technical premium inadequacy, exposures and terms."

Cargo losses

Nat Cat losses in 2018 were lower than in 2017 but were significant nonetheless and included hurricanes Florence, Michael and typhoon Jebi. The fire on Maersk Honam in March 2018 is likely to be the largest General Average loss in history.

Of growing concern is the recent spate of shipboard fires including Sincerity Ace, Yantian Express, APL Vancouver, ER Kobe and Grimaldi Grande America.

Whilst IUMI cannot speculate on the causes of these fires, past issues such as cargo mis-declaration, improper packing, loading, labeling and shipping of hazardous cargoes are likely to be factors.

Other significant issues have included loss of containers overboard, notably the 300 boxes lost from MSC Zoe in the North Sea.

Hull casualties

Although the global fleet continued to grow at around three percent in 2018, the number of total losses (vessels over 500GT) stood at a 20-year low. Only 21 total losses were recorded last year and this is on the back of a general downward trend witnessed since 2010. The reduction was seen across all vessel classes.

Serious casualties¹ (excluding total losses) have stabilized over the past three years but are still higher, on average, than in 2014. There is likely to be a spike in Q1 2019 when numbers have been finalized. 900 incidents were recorded in 2018 representing 1.6 percent of the global fleet (or 1.2 percent in GT).

Rama Chandran, Chairman of IUMI's Ocean Hull Committee, commented: "We are pleased to see a stabilization in total losses and serious casualties, and this is a clear indication of an enhanced safety culture, improved vessel design and more effective regulation across the industry. Statistics show total losses of younger tonnage (<15 years) are dramatically lower in 2014-2018 than in 2009-2013. Underwriters welcome the industry's overall improvement in safety but also recognize that increasing size, scale and complexity of new tonnage is affecting the current risk profile.

"There is the potential for severe volatility in a conventional hull portfolio influenced by the continuing erosion of the premium base. Reduced asset values and reduced activity (in some sectors) has driven down premiums. As a result, the increased impact of attritional losses has become significant. This, coupled with occasional spike losses, is seriously affecting international underwriting results.

"Going forward, our main concerns continue to be the accumulation of risks associated with large container vessels and, in particular, the risk of onboard fires. We are also focused on advances in digital technology – both in naval architecture and in vessel operations – and the ability of seafarers to effectively manage cutting edge technology and growing amounts of data. We are also likely to see increased machinery claims resulting from the 2020 sulfur limit," said Chandran,

Offshore Energy

Oil prices fluctuated in 2018 from a higher-than-expected $86/bbl to a lower-than-expected $54/bbl - but the average of $71/bbl was a 31 percent increase on 2017. This has encouraged a general upturn in offshore activity levels during the early part of 2019. According to Clarksons Research, rig utilization increased by three percent in 2018 (to reach 69 percent, or 470 rigs); jack-up use rose by seven percent but floater activity dropped by five percent despite nearly 40 percent of the floater fleet having been retired since 2014.

Increased rates and consequent activity (both capital expenditure and exploration activity) has had an accretive effect on the insurance sector, as there are now more projects to insure. However, much of the capex has been directed at U.S. shale projects where insured values are considerably lower than those seen offshore.

Chair of IUMI's Offshore Energy Committee, James McDonald, commented: "Day rates for offshore assets such as floaters and jack-ups remain significantly below their peaks due to an ongoing supply/demand imbalance. This affects our sector as premiums are linked with asset values which are influenced by day rates. Scrappage and an uptick in usage should help ease this situation going forward, however.

"Many of the world's fixed platforms are operating well beyond their original design life and, although many have benefited from life-extending work, there is no real data available to help us assess the level of risk. This is a concern for underwriters. That said, the projected high level of decommissioning for old, fixed platforms could present us with future opportunities."

Offshore losses

Low activity and improved safety working practices continue to drive down attritional losses. This trend might reverse as activity picks up. 2018 was one of the quietest in recent times for large losses. There were nine serious incidents involving MODUs in 2018 and 61 reported outages in offshore fields – the majority of these incidents were in the North Sea, and the amounts involved are thought to be manageable.

Note: Serious casualties are defined by Lloyd's List Intelligence (and independent of the casualty's cost) as: Sinkings, groundings where hull damage has been reported, structural damage rendering the vessel unseaworthy, i.e. penetration of hull under the waterline, significant spillage of oil, severe fires causing damage, vessels towed into port, collisions where damage is reported, incident causing any significant delay.