Commentary
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Part One: Rules common to all types of insurance
- Chapter 1: Introductory provisions
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Chapter 2: General rules relating to the scope of the insurance
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Section 1: Insurable interest and insurable value
- General
- Clause 2-1. Insurance unrelated to any interest
- Clause 2-2. Insurable value
- Clause 2-3. Agreed insurable value
- Clause 2-4. Under-insurance
- Clause 2-5. Over-insurance
- Clause 2-6. Liability of the insurer when the interest is also insured with another insurer
- Clause 2-7. Recourse between the insurers where the interest is insured with two or more insurers
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Section 2: Perils insured against, causation and loss
- General
- Clause 2-8. Perils covered by an insurance against marine perils
- Clause 2-9. Perils covered by an insurance against war perils
- Clause 2-10. Perils insured against when no agreement has been made as to what perils are covered by the insurance
- Clause 2-11. Causation. Incidence of loss
- Clause 2-12. Main rule relating to the burden of proof
- Clause 2-13. Combination of perils
- Clause 2-14. Combination of marine and war perils
- Clause 2-15. Losses deemed to be caused entirely by war perils
- Clause 2-16. Loss attributable either to marine or war perils
- Clause 2-17. Sanction limitation and exclusion
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Section 1: Insurable interest and insurable value
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Chapter 3: Duties of the person effecting the insurance and of the assured
- General remarks
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Section 1: Duty of disclosure of the person effecting the insurance
- Clause 3-1. Scope of the duty of disclosure
- Clause 3-2. Fraudulent misrepresentation
- Clause 3-3. Other failure to fulfil the duty of disclosure
- Clause 3-4. Innocent breach of the duty of disclosure
- Clause 3-5. Cases where the insurer may not invoke breach of the duty of disclosure
- Clause 3-6. Duty of the insurer to give notice
- Clause 3-7. Right of the insurer to obtain particulars from the vessel's classification society, etc.
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Section 2: Alteration of the risk
- Clause 3-8. Alteration of the risk
- Clause 3-9. Alteration of the risk caused or agreed to by the assured
- Clause 3-10. Right of the insurer to cancel the insurance
- Clause 3-11. Duty of the assured to give notice
- Clause 3-12. Cases where the insurer may not invoke alteration of the risk
- Clause 3-13. Duty of the insurer to give notice
- Clause 3-14. Loss of the main class
- Clause 3-15. Trading areas
- Clause 3-16. Illegal undertakings
- Clause 3-17. Suspension of insurance in the event of requisition
- Clause 3-18. Notification of requisition
- Clause 3-19. Suspension of insurance while the vessel is temporarily seized
- Clause 3-20. Removal of the vessel to a repair yard
- Clause 3-21. Change of ownership
- Section 3: Safety regulations
- Section 4: Measures to avert or minimise loss, etc.
- Section 5: Casualties caused intentionally or negligently by the assured
- Section 6. Identification
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Chapter 4: Liability of the insurer
- General
- Section 1: General rules relating to the liability of the insurer
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Section 2: Costs of measures to avert or minimise the loss, including salvage awards and general average
- General
- Clause 4-7. Compensation of the costs of measures to avert or minimise loss
- Clause 4-8. General average
- Clause 4-9. General average apportionment where the interests belong to the same person
- Clause 4-10. Damage to and loss of the object insured
- Clause 4-11. Assumed general average
- Clause 4-12. Costs of particular measures taken to avert or minimise loss
- Section 3: Liability of the assured to third parties
- Section 4: The sum insured as the limit of the liability of the insurer
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Chapter 5: Settlement of claims
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Section 1: Claims adjustment, interest, payments on account, etc.
- Clause 5-1. Duty of the assured to provide information and documents
- Clause 5-2. Claims adjustment
- Clause 5-3. Rates of exchange
- Clause 5-4. Interest on the compensation
- Clause 5-5. Disputes concerning the adjustment of the claim
- Clause 5-6. Due date
- Clause 5-7. Duty of the insurer to make a payment on account
- Clause 5-8. Payment on account when there is a dispute as to which insurer is liable for the loss
- Section 2: Liability of the assured to third parties
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Section 3: Claims by the assured for damages against third parties
- Clause 5-13. Right of subrogation of the insurer to claims by the assured for damages against third parties
- Clause 5-14. Waiver of claim for damages
- Clause 5-15. Duty of the assured to assist the insurer with information and documents
- Clause 5-16. Duty of the assured to maintain and safeguard the claim
- Clause 5-17. Decisions concerning legal proceedings or appeals
- Clause 5-18. Salvage award which entails compensation for loss covered by the insurer
- Section 4: Right of the insurer to take over the object insured upon payment of a claim
- Section 5: Limitation, etc.
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Section 1: Claims adjustment, interest, payments on account, etc.
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Chapter 6: Premium
- General
- Clause 6-1. Payment of premium
- Clause 6-2. Right of the insurer to cancel the insurance in the event of non-payment of premium
- Clause 6-3. Premium in the event of total loss
- Clause 6-4. Additional premium when the insurance is extended
- Clause 6-5. Reduction of premium
- Clause 6-6. Reduction of premium when the vessel is laid up or in similar situations
- Clause 6-7. Claim for a reduction of premium
- Chapter 7: Co-insurance of mortgagees
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Chapter 8: Co-insurance of third parties
- General
- Clause 8-1. Rights of third parties against the insurer
- Clause 8-2. Protection of third parties against subrogation claims from the insurer
- Clause 8-3. Application of the rules in Chapter 3 and Clause 5-1
- Clause 8-4. Amendments and cancellation of the insurance contract
- Clause 8-5. Handling of claims, claims adjustment, etc.
- Clause 8-6. Other insurance
- Clause 8-7. Independent co-insurance of mortgagees or named third parties
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Chapter 9: Relations between the claims leader and co-insurers
- General
- Clause 9-1. Definitions
- Clause 9-2. The right of the claims leader to act on behalf of the co-insurers
- Clause 9-3. Lay-up plan
- Clause 9-4. Notification of a casualty
- Clause 9-5. Salvage
- Clause 9-6. Removal and repairs
- Clause 9-7. Provision of security
- Clause 9-8. Disputes with third parties
- Clause 9-9. Claims adjustment
- Clause 9-10. Insolvency of a co-insurer
- Clause 9-11. Interest on the disbursements of the claims leader
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Part Two: Hull insurance
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Chapter 10: General rules relating to the scope of the hull insurance
- Clause 10-1. Objects insured
- Clause 10-2. Objects, etc. temporarily removed from the vessel
- Clause 10-3. Loss due to ordinary use
- Clause 10-4. Insurance "on full conditions"
- Clause 10-5. Insurance “against total loss only” (T.L.O.)
- Clause 10-6. Insurance “against total loss and general average contribution only”
- Clause 10-7. Insurance “against total loss, general average contribution and collision liability only”
- Clause 10-8. Insurance "on stranding terms"
- Clause 10-9. Duration of voyage insurance
- Clause 10-10. Extension of the insurance
- Clause 10-11. Liability of the insurer if the vessel is salvaged by the assured
- Clause 10-12. Reduction of liability in consequence of an interest insurance
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Chapter 11: Total loss
- Clause 11-1. Total loss
- Clause 11-2. Salvage attempts
- Clause 11-3. Condemnation
- Clause 11-4. Condemnation in the event of a combination of perils
- Clause 11-5. Request for condemnation
- Clause 11-6. Removal of the vessel
- Clause 11-7. Missing or abandoned vessel
- Clause 11-8. Extension of the insurance when the vessel is missing or abandoned
- Clause 11-9. Liability of the insurer during the period of clarification
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Chapter 12: Damage
- General
- Clause 12-1. Main rule concerning liability of the insurer
- Clause 12-2. Compensation for unrepaired damage
- Clause 12-3. Inadequate maintenance, etc.
- Clause 12-4. Error in design, etc.
- Clause 12-5. Losses that are not recoverable
- Clause 12-6. Deferred repairs
- Clause 12-7. Temporary repairs
- Clause 12-8. Costs incurred in expediting repairs
- Clause 12-9. Repairs of a vessel that is condemnable
- Clause 12-10. Survey of damage
- Clause 12-11. Invitations to tender
- Clause 12-12. Choice of repair yard
- Clause 12-13. Removal of the vessel
- Clause 12-14. Apportionment of common expenses
- Clause 12-15. Ice damage deductions
- Clause 12-16. Machinery damage deductions
- Clause 12-17. Compensation without deductions
- Clause 12-18. Deductible
- Clause 12-19. Basis for calculation of deductions according to Clauses 12-15 to 12-18 and Clause 3-15
- Chapter 13: Liability of the assured arising from collision or striking
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Chapter 10: General rules relating to the scope of the hull insurance
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Part Three: Other insurances for ocean-going vessels
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Chapter 14: Separate insurances against total loss
- General
- Clause 14-1. Insurance against total loss and excess collision liability (hull interest insurance)
- Clause 14-2. Insurance against loss of long-term freight income (freight interest insurance)
- Clause 14-3. Common rules for separate insurances against total loss
- Clause 14-4. Limitations on the right to effect separate insurances against total loss
- Chapter 15: War risks insurance
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Chapter 16: Loss of hire insurance
- General
- Clause 16-1. Main rules regarding the liability of the insurer
- Clause 16-2. Total loss
- Clause 16-3. Main rule for calculating compensation
- Clause 16-4. Calculation of the loss of time
- Clause 16-5. The daily amount
- Clause 16-6. Agreed daily amount
- Clause 16-7. Deductible period
- Clause 16-8. Survey of damage
- Clause 16-9. Choice of repair yard
- Clause 16-10. Removal to the repair yard, etc.
- Clause 16-11. Extra costs incurred in order to avert or minimise loss
- Clause 16-12. Simultaneous repairs
- Clause 16-13. Loss of time after completion of repairs
- Clause 16-14. Repairs carried out after expiry of the insurance period
- Clause 16-15. Liability of the insurer when the vessel is transferred to a new owner
- Clause 16-16. Relationship to other insurances and general average
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Chapter 14: Separate insurances against total loss
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Part Four: Other insurances
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Chapter 17: Insurance for fishing vessels
- General
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Section 1: General provisions
- Clause 17-1. Scope of application
- Clause 17-2. Renewal of the insurance/Ref. Clause 1-5
- Clause 17-3. Trading areas for fishing vessels/Ref. Clause 3-15
- Clause 17-4. Classification and vessel inspection/Ref. Clause 3-14 and Clause 3-8
- Clause 17-5. Safety regulations/Ref. Clause 3-22 and Clause 3-25
- Clause 17-6. Savings to the assured
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Section 2: Hull insurance
- General
- Clause 17-7. The relationship to Chapters 10-13
- Clause 17-7A. Fixed equipment temporarily removed from the vessel
- Clause 17-8. Change of the open or agreed insurable value/Ref. Clause 2-2 and Clause 2-3
- Clause 17-9. Damage to lifeboats, fishing, whaling and sealing tackle and catch/Ref. Clause 4-7 to Clause 4-12 and Clause 4-16
- Clause 17-10. Hull and freight-interest insurance/Ref. Clause 10-12
- Clause 17-11. Condemnation/Ref. Clause 11-3
- Clause 17-12. Damage to the hull of vessels which are not built of steel/Ref. Clause 12-1
- Clause 17-13. Limited cover of damage to machinery
- Clause 17-14. Costs incurred in saving time/Ref. Clause 12-7, Clause 12-8, Clause 12-11 and Clause 12-12
- Clause 17-15. Deductions/Ref. Clause 12-15, Clause 12-16 and Clause 12-18
- Clause 17-16. Collision liability for fishing vessels/Ref. Clause 13-1
- Clause 17-17. Collision liability/Ref. Clause 13-1
- Section 3: Hull insurance - extended cover
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Section 4: Catch and equipment insurance - standard cover
- General
- Clause 17-19. Objects insured
- Clause 17-20. Insurable value
- Clause 17-21. Extraordinary handling costs
- Clause 17-22. Excluded perils/Ref. Clause 2-8
- Clause 17-23. Deck cargo
- Clause 17-24. Total loss
- Clause 17-25. Damage to or loss of catch
- Clause 17-26. Damage to other objects
- Clause 17-27. Survey of damage
- Clause 17-28. Deductible
- Section 5: Supplementary cover for nets and seines in the sea
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Section 6: Loss of hire insurance for fishing vessels
- General comments
- Clause 17-33. Relationship to Chapter 16
- Clause 17-34. Liability of the insurer/applies instead of Clause 16-1
- Clause 17-35. Total loss/applies instead of Clause 16-2
- Clause 17-36. Calculation of compensation for fishing vessels/Ref. Clause 16-3
- Clause 17-37. The daily amount for fishing vessels/applies instead of Clause 16-5
- Clause 17-38. Agreed daily amount for fishing vessels/applies instead of Clause 16-6
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Chapter 18: Insurance of mobile offshore units (MOUs)
- Overview
- Section 1: General rules relating to the scope of the insurance
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Section 2: Hull insurance
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Section 2-1: General rules relating to the scope of the H&M insurance
- Clause 18-2. Objects insured
- Clause 18-3. Objects temporarily removed or separated etc. from the MOU
- Clause 18-4. Loss due to ordinary use
- Clause 18-5. Extension of the insurance
- Clause 18-6. Liability of the insurer if the MOU is salvaged by the assured
- Clause 18-7. Reduction of liability in consequence of an interest insurance
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Section 2-2: Total loss
- Clause 18-8. Total loss
- Clause 18-9. Salvage attempts
- Clause 18-10. Condemnation
- Clause 18-11. Condemnation in the event of a combination of perils
- Clause 18-12. Request for condemnation
- Clause 18-13. Removal of the MOU
- Clause 18-14. Missing or abandoned MOU
- Clause 18-15. Extension of the insurance when the MOU is missing or abandoned
- Clause 18-16. Liability of the insurer during the period of clarification
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Section 2-3: Damage
- General
- Clause 18-17. Main rule concerning liability of the insurer
- Clause 18-18. Compensation for unrepaired damage
- Clause 18-19. Inadequate maintenance
- Clause 18-20. Error in design, etc.
- Clause 18-21. Losses that are not recoverable
- Clause 18-22. Damage to the drill string
- Clause 18-23. Deferred repairs
- Clause 18-24. Temporary repairs
- Clause 18-25. Costs incurred in expediting repairs
- Clause 18-26. Repairs of an MOU that is condemnable
- Clause 18-27. Survey of damage
- Clause 18-28. Invitations to tender
- Clause 18-29. Choice of repairers
- Clause 18-30. Removal for repairs
- Clause 18-31. Apportionment of common expenses
- Clause 18-32. Ice damage deductions
- Clause 18-33. Deductible
- Clause 18-34. Basis for calculation of deductions according to Clauses 18-32, 18-33 and 3-15
- Section 2-4: Liability of the assured arising from collision or striking
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Section 2-1: General rules relating to the scope of the H&M insurance
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Section 3: Separate insurances against total loss
- Clause 18-39. Insurance against total loss and excess collision liability (hull interest insurance)
- Clause 18-40. Insurance against loss of long-term freight income (freight interest insurance)
- Clause 18-41. Common rules for separate insurances against total loss
- Clause 18-42. Limitations on the right to insure separately against total loss
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Section 4: Loss of hire insurance
- Clause 18-43. Main rules regarding the liability of the insurer
- Clause 18-44. Total loss
- Clause 18-45. Main rule for calculating compensation
- Clause 18-46. Calculation of the loss of time
- Clause 18-47. The daily amount
- Clause 18-48. Agreed daily amount
- Clause 18-49. Deductible period
- Clause 18-50. Survey of damage
- Clause 18-51. Choice of repairer
- Clause 18-52. Move to the repair location, etc.
- Clause 18-53. Extra costs incurred in order to avert or minimise loss
- Clause 18-54. Simultaneous works
- Clause 18-55. Loss of time after completion of repairs
- Clause 18-56. Repairs carried out after expiry of the insurance period
- Clause 18-57. Liability of the insurer when the MOU is transferred to a new owner
- Clause 18-58. Relationship to other insurances and general average
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Section 5: War risks insurance
- Section 5-1: General rules relating to the scope of war risks insurance
- Section 5-2: Termination of the insurance
- Section 5-3: Areas of operation
- Section 5-4: Total loss
- Section 5-5: Damage
- Section 5-6: Loss of hire
- Section 5-7: Owner’s liability, etc. (P&I)
- Section 5-8: Occupational injury insurance, etc.
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Section 6: Construction risks insurance
- Section 6-1: General rules relating to the scope of construction risks insurance
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Section 6-2: Loss of or damage to the MOU
- Clause 18-87. Objects insured/Ref Clause 18-2
- Clause 18-88. Insurable value
- Clause 18-89. Compensation in the event of a total loss/Ref. Clause 4-1
- Clause 18-90. Total Loss/Ref. Section 2-2
- Clause 18-91. Damage/Ref. Section 2-3
- Clause 18-92. Error in design, etc.
- Clause 18-93. Costs incurred in order to save time/Ref. Clauses 18-24, 18-28 and 18-29
- Section 6-3: Supplementary covers
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Chapter 19: Builders’ risks insurance
- General
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Section 1: Common provisions
- Clause 19-1. Perils covered/Ref. Clause 2-8, cf. Clause 2-10
- Clause 19-2. Insurance period/Ref. Clause 1-5
- Clause 19-2A. Premium in the event of total loss
- Clause 19-3. Co-insurance/Ref. Clause 8-1
- Clause 19-4. Transfer of the building contract/Ref. Clause 3-21
- Clause 19-5. Place of insurance
- Clause 19-6. The sum insured as the limit of the liability of the insurer/Ref. Clause 4-18 and Clause 4-19
- Clause 19-7. Escalation of the sum insured
- Clause 19-8. Deductible
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Section 2: Loss of or damage to the subject-matter insured
- Clause 19-9. Objects insured/Ref. Clause 10-1
- Clause 19-10. Insurable value
- Clause 19-11. Total loss in the event of condemnation
- Clause 19-12. Total loss where the yard’s obligation to deliver no longer applies
- Clause 19-13. Compensation in the event of a total loss/Ref. Clause 4-1
- Clause 19-14. Damage/Ref. Chapter 12
- Clause 19-15. Limitation of the insurer’s liability/Ref. Clause 12-1
- Clause 19-16. Compensation for unrepaired damage/Ref. Clause 12-2
- Clause 19-17. Costs incurred in order to save time/Ref. Clause 12-7, Clause 12-11 and Clause 12-12
- Section 3: Indemnification of additional costs incurred in an unsuccessful launching and costs of wreck removal
- Section 4: Liability insurance
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Section 5: Supplementary covers
- Clause 19-22. Applicable rules
- Clause 19-23. Insurance of additional costs in connection with rebuilding and/or building of a new subject-matter insured
- Clause 19-24. Insurance of the yard’s liability for the buyer’s interest claim for instalments paid
- Clause 19-25. Insurance of the yard’s loss of interest in the event of late delivery
- Clause 19-26. Insurance of the yard’s daily penalties in the event of late delivery
- Clause 19-27. Towage and removal of the subject-matter insured
- Section 6: Supplementary cover for war risks
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Chapter 20: Insurance for vessels with trading certificates
- General
- Section 1: Common provisions
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Section 2: Hull insurance
- General
- Clause 20-6. The relationship to Chapters 10-13
- Clause 20-7. Hull and freight-interest insurance/Ref. Clause 10-12
- Clause 20-8. Condemnation/Ref. Clause 11-3
- Clause 20-9. Damage to the hull of vessels which are not built of steel/Ref. Clause 12-1
- Clause 20-10. Limited cover of damage to machinery
- Clause 20-11. Costs incurred in saving time/Ref. Clause 12-7, Clause 12-8, Clause 12-11 and Clause 12-12
- Clause 20-12. Deductions/Ref. Clause 12-15, Clause 12-16 and Clause 12-18
- Clause 20-13. Collision liability/Ref. Clause 13-1
- Section 3: Hull insurance - extended cover
- Section 4: Hull insurance - limited cover
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Chapter 21: Liability insurance
- Clause 21-1. Scope of application
- Clause 21-2. Renewal of the insurance/Ref. Clause 1-5
- Clause 21-3. Classification and vessel inspection/Ref. Clause 3-14 and Clause 3-8
- Clause 21-4. Savings to the assured
- Clause 21-5. Perils covered
- Clause 21-6. Liability for personal injury
- Clause 21-7. Liability for property damage
- Clause 21-8. Liability for description
- Clause 21-9. Liability for the misdelivery of goods
- Clause 21-10. General average contributions
- Clause 21-11. Liability for removal of wrecks
- Clause 21-12. Liability for special salvage compensation
- Clause 21-13. Liability for bunker oil pollution damage and damage to the environment
- Clause 21-14. Stowaways
- Clause 21-15. Liability for fines, etc.
- Clause 21-16. Liability for social benefits for the crew
- Clause 21-17. Travel expenses for replacement crew
- Clause 21-18. Expenses for disinfection and quarantine
- Clause 21-19. Limitation due to other insurance, etc.
- Clause 21-20. Safety regulations/Ref. Clause 3-22 and Clause 3-25
- Clause 21-21. Assured's fault
- Clause 21-22. The insurer's rights in the event of liability
- Clause 21-23. Liability for loss that occurred during other transport, etc.
- Clause 21-24. Limitation of liability for fishing vessels
- Clause 21-25. Limitation of the insurer's liability for measures to avert or minimise loss
- Clause 21-26. The sum insured as a limit to the insurer's liability
- Clause 21-27. Deductible
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Chapter 17: Insurance for fishing vessels
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Chapter 12: Damage
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General
Chapter 12 on damage is essentially based on the provisions of Version 2010 of the 1996 Plan. However, amendments have been made on three points: in the first place, in Cl. 12-14 Apportionment of common expenses, the word “class of work” is changed to “Category of work” to conform to changes in Chapter 16 and 18. In the second place, Cl. 12-15 Ice damage deductions has been amended to conform to the general approach used for calculation of deductibles. In the third place, in Cl. 12-16 Machinery damage deductions, sub-clause 2 (a) has been amended to broaden the exclusion from machinery damage deductions. Further, the Commentaries are amended in relation to Cl. 12-1, and totally rewritten for Cl. 12-4.
As regards the incorporation of practice in the Plan, reference is made to the introduction to the General Part of the Plan.
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Clause 12-1. Main rule concerning liability of the insurer
View Clause Go to Plan pageThe text itself was not been amended in the 2013 Plan, but some amendments were made to the Commentary.
This Clause contains the substantive main rules concerning the extent of the insurer’s liability for repair costs and supersedes the relevant Nordic Insurance Contracts Acts to the effect that the assured shall receive full compensation for his economic loss. According to sub-clause 1, the rules shall apply when the vessel has sustained damage for which the insurer is liable without the rules relating to total loss “being applicable”. For the rules relating to total loss to become applicable, it is required that both the conditions for a total loss are met and that the rules are invoked. If the vessel is declared a constructive total loss, but the assured has it repaired, the insurer’s liability will therefore in principle be regulated by the rules in this Chapter, cf., however, Cl. 12-9, which in this case limits the insurer’s liability for the costs of repairs.
That the vessel has been “damaged” means first and foremost that it has sustained physical damage. However, pollution of the vessel itself is also within the meaning of the term, so that the insurer will cover the costs of removal and cleaning.
The main rule is contained in the statement that the vessel shall be “restored to the condition it was in prior to the occurrence of the damage”. This means first and foremost that the repairs shall satisfy the classification requirements. Certain qualifications must nevertheless be pointed out. On the one hand, the assured may not demand that the vessel’s standard after repairs shall satisfy the classification requirements if it did not do so prior to the casualty. On the other hand, the insurer must cover the extra costs caused by the fact that special materials or designs beyond the requirements of the classification society had been used when building the vessel, unless the insurer can limit his liability under sub-clause 4, second sentence, of the Clause.
There will invariably also be parts of the object insured that are not subject to classification, such as bunkers and lubricating oil (which as a starting point are part of the object insured as per Cl. 10-1). There is no doubt that the same principle applies that the insurer is liable to restore such articles to the condition they were in prior to the casualty. However, in case there e.g. is a recoverable machinery damage which also involves contamination of the lubricating oil, there is no automatic right on the assured to claim for a full replacement of the contaminated lubricating oil. Firstly, the question is which condition the lubricating oil was in prior to the damage, and e.g. in case the lubricating oil was contaminated prior to the casualty due to inadequate lubricating oil separation / maintenance, the supply of new lubricating oil will be excluded pursuant to Cl. 12-3. And secondly, even if the lubricating oil was in perfect condition prior to the casualty, there is also a possibility that contamination caused by a casualty can be “repaired” e.g. by proper lubricating oil separation. If so, it will follow that the claim in respect of the contaminated lubricating oil would be limited to the costs of separation (if any). The above principles will apply for lubricating oil already in use in the engine as well as lubricating oil in a storage tank, in line with practice under the previous Norwegian Plan.
That the vessel, as a result of the damage and the repairs, has a lower market value than it had before the damage, e.g. because a buyer is afraid that there may be latent damage, is not in itself decisive if the repairs must be regarded as complete from a technical point of view and are approved by the classification society. See the judgment by the Oslo City Court of 30 January 1996, which is published on Cefor’s web page: https://cefor.no/clauses/nordic-plan/related-documents/. Accordingly, in such cases, there is no room for the rules in sub-clause 4.
A special question arises if the requirements of the classification society have been made stricter than the requirements in effect when the vessel was built or at the time of earlier repairs. If the assured, independently of the casualty, would have had to replace the damaged part at a later point in time, he may not claim compensation for the costs of the increase in standard. However, if transitional rules would not have required him to make a replacement if the casualty had not taken place, he must be entitled to claim compensation for his entire costs. But if the replacement, etc. results in a “special advantage for the assured because the vessel is strengthened or the equipment improved”, the assured will have to accept a deduction under sub-clause 3, cf. below.
The requirement that the vessel be restored to the condition it was in prior to the occurrence of the damage cannot be taken quite literally. The assured must, to a large extent, accept that damaged parts are repaired and not replaced by new ones, even if this entails that the vessel will not be restored to exactly the condition it was in before. An example of this is when damage to the crankshaft is repaired by grinding the crank pin to a size below standard, see also Brækhus/Rein: Håndbok i kaskoforsikring (Handbook of Hull Insurance), p. 458. If the classification society accepts the repairs, the assured will not be entitled to compensation for a new crankshaft, unless he is able to establish that the repairs will result in depreciation in value. Moreover, a new part would often result in an increase in standard, to which the assured is not entitled, cf. sub-clause 3.
Use of un-original parts on vessels is experienced from time to time, which in certain circumstances may reflect an acceptable level of care, see further below. In situations where there is recoverable damage to un-original parts of the vessel, and the assured decides to replace them with original and more expensive parts, the insurer can limit liability to the costs of un-original part. This would be sufficient in order to restore the vessel to the condition she was in prior to the occurrence of damage. On the other hand, in case there is recoverable damage to original parts of the vessel, the assured can claim the full costs of replacement with corresponding new original parts, even if cheaper and otherwise “acceptable” un-original parts may be available in the market.
The assured must also, to a certain extent, be content with used components when older parts are damaged, e.g. in case of damage to an auxiliary engine. However, he shall have the right to demand that the used component is clearly at least as good as the damaged one, and that the classification society approves the used part. In addition, it must normally be a requirement that the component is newly overhauled.
The use of machinery parts that have not been produced by the original machinery or equipment manufacturer creates a dilemma for the shipping industry. On the one hand safety considerations require that replacement parts should in all respects be equal to the original. On the other hand, insistence on the use of original parts from the original manufacturer gives that manufacturer a monopoly position which can all too easily be exploited. “Unoriginal” parts need not necessarily be sub-standard. They could have been produced under licence or have been subjected to some form of independent quality control. It is possible, especially in the case of less complex units, that the part is perfectly adequate even though it is strictly speaking a so called “un-original part” in the sense it has been produced without the approval of the original manufacturer and without any form of independent quality control. Competition in the production of spare parts can bring vessel operators and their insurers the benefit of lower prices. The obvious danger is that lower prices might result in lower quality. Insurers have identified the use of cheap sub-standard pirate parts as the cause of a number of casualties. There are a number of potential insurance issues as discussed below.
Class approval required
If the installation of a replacement part should have been approved by class and the Assured has deliberately or negligently failed to ensure this but has used a sub-standard pirate part, then clearly the sanctions for breach of a safety regulation will apply, Cl. 3-25. Both the cost of repairing the pirate part and perhaps more significantly any consequential damage to other parts will not be covered.If the installation of an unoriginal part, e.g. one manufactured under licence, has been approved by class then the rule in Cl. 12-4 will apply and damage to the part arising from an error in design or faulty material will be covered.
Class approval not required
If class approval of a replacement part is not required the ordinary rules apply. The use of a pirate part will not amount to a breach of a safety regulation so that the insurer will only be able to avoid liability, in part or in whole, if:- the assured has deliberately installed an inferior part in order to save money,
- the use of the part amounts to gross negligence, or
- the part is damaged as a consequence of error in design or faulty material.
In addition, when applying the exclusion for ordinary wear and tear and ordinary corrosion, Cl. 12-3, one would take into account that cheap pirate parts are likely to become worn out more quickly than original parts.
Regardless of whether the repairs are carried out with used or new parts, it is a prerequisite that the part is obtainable within a reasonable period of time. The question as to what is “a reasonable period of time” must be decided on a case-to-case basis depending on the type of vessel and the place of repairs. If the part cannot be obtained within a reasonable period of time, this means that there is a situation of “unrepairability”, and the insurer must cover new and/or more expensive parts to the extent that this is necessary. If the waiting time is not so long as to entail unrepairability, the use of new parts in order to save time may have to be regarded as a cost in order to expedite the repairs according to Cl. 12-8.
In situations where casualty repairs necessitate the purchase of special tools and such tools are kept on board, it has been customary in practice to cover 50% of the costs of the tools if such tools could not ordinarily be expected to be found on board. This practice should be maintained where new parts necessitate the purchase of new tools, or if the repairs require special tools that cannot be expected to be on board. On the other hand, the costs of tools which, according to good seamanship, should have been on board before the casualty should not be indemnified. The same must apply to the rental of such tools.
Decisive for the insurer’s liability are repair costs that have in actual fact been incurred, unless one of the special limitation rules applies. An advance approximate estimate under Cl. 12-10, sub-clause 3, will only affect the insurer’s liability if the repairs are not carried out and cannot be used to limit the insurer’s liability for the costs of repairs.
Foreign insurance conditions and YAR limit the liability to “reasonable cost of repairs”. Because of the wide international distribution of the Plan, the issue of whether a corresponding limitation should be incorporated in the Plan text was considered, but it was decided that this was not a very good idea. In the first place, discussions might arise concerning the interpretation of “reasonable cost of repairs”, in particular in relation to the identical formulation in the English conditions. It has been assumed that those conditions may, in certain cases, conceivably provide somewhat more extensive cover than the 1964 Plan, and it was not considered expedient to introduce a corresponding extension of the cover in the Plan. In the second place, such limitation may have an unreasonably adverse effect for the assured. If he has no option but to have the vessel repaired at a repair yard which enjoys a monopoly at the location concerned, the invoice may, from an objective point of view, be unreasonably high in relation to the work carried out. The insurer should nevertheless cover the full cost of the repairs in such cases. In this and other cases, however, the insurer must be entitled to refuse to accept the invoice to a certain extent, e.g. if the yard has charged more for the recoverable casualty work than for maintenance work, or if the calculation of prices is in conflict with public price regulations in the country concerned. If in the latter case the assured does not succeed in having the invoice reduced through negotiations or litigation, the insurer must cover it in full, provided, however, that the assured’s conduct has been loyal in relation to the insurer. Generally accepted business standards suggest that the discussion concerning the amount of the cost of repairs be clarified with the insurer in advance by having the insurer’s surveyor participate in the negotiations with the repair yard and stating his opinion. If the assured negotiates and accepts the invoices for the recoverable repairs without inviting the surveyor to the negotiations, he has the burden of proving that the repairs were carried out in the most reasonable way possible. If the insurer is otherwise able to document that the owner has not made any effort to obtain the least expensive repairs possible, or has in some other way been disloyal to the insurer, it follows from general principles of contract law that the insurer will not have to pay the additional costs. Depending on the circumstances, the insurer will in such cases also be able to invoke the rules relating to fraud during the claims settlement.
The insurer’s liability covers not just the actual invoice from the repair yard, but also other expenses necessary to have the repairs carried out. These are expenses particularly associated with the repairs in question, as well as accessory expenses applicable to any and all repairs which must be apportioned as common expenses pursuant to Cl. 12-14 if non-recoverable work is carried out at the same time. According to general practice, the insurer is therefore liable for the bunkers required for testing the engines, costs of a trial run, oil used for “flushing”, and the crew’s overtime work in connection with their direct participation in the recoverable repairs.
Supply of electricity to a vessel during repairs is usually made for several purposes. Firstly, the electric power that would have been consumed in running the vessel regardless of the repairs is disallowed pursuant to Cl. 12-5 (a). However, any extra electric power consumed due to repair work being effected is allowed as a common repair expense as per Cl. 12-1. It is the assured who has the burden of proving the extent of loss, cf. Cl. 2-12, sub-clause 1.
The assessment must be based on the particular circumstances in each case. In practice, it is difficult to identify exactly how much of the consumption is related directly to the repairs. Due to this fact, the common practice, though not legally binding, is to allow a proportion of 50% of the total electricity consumption as a common repair expense. If obviously unreasonable, ref. the judgment of Gulating Court of Appeal of 17 October 2014, electric consumption may be apportioned differently. Electric consumption in a time period during which no repairs are effected (e.g. waiting time or the like), is not allowed as a common repair expense. It makes no difference whether electricity is purchased from a yard or if the vessel’s own auxiliary engines are run in order to produce the electric power.
Another category of costs necessary in order to carry out the repairs to the vessel is the cleaning of tanks and, possibly, the removal and destruction of oil residue from the tanks. Costs in connection with the removal and destruction of contaminated bunkers, lubricating oil, etc. must also be covered, even though practice has here gone in the opposite direction. Removal and possible destruction of oil that must be regarded as part of the cargo are not covered, however, cf. Cl. 12-5 (b). Expenses of this nature are covered by the P&I insurer.
Also gas-freeing of gas tankers sailing in ballast which have retained a small quantity of gas in the tanks in order to cool them down must be regarded as necessary accessory expenses. In practice, it has been alleged that gas-freeing represents a loss of cargo and therefore falls outside the scope of the hull insurer’s liability. However, the correct approach must be to see this as a loss of a cooling agent. Given that the rule of the Plan is that the vessel shall be restored to the same condition as it was in prior to the casualty, the missing cooling agent must be replaced. The same applies to additional expenses for cooling down the tanks after the repairs. On the other hand, the loss of gas carried as a cargo is not covered.
However, as regards a number of the accessory expenses, the insurer’s liability is regulated by special provisions, cf. Cl. 12-5 (a)-(c) and Cl. 12-13.
Another category of expenses that must be covered in addition to the actual repair invoice are expenses in connection with foreseeable consequences of docking and repairs, e.g. the removal, discarding and destruction of minor oil spills inside the dock. However, oil spills outside the dock must fall outside the hull cover. If the oil spill is of such an extent that it penetrates beyond the dock, it will normally be due to an accident or a misjudgement during the docking, which the P&I insurance must cover.
In the event of a risk of oil spill, the assured may receive an order from the port authorities to carry out temporary repairs of the vessel. If the pollution risk is acute and immediate, the costs of such repairs must be covered by the P&I insurer as costs of measures to avert or minimise loss. In practice, however, there are examples of port authorities having demanded temporary repairs also in other cases, e.g. in connection with underwater welding of cracks out of fear of oil spill. If such temporary repairs are a condition for letting the vessel into the port of repairs, it must be regarded as part of the costs of repairs under the hull insurance.
A difficult question is to the extent to which the insurer must cover expenses that must be regarded as a substitute for another loss which according to its nature had to be covered under the hull insurance, i.e. so-called “substituted expenses”. A starting proposition under the 1964 Plan was that this type of expense was not covered, unless there was a special authority, cf. also Brækhus/Rein: Håndbok i kaskoforsikring (Handbook of Hull Insurance), p. 417. During the revision of the Plan, extended cover of such expenses was considered, but rejected. The content of the term “substituted expenses” is difficult to establish and, if basic cover of such expenses were allowed, the door would be opened to a discussion of a whole series of claims. If the insurer has to cover such expenses, this must be on the basis of an advance agreement between the parties, or the Special Conditions must provide a clear authority. The Plan itself contains a number of rules that explicitly preclude cover of such expenses, cf. e.g. Cl. 4-2, Cl. 4-12 and Cl. 12-5 (a).
Costs common to repairs that are recoverable and repairs that are not shall be apportioned according to Cl. 12-14. Access work is not a common expense to be apportioned under Cl. 12-14; it constitutes part of the actual repair work. If the access work has been necessary for the recoverable as well as the non-recoverable repairs, practice has, however, been to apportion all common access work on a 50/50 basis.
Sub-clause 2 maintains the traditional principle in hull insurance that the insurer does not cover damage unless the damage has been repaired. In the 2007 version, however, a general right to claim compensation has been introduced, cf. Cl. 12-2. The situation where the assured goes bankrupt before the invoice has been paid is referred to in the Commentary on Cl. 7-4, see also Brækhus/Rein: Håndbok i kaskoforsikring (Handbook of Hull Insurance), p. 326.
The provision in sub-clause 3 is in reality superfluous in view of sub-clause 1. The Committee has nevertheless decided to leave it. Deductions are subject to the condition that “the vessel is strengthened or the equipment improved”, and that this has entailed “special advantages” for the assured. If, in connection with the repair work, the assured takes the initiative himself to have the vessel strengthened or the equipment improved, it is obvious that he must bear these additional costs himself. The same must apply where a classification society issues a general recommendation that, concurrently with repairs, work to strengthen a specific type of vessel shall be carried out. However, the provision will also apply where orders are issued to carry out repairs in a specific manner which entails that the vessel will be better than it was, e.g. where an order is given to replace a damaged iron propeller by a propeller made of bronze. A deduction is nevertheless always subject to the condition that the strengthening or the improvement has made the repairs more expensive.
The “special advantages” requirement indicates some specific benefit or gain. As a starting proposition, it is natural to assume that the assured will have obtained an advantage if there has been an increase in standard. It is nevertheless not sufficient to justify a deduction that the replacement of a worn part by a new part, generally speaking, represents an advantage to the owner. For instance, the insurer may not claim a deduction under sub-clause 3 where an entirely new engine following an engine breakdown replaces an older, but still functional, auxiliary engine. But a deduction must be made if a part is installed with higher performance or better quality than the old part, e.g. where a new engine has greater active power or lower fuel consumption than the old one. This nevertheless presupposes that an engine of the “old” quality is obtainable. If that is not the case, and the improvement is inevitable, no deduction shall be made, regardless of whether or not the assured is able to take advantage of the improvement.
It is not considered an “advantage” under sub-clause 3 that an error from earlier recoverable repairs is corrected in connection with the repairs of a casualty which is a result of the error, provided that the relevant part was approved by the classification society, cf. Cl. 12-4.
Sub-clause 4, first sentence was amended in the 2007 version. Under earlier versions, if it was impossible to repair the damage completely, but the vessel could be made seaworthy and fit for its intended use by less extensive repairs, the insurer was only liable for the depreciation in value in addition to the repair costs. However, the rules regarding seaworthiness were removed from the Plan in the 2007 version. Accordingly, the wording “the vessel can be made seaworthy” has been replaced by “the vessel satisfies the requirements as regards technical and operational safety”, cf. in that respect the wording in Cl. 3-23.
If the repairs are feasible, but will be disproportionately expensive, the insurer has the right to limit his liability to the amount that less extensive repairs would cost, plus the depreciation in value, cf. sub-clause 4, second sentence. Typical situations where this provision may be applied is where the vessel has sustained a dent in its keel, or where artistic decorations on board put in by the assured have been damaged. The situation is more doubtful when the bottom frame of the engine has been damaged and the choice is between welding it or replacing it. In such a situation it is hardly possibly to indicate a general solution.
It is only the insurer who can invoke the rule in sub-clause 4, second sentence. It may also be in the interest of the assured to make do with less extensive repairs, if complete repairs of the vessel would result in a considerable loss of time for him, particularly if he is granted the right to claim compensation for the depreciation in value represented by the unrepaired damage. However, such a right for the assured entails a risk that claims for damages for a depreciation in value will be lodged very frequently, and these claims will be difficult to assess and might lead to the insurer being subjected to a great deal of pressure.
The fact that the assured has the vessel restored to its prior condition at his own expense obviously does not mean that he is not entitled to claim separate compensation for the depreciation in value.
The claim for supplementary compensation arises when the repairs have been completed.
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Clause 12-2. Compensation for unrepaired damage
View Clause Go to Plan pageThis Clause was amended in the 2007 version. It was further amended in the 2010 version.
According to relevant Nordic Insurance Contracts Acts (Nordic ICAs), the main rule is that the assured is entitled to full compensation for his economic loss, regardless of whether or not the damage is repaired. The 1996 Plan adopted a different system: the basic principle in Cl. 12-1 was that the insurer’s liability did not arise until the damage had been repaired, whereas Cl. 12-2 provided a limited right to compensation for unrepaired damage, namely when ownership of the vessel passed from the assured by sale. In the 2007 version, the solution in Cl. 12-1 was maintained, but the right to compensation was made general. This solution concords with the English conditions, as well as with the solution for offshore structures, cf. the wording of Cl. 18-10 of the Plan prior to the 2007 version.
Cl. 12-2, sub-clause 1, of the 1996 Plan provided that the assured could claim compensation for the damage when the ownership of the vessel passed from the assured by sale, enforced auction, seizure or requisition that did not give rise to compensation under Cl. 15-11. This limited right has now been replaced by a general right to claim compensation when the insurance period expires, cf. sub-clause 1. As mentioned above, this approach concords with the non-mandatory rule in Nordic ICAs, and with the solution that is widely practised in Norwegian non-marine insurance. The solution also concords with the ITCH. Even though it is primarily in a sale situation that the assured needs a right to claim compensation for unrepaired damage, it is therefore appropriate to generalise the rule. “(W)hen the insurance period expires” will as a rule mean upon the ordinary expiry of the insurance period. If the vessel is sold, the insurance period expires at the time of sale, cf. Cl. 3-21. In the case of multi-year insurance contracts, on the other hand, each year constitutes an individual period which expires at the end of the year. Thus the assured does not need to wait until the entire multi-year period has expired, cf. Cl. 1-5, sub-clause 4, to which a reference to Cl. 12-2 has been added as one of the provisions under which a multi-year insurance contract is to be divided up into periods of one year.
As was the case under the 1996 Plan, only the assured is entitled to claim compensation. The insurer may not demand to pay compensation if the assured or the person to whom he transfers the vessel wishes to repair it. The insurer’s interests are deemed to be sufficiently well protected by the Plan’s general rules regarding tender, etc.
The first sentence of sub-clause 2 states that compensation “is calculated on the basis of the estimated reduction in the market value of the vessel due to the damage at the time of expiry, but shall not exceed the estimated cost of repairs”. This provision concords with ITCH, and is a change in relation to earlier versions. The former solution was that compensation was to be calculated on the basis of the estimated cost of repairs at the time of the change of ownership, but was limited to the reduction in the proceeds of sale that is attributable to the damage. In addition, however, there were special presumption rules: in the event of a sale for scrapping, the damage was assumed not to have reduced the proceeds, and in other sale situations to have reduced the proceeds by the estimated cost of repairs. These special rules have now been deleted. The rule in sub-clause 2, however, must be expected to lead to the same substantive result.
The basis for the calculation is the significance of the damage for the vessel’s market value. However, the reduction in market value will only be significant if it is lower than “the estimated cost of repairs”. In practice, therefore, the estimated repair costs will normally be decisive for the settlement. The amount of the estimated repair costs will vary depending on the location to which the assessment is to be tied. The basic principle must be to use the lowest price in the area in which it would have been natural to repair the vessel if the repairs had been carried out. Under the rules of Cl. 12-12, sub-clause 3, the shipowner must have the right to demand that the price tendered by a yard be disregarded. Furthermore, the removal costs must be taken into account. If the vessel is trading between a high-cost area and a low-cost area, only the prices in the low-cost area shall be taken into consideration, provided that it is feasible to carry out the repairs in the latter area.
As a basic principle, compensation must be based on the repair prices at the time the insurance period expires. In the case of multi-year insurance contracts, the expiry of each individual annual insurance period, cf. Cl. 1-5, sub-clause 4, is decisive. If the vessel is sold, the insurance will terminate at the time of sale, cf. Cl. 3-21 of the Plan, and valuation must be carried out at that time. If no valuation was made at the time the insurance terminated, the damage must be assessed in another way, primarily on the basis of the survey reports. If the insurer wants to have a discretionary assessment of the repair costs carried out in connection with the survey of the damage, Cl. 12-10, sub-clause 3, gives him authority to require that this be done. Such assessment of unrepaired damage is not binding in relation to the settlement under Cl. 12-2, but it will be a very important element of evidence, particularly in the absence of a subsequent valuation. In the event of the vessel being sold for scrapping, moreover, the limitation of liability due to the reduction in the market value of the vessel as a result of the damage will normally make it superfluous to assess the damage with a view to repairs.
The second sentence of sub-clause 2 was inserted in 2010, and states that common expenses are not recoverable, except for 50 % of dock and quay hire. This provision concords with practice, in addition to being laid down in the Commentary, but was incorporated into the text of the Plan in order to avoid discussion as to whether the authority for this approach was sufficiently clear. The background for the general rule that common expenses are not recoverable is that the magnitude of the common expenses for various repairs is often highly uncertain. One of the reasons for this is that the shipowner usually takes advantage of the stay in a repair yard to have other defects and damage repaired at the same time.
Sub-clause 3 was new in the 2007 version and states that no compensation may be claimed if the vessel, later in the same period, becomes a total loss or qualifies for condemnation under Cl. 11-3 of the Plan. Although the provision is new in the Plan, the principle has traditionally applied that “a total loss absorbs partial damage”, cf. the Commentary on Cl. 11-1. However, this principle becomes more relevant when the right to compensation is made a general entitlement, and it is therefore logical to formulate it as a separate rule. The provision concords with ITCH. The rationale is that a claim for compensation for unrepaired damage in addition to compensation for total loss would give the assured an unjustified gain at the expense of the insurer. This rationale poses no problem in connection with condemnation under Cl. 11-3 because the assured is then clearly entitled to a condemnation settlement. However, this provision also applies if the total loss is not covered. In such case, there is no question of double compensation, whereas in this situation it follows from sub-clause 1 that the right to compensation is not triggered. Moreover, as a result of the subsequent total loss, the unrepaired damage will not affect the vessel’s market value. If the vessel becomes a total loss or qualifies for condemnation in a subsequent insurance period, on the other hand, no deduction shall be made for compensation related to damage sustained in an earlier period. This solution applies regardless of whether or not the compensation has been disbursed.
Under sub-clause 4, the assured may, in the event of a transfer of ownership of the vessel, transfer claims for known damage to the new owner. This provision is in accordance with Cl. 12-2, sub-clause 3, of the 2003 version. Although the right to compensation has been made a general entitlement, it is appropriate to retain certain limitations on the right to transfer ownership in the event of the sale of the vessel. It is also an advantage to have a clear rule on this point because there is some uncertainty as to what follows from background law as regards the right to transfer such a claim.
The right to transfer the claim applies only to damage that was known at the time of transfer. If the vessel is sold with undiscovered recoverable damage, the insurance settlement must be seen in conjunction with the regulation of liability between the parties under the contract of sale. If the damage is the assured’s risk, he will be subject to the sanctions applicable under the law of sales. Insofar as the damage is a result of a risk for which the hull insurer is liable, the assured must subsequently be entitled to demand that the hull insurer who covered the vessel when the peril struck cover any price reduction (or possibly repair costs) that he must pay to the buyer. Most contracts of sale relating to vessels are, however, on “as is” terms, and in that event the undiscovered damage will be the buyer’s risk. If damage is discovered, the buyer will not have any claim under the contract of sale against either the assured as seller or the assured’s hull insurer. Nor is he entitled to cover under the assured’s hull insurance through a transfer of the claim, neither in the form of transfer of a claim for unknown damage in connection with the sale, nor in the form of a later transfer when the damage is discovered. By accepting an “as is” condition, the buyer has taken a risk as regards this type of damage – the fact that the damage is insured should not put him in a better position. By making it a requirement that the damage must be known at the time of transfer, the transfer of unknown damage is thus precluded.
Where the damage is known at the time of transfer of the vessel, the claim will normally be transferred at the same time. Should the need arise for a subsequent transfer of the claim for such known damage, however, the insurer must accept such transfer. Under Cl. 5-23, the assured has a time-limit of six months within which to give notice of known damage. Where a vessel is transferred before expiry of this time-limit, the assured should nevertheless notify the insurer of the damage as well as of the transfer of claim without the Plan stipulating any explicit requirement to that effect.
The basic principle when a claim is transferred is that the buyer is placed in the same position as the seller. The buyer may thus choose to have the vessel repaired if it is sold in an unrepaired condition. Insofar as the buyer decides to claim compensation, sub-clause 2 applies in the usual manner.
Clause 12-2. Compensation for unrepaired damage
Even if repairs have not been carried out, the assured may claim compensation for the damage when the insurance period expires. Compensation is calculated on the basis of the estimated reduction in the market value of the vessel due to the damage at the time of expiry, but shall not exceed the...
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Clause 12-3. Inadequate maintenance, etc.
View Clause Go to Plan pageSub-clause 2 was deleted in the 2007 version. The Clause otherwise corresponds to earlier versions of the 1996 Plan. The Commentary was also amended in the 2007 version in connection with the amendments to Cl. 3-22.
The provision regulates the extent to which the assured is entitled to compensation where wear and tear, corrosion, rot, inadequate maintenance and similar causes have resulted in one or several parts becoming defective.
Sub-clause 1 divides the risk of maintenance damage between the insurer and the assured. The provision establishes that the insurer is not liable for the costs of renewing or repairing the part or parts of the hull, machinery or equipment, which were in defective condition as a result of wear and tear, corrosion, rot or inadequate maintenance.
Given the way the provision is worded, the crucial question will be the technical condition of the vessel at the time the casualty occurred. It must thus be established which parts of the vessel, its machinery and equipment were in defective condition because of wear and tear, corrosion, rot or inadequate maintenance. The question whether the part or parts concerned were in a proper condition before the occurrence of the casualty will have to be evaluated by the surveyors and the technical experts. Only if they do not agree, will it be necessary to resort to the procedures available for deciding such disputes.
In the determination of whether one or several parts are “in defective condition”, the minimum requirements of the classification society will normally provide good guidance. Thus, if frames and shell plating have become thinner than the minimum requirements of the classification society, the insurer is not liable for the costs of renewing or repairing them. In this connection, it will be irrelevant whether the assured can demonstrate that he probably would have been able to continue sailing the vessel until the next classification renewal without having to make replacements or repairs if the casualty had not occurred. Thus, if a vessel has sustained cracks or dents in a bulkhead in bad weather and it is revealed that parts of the bulkhead were corroded below the minimum requirements of the classification society, it will be necessary to measure the parts of the bulkhead that fall below the minimum of the classification society and exclude the costs of renewing the steel in this area from cover. On the other hand, the insurer shall cover the costs for those parts of the bulkhead that meet the classification society’s minimum requirements.
The actual identification of what must be regarded as “part or parts” for the purpose of the provision shall be based on technical and economic considerations. If the classification society refuses to accept a partial renewal of a steel plate that is merely corroded in a limited area, the hull plate must thus be regarded as excluded from cover. The same will apply in relation to parts and components of the vessel’s machinery or equipment. If it is technically or economically justifiable and sensible to carry out a separate renewal or repair of one or several parts of the machinery or equipment, it is only that part or parts that are excluded from cover. If, however, the most expedient procedure from a technical/economic point of view is to replace a larger component, and not merely the part or parts which were in defective condition, the entire component will be excluded from cover.
Neither the size of the relevant part nor its value will be of significance. Thus, if a nut or bolt in the machinery has rusted to pieces and it would have been possible to replace it without any major problems, it is only the costs of the renewal of the nut or bolt that are excluded. It is nevertheless a condition that other parts of the machinery which have been damaged as a result of the breakdown of the bolt or nut concerned are not in defective condition. If they are, the insurer shall not cover the costs of replacing these parts either. Nor will the size of the vessel in question be of any relevance. The fact that the rudder on smaller vessels consists of one steel plate, whereas in larger vessels it consists of several plates, is therefore irrelevant. If, in the latter case, it is technically and economically possible to repair the rudder by replacing the plate that was in a defective state, it is merely the costs of replacing the plate that are excluded.
As long as one or several parts cannot be regarded as being in proper condition, the costs of repairs or replacements shall be excluded from cover, regardless of their position or significance in the causal chain. It is therefore irrelevant whether the part concerned was the first that was struck and consequently triggered the casualty (“primary damage”), or whether the casualty can be traced back to another factor, where the part concerned was struck as a result of this factor (“consequential damage”). Thus, the surveyors will, in connection with any settlement, have to evaluate whether any of the parts for which compensation is now claimed, were in defective condition as a result of factors set forth in the provision.
If damage is caused to the machinery as a result of contaminated oil and feed water, the formal point of departure will be that if the oil, etc. has been contaminated as a result of inadequate maintenance, resulting damage to the machinery must be recoverable under Cl. 12-3, since the exclusions in Cl. 12-3 do not apply.
The “costs” which are excluded from cover under the provision are, in addition to the costs of purchasing or processing a new “part” to replace the defective one, the expenses incurred in access work and installation of “the part”, plus a reasonable proportion of the common costs of repairs, cf. Cl. 12-14.
The exclusion is, limited to ordinary corrosion that occurs naturally of its own accord and over a certain period of time. However, “corrosion” which can be traced back to a casualty shall be regarded as recoverable damage, unless the assured can be blamed for not having prevented the corrosion. As an example, in case the engine room is flooded as a consequence of a serious grounding and sea water enters the main engine, corrosion damage may be expected to engine parts even if the assured is taking appropriate action to limit such damage. And although the corrosion process as such may be considered as “ordinary” once sea water has entered into engine spaces, such corrosion damage is recoverable as it can be traced back to the grounding (i.e. “a casualty”). Similarly, if the steel in hull or machinery is subjected to corrosion due to heat during a fire, the corrosion must be regarded as a consequence of the fire. The same applies if the packing around the propeller shaft is defective, either as a result of an error on the part of the repair yard, or following a casualty (such as a fishing line becoming entangled around the shaft/packing), and seawater penetrates and corrodes the shaft or bearings. In that case, corrosion must be regarded as a result of a casualty or inadequate work on the part of the yard. Furthermore, the insurer should cover more spontaneous corrosion damage if the corrosion is in itself in the nature of a “casualty”. An example is where the vessel, whilst in port suffers external corrosion occurs to the hull or propeller to an entirely unanticipated and abnormal extent due to chemical pollution of the water, electrolytical corrosion, etc.
The exclusion for parts that are in defective condition due to “inadequate maintenance” presupposes the existence of a standard for “adequate maintenance”. Such a standard should be tied to the condition of the parts that are damaged. As regards most of the vessel’s components, there are technical norms determining when a part should be replaced. Once the damage has occurred, the part or parts in question which are in a defective state must be examined to establish whether the norm for replacement has been exceeded. The fact that the defective part exceeds the norm for replacement is nevertheless not sufficient to constitute “inadequate maintenance”. If the owner is able to document that he has followed a planned and proper maintenance programme, but the part is nevertheless worn out, this will not be a case of “inadequate maintenance”. However, the damage will not be recoverable from the insurer if he can demonstrate that it is the result of normal wear and tear arising from the ordinary use of the vessel, cf. below. If, on the other hand, the damage is the result of extraordinary wear and tear, it must be regarded as a casualty.
By a proper maintenance programme is meant that the assured has complied with the norms and rules associated with the maintenance of the part in question. Norms and rules on maintenance may partly follow from recommendations and rules from the classification society, partly from the ISM Code, and partly from the user’s manual from the supplier. The user’s manual will normally contain information as to the type of checks that should be carried out in order to prevent damage from wear and tear, the frequency of such checks and the extent and time of the actual maintenance. Wear and tear which it was impossible to detect by means of the prescribed check or which could not have been prevented with the prescribed maintenance programme must basically be the insurer’s risk, provided that it has the character of a casualty, c.f. the remarks above.
Also a less comprehensive maintenance programme than the one required by the recommendations and rules of the classification society, the ISM Code and the user’s manual must, however, be justifiable in a specific case. However, in that event the assured must document that he has sufficient empirical material to have a less comprehensive maintenance programme than indicated above.
It is not a condition for establishing “inadequate maintenance” that the assured is aware of the risk of wear-and-tear damage. On the other hand: If the assured by means of the stipulated check, or in some other way, discovers irregularities, it is not sufficient that he follows the prescribed maintenance programme. In that event, he has a duty to act within a reasonable period of time.
A difficult problem relating to the definition of the term “inadequate maintenance” is the borderline for faults or negligence committed by the vessel’s master or crew, which are covered under Cl. 3-36, sub-clause 1. Generally speaking, it may be said that inadequate maintenance presupposes that it occurs over a certain period of time, and that it is not a question of an isolated fault, but of a failure of the system. The clearest example of “inadequate maintenance” is therefore inadequate routines for monitoring and carrying out maintenance. An isolated error in the performance of maintenance routines, e.g. forgetting to drain cooling water from an auxiliary engine - does not, however, constitute inadequate maintenance, but a fault on the part of the crew. The same applies in the event of an isolated incident where instructions relating to the maintenance were forgotten. However, an isolated fault may become inadequate maintenance if the fault is of such a nature that it should have been rectified quickly as part of the maintenance program, and this is not done. The problem is illustrated by ND 1988.21 Agder Ionio and ND 1990.442 Stavanger Mare Pride, even though both judgments applied the standard for adequate maintenance too strictly. In the Ionio case the failure to preheat the fuel oil on a number of occasions was regarded as inadequate maintenance because the requirement was that the fuel oil should be checked daily. In the ND 1990.442 Stavanger Mare Pride judgment, it was regarded as inadequate maintenance when they had failed to correct an earlier faulty connection of the fuel line on board and to clean the fuel oil that had become contaminated through the faulty connection. It follows from the way the standard for adequate maintenance is outlined above that in order for a failure to rectify faults to amount to inadequate maintenance, a norm must exist which stipulates the relevant duty to act, e.g. a daily check of fuel oil or regular inspections of couplings. These judgments give therefore little direct help in establishing the content of “inadequate maintenance”.
Given the definition of inadequate maintenance, the exclusion for “wear and tear” acquires less independent significance. If ordinary wear and tear results in a part being in defective condition, this will typically be a consequence of inadequate maintenance. On the other hand, if a part is worn in spite of adequate maintenance, wear and tear must normally be regarded as extraordinary. Ordinary wear and tear is therefore normally already excluded by virtue of the exclusion for inadequate maintenance. The exclusion of wear and tear will acquire independent significance where ordinary wear and tear is not caught by the prescribed maintenance routines, e.g. because they are based on wrong assumptions as to a part’s durability in normal use. However, such extraordinary wear and tear will as a rule have to be regarded as casualty damage, e.g. where the extraordinary wear and tear can be traced back to earlier, unrepaired casualty damage, or to negligence on the part of master or crew which does not provide a basis for identification under Cl. 3-36, sub-clause 1.
The term “similar causes” is aimed at causes of damage such as rats, mice, worms, fungus and marine growth. However, faulty workmanship cannot automatically be equated with the causes mentioned in Cl. 12-3. Faulty workmanship refers to faults committed in connection with the building or repairs of the vessel. If such errors were committed in connection with the repairs of damage covered under the insurance, the costs of rectifying the errors must be covered by the relevant insurer. By contrast, faulty workmanship committed in connection with non-recoverable work must in certain cases be equated with inadequate maintenance, viz. if the faulty workmanship is a result of the fact that the assured has chosen an incompetent repair yard or has failed to follow up the yard’s work. In that event, the error must be considered in accordance with Cl. 12-3. If, however, it is a question of other faulty workmanship relating to non-recoverable work which is not in the nature of inadequate maintenance or the like, and which result in a casualty, the insurer must be liable in the normal way for both the damage to the part which was originally affected by the error, and for any consequential damage. The costs incurred in doing the repairs over again, i.e. by rectifying the actual error, will, however, not be recoverable. In that event, the assured would in reality obtain an improvement of the vessel, cf. the principle in Cl. 12-1, sub-clause 3.
The exclusion for “inadequate maintenance”, etc. is worded as a rule of causation. This means that the general rule on apportionment in the event of a combination of several perils in Cl. 2-13 applies. The insurer may therefore be held partly liable for replacing a defective part where the defect must in part be attributable to inadequate maintenance or to some other excluded cause of damage, and partly to the strain to which the part has been exposed in connection with a casualty.
The limitation of liability refers to the costs of repairing the parts that are in defective condition due to wear and tear, etc. It is irrelevant whether the wear and tear, etc. has resulted in a casualty. If, following an ordinary casualty, parts are discovered that are so worn that the classification society would have demanded a replacement, the repairs or replacement of these parts are the owner’s liability, even if the relevant part may also have been damaged in the casualty. By way of example may be mentioned collision damage to hull plates that are corroded to a state below the classification society’s minimum requirements prior to the casualty, despite the fact that the vessel is fully in class without class conditions.
The rules in sub-clause 1 must be seen in connection with the general rules relating to the insurer’s liability. The insurer’s liability for repairs or renewal of those damaged parts that were in defective condition therefore presupposes that the lack of maintenance or the like is not so serious or extensive that the vessel is not compliant with technical or operational safety requirements. In that event, it is the rules in Cl. 3-22 et seq. that will decide whether and to what extent the insurer is liable. The exclusion in Cl. 12-3, sub-clause 1, is on the one hand less far-reaching than the rules regarding breaches of safety regulations under Cl. 3-22, cf. Cl. 3-25, but shall - in contrast to Cl. 3-22, cf. Cl. 3-25 - on the other hand apply regardless of the assured’s subjective conduct. If the defective condition was of such a nature as to threaten the technical or operational safety of the vessel, and blame for this could be ascribed to the assured, the insurer may disclaim liability under Cl. 3-25, not just for the replacement of the defective part, but also for the further consequential damage and losses. It is, however, a condition for applying the rules regarding breaches of safety regulations that the concrete breach of the regulations can be ascribed to the assured. If he can only be blamed for a general failure in the instructions and the checking routines regarding maintenance, the situation will have to be evaluated under Cl. 12-3.
The limitations of liability in Cl. 12-3 apply only to Chapter 12 on damage. If these perils result in a total loss, the insurer will be fully liable under Chapter 11, unless some of the exclusions in Chapter 3 become applicable, e.g. that the vessel due to inadequate maintenance was not compliant with technical or operational safety requirements, cf. Cl. 3-22, cf. Cl. 3-25.
Sub-clause 2 in the earlier versions contained a rule to the effect that the insurer was not liable for the costs of renewing or repairing parts of the outer hull which were lost or damaged because frames or similar supporting and reinforcing elements were in defective condition as a result of inadequate maintenance or the like. This provision was deleted. The reason for the provision was that problems arose in practice as regards requiring timely maintenance to prevent parts of the vessel’s side from loosening or falling off. These problems now appear to have been solved, and there is therefore no need for a specific rule of this nature, which does not exist in other conditions.
Clause 12-3. Inadequate maintenance, etc.
The insurer is not liable for costs incurred in renewing or repairing a part or parts of the hull, machinery or equipment which were in a defective condition as a result of wear and tear, corrosion, rot, inadequate maintenance and the like.
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Clause 12-4. Error in design, etc.
View Clause Go to Plan pageIntroduction
The scope of cover for parts suffering from errors in design and faulty material was extended in the 1996 Plan to apply to the whole vessel and not just parts of the main engine. Additional clarifications were introduced to the Commentary to Cl. 12-4 in connection with the 2007 version of the Plan. The Commentary below has been completely re-written for the 2013 Plan.Cl. 12-3 excludes from cover losses that are a more or less inevitable consequence of the use of the vessel over time. Closely related to Cl. 12-3 is the exclusion in Cl. 10-3 of loss that is a normal consequence of the way the vessel has been utilised. Cl. 2-8 provides that all risks other than those that are specifically excluded are covered. It is therefore the insurer who has the burden of proving that a loss has been caused by an excluded peril such as those in Cl. 12-3 and Cl. 10-3. Losses caused by errors in design, faulty material or and in all but exceptional cases, faulty workmanship, do not fall within Cl. 12-3 or Cl. 10-3 and are therefore as a starting point covered without further qualification. There is a sense in which also these losses can be seen as an inevitable consequence of the defects existing in the vessel at the time the insurance commenced.
The justification for using insurance as a mechanism for covering the risks of faulty material and errors in design is that the time and extent of the loss is unpredictable. The loss will give rise to an unexpected and unbudgeted extra expense for the shipowner and will normally have occurred without the shipowner having any prior knowledge or warning. The countervailing consideration is that by providing cover for these losses, insurers are underwriting the quality of work processes that are directly or indirectly affected by choices made by the shipowner. In the case of a vessel under construction, the shipowner determines the vessel’s specifications, chooses the yard, the suppliers of major items of equipment, and the classification society. The degree of care and attention that the shipowner puts into the design and building process will strongly influence the quality of the vessel and the risk of errors in design or that it might be built with faulty material. In the case of second hand vessels the situation is different, but a buyer is nevertheless expected to exercise care in ascertaining the quality of what he is buying and the general quality of vessels produced by various yards or having a particular configuration is often known and is reflected in the price. Similar considerations apply to components and materials installed by repairers or during a rebuilding process. The owner chooses the various parties involved, and has overall responsibility for the whole process.
It is therefore important that the cover for built in defects should be kept within appropriate limits and that it should not be open to abuse. Keeping this balance is particularly important in respect of new technology and new designs. Here there will often be some element of heightened risk of operational failure. For investors this is counter-balanced by the potential rewards and equity markets are specifically designed to balance the risks and rewards of innovation. Insurance capital has a different function. Its purpose is to handle event and operational risks that affect all vessels to a greater or lesser extent. The cover provided by the Plan supports innovation to the extent that the costs of restoring the vessel to its original condition are covered but not the costs of remedying any shortcomings that the incident reveals about the design or technology itself. The rewards and therefore the costs of innovation and technological development belong firmly with the equity investors.
The first line of protection for insurers is provided by Cl. 12-4 itself, which qualifies the scope of the cover for errors in design and faulty material by requiring that the defective part has been approved by class. For well known standard types of trading vessels with a proven design with no optional class notations, this requirement will in practice not exclude many incidents but it is a way of emphasising that the cover afforded by the Plan presupposes that basic quality standards have been adhered to in relation to design and materials.
A critical problem for insurers arises in those cases where a whole series of vessels or a component from one manufacturer suffers from the same inherent defect. The danger of an accumulation of losses is obvious. It is clear that once a particular error in design or construction becomes known, shipowners must take steps to remedy it for their own account before any damage occurs. The rules in Chapter 3 concerning the assured’s duty of disclosure and the duty to take care of the vessel are obviously relevant here. Also in cases involving only a single vessel, the insurers will to a certain extent be protected by the general rules concerning the duties of the assured.
However, the most important issues in applying Cl. 12-4 concern the border line between damage that is a consequence of genuine errors in design and damage resulting from wear and tear and deterioration that is the normal consequence of the materials and design chosen or of the particular way the vessel has been employed, cf. Cl. 12-3 and Cl. 10-3. All of the matters referred to above are discussed more fully below. The further Commentary on Cl. 12-4 deals with the following issues:
- The requirement that the part has been approved by class.
- What constitutes damage, the meaning of part.
- Extent of the insurer´s liability.
- Error in design and faulty material.
- Interaction with other provisions in the Plan – Duties of the assured, Causation Cl. 2-13 and Incidence of loss Cl. 2-11.
The relationship between Cl. 12-4 and Cl. 10-3 is discussed as part of the analysis of the concepts of faulty material and especially error in design.
Approved by class
This requirement must be seen in relation to the nature of the classification society’s supervision and control of the building or repair process. It is not necessary that the particular part in question has been the subject of a specific control and approval during the construction process. It is sufficient that it forms part of a larger unit or assembly for which accept criteria have been specified. Classification of a vessel does not include every item of equipment on board. Cranes and similar equipment which are not regarded as critical to the safety of the vessel will not normally fall within the ambit of the classification process and will therefore as a starting point fall outside the scope of the cover provided by Cl. 12-4. However, the class may have approved the design and material under building for parts or equipment etc., even though the part or parts fall outside the ambit of the main class.In the off-shore industry it is common for owners to choose to avail themselves of the classification process in respect of the construction and operation of equipment which is outside the scope of the main classification process for the subject matter insured in question. Irrespective of whether the involvement of class is mandatory or on a voluntary basis, the essential purpose of Cl. 12-4 is to ensure that the cover for defective parts given is only activated in cases where the design and production of the part in question is or has been subject to rigorous standards.
As regards vessels that sail under the supervision of and with a certificate from the Maritime Directorate or other similar body, there will not normally be any approval of building and repair work from a classification society. Accordingly, they will not be entitled to cover under this provision. However, a few such vessels are built in accordance with requirements from their classification society, even though they are operating under the supervision and certificate of the Maritime Directorate. In relation to Cl. 12-4 the deciding factor must in that event be whether the relevant part was originally approved by the classification society, and not whether the vessel is in class.
What constitutes damage, the meaning of part
Here the controlling principles are those that apply to Cl. 12-1. The error in design or the faulty material must have led to damage to the part itself. Some identifiable physical change in the part must have occurred. The development of tiny cracks or fractures only discoverable by the use of specialist techniques, such as fluoroscopy, is sufficient. If however the sole reason for replacing the part is the realisation that it is e.g. under dimensioned or has an inappropriate design or is one of a batch suspected of suffering from defects in material, then in the absence of evidence of actual damage there will be no claim against insurers. The meaning of part is discussed in the Commentary to Cl. 12-3 and the same principles must be used for Cl. 12-4. Essentially it is a question of identifying what might be called the “natural unit of repair”. When damage is discovered in part of a composite unit the most sensible course of action in terms of total costs might be to replace the whole unit rather than to dismantle it and repair or replace the part itself. If this is the case, then the natural “unit of repair” will be the whole assembly rather than the particular part.The extent of the insurer’s liability
It is important to keep in mind that all damage to a vessel is covered unless it was caused by an excluded peril.Cl. 12-4 is a limited exclusion which only applies if:
- the part has suffered damage as a consequence of faulty material or error in design, and
- the part in question has not been approved by class in the sense described below.
If these conditions are satisfied then the insurer is not liable for the cost of repairing or replacing the part itself but remains of course liable for the cost of repairing all consequential damage to other parts of the vessel. Very often the cost of repairing the defective part itself is small compared to the cost of repairing the consequential damage. As a consequence of the normal rules of apportionment in such cases, most of any common expenses will be attributed to the consequential damage and the total effect for the assured will be minor.
Where the part has been approved by class the all risks principle applies and the insurer is liable for the cost of repairing or replacing the part itself. However, this also means that the principles in Cl. 12-1 apply and the insurer is not liable for any additional costs that are incurred for the purpose of rectifying the original error. The insurer’s obligation under Cl. 12-1 is to pay for the cost of restoring the vessel to the same condition it had before the casualty. The extra costs of any improvements must be for the account of the assured. An obvious example would be the extra costs of strengthening a part that has proved to be too weak for its intended purpose. This follows from the main rule set out in Cl. 12-1 and the particular rule in Cl. 12-1, sub-clause 3.
Since cover for parts that are defective as a result of errors in design or faulty material is only excluded in respect of parts that are not approved by class, the cover that remains by virtue of the all risks principle is broader than that provided by other international standard clauses. It is not a requirement as it is under the Additional Perils clause used in conjunction with English or American conditions, that the defective part should also have been the cause of damage to other parts of the vessel. Nor is cover restricted to specific parts such as shafts and boilers.
Error in design and faulty material
The term “faulty material” is easier to define than “error in design”. It refers to the fact that the material used in some part of the vessel suffers from some weakness or deficiency compared to applicable standards. Most typically the fault is a result of some form of malfunction during the manufacturing process, and there is something wrong with the material itself. It makes no difference for the purpose of applying Cl. 12-4 whether the faulty material was present from the time of delivery of the vessel or became part of the vessel during subsequent modifications or repairs. The term can also be used to include cases where material that is intrinsically sound is used but the material is inadequate or inappropriate for its intended use. This is strictly speaking an error in design and can raise the same kind of border line issues, as discussed below. Damage to material resulting from a casualty is of course outside the scope of Cl. 12-4 and must be covered by the insurer at the time the damage occurred.Design in the context of Cl. 12-4 refers to the entire process of defining how the various parts of the vessel should be configured and assembled, how they should be manufactured and the exact nature and quality of the material to be used. Any defect arising as a consequence of any of these matters must be regarded as an error in design. Defects arising from a failure to correctly follow the planned design process cannot be classified as errors in design but will rather be a case of faulty material or workmanship.
An error in design can be either “subjective” – the design is defective in the light of current knowledge and established standards – or objective – the design is regarded as suitable in the light of current knowledge and standards but is subsequently shown to be inadequate for reasons that were not understood at the time the vessel was built. In considering whether any particular construction can be regarded as an error in design, a simple test is whether, if it had been discovered before the vessel could be taken in use, it should have been corrected or changed either; because it failed to comply with then applicable design criteria - subjective error, or because subsequent knowledge and insight has shown that it was inadequate in some respect - objective error. In making this evaluation, the focus is on the safety of the vessel and avoiding any breakdown in operation, these being the focus of the classification process. One cannot argue that a vessel suffers from an error in design simply because parts become worn out more quickly than anticipated. Nor is it an error in design in cases where the party responsible for ordering the vessel has deliberately chosen solutions that entail a degree of uncertainty about serviceability or useful lifetime, for example new technology that is not yet fully tested. Similarly if the party ordering the vessel has adopted design solutions on the basis of inadequate analysis or in order to save money.
Another important borderline is between damage arising from an error in design and damage that is a natural consequence of the way the vessel has been employed, cf. Cl. 10-3. It is obvious that if a vessel is employed in ice conditions for which it has not been designed, the resulting damage cannot be regarded as caused by an error in design, but not all cases are as clear cut. The use of the vessel in a particular trade may cause unexpected problems that are simply an inevitable consequence of the prevailing conditions and circumstances. Continuous employment on North Atlantic routes will expose the vessel to a much higher level of structural stress than employment in calmer waters. While specific cases of heavy weather damage are obviously covered the general deterioration of the structure due to the development of multiple small cracks may also be attributable to other causes than error in design even if it occurs much sooner than expected.
An error in design will normally become apparent relatively early in the vessel’s planned lifetime, unless the error in question causes problems only in rare cases or in very special circumstances. The fact that parts of the vessel become defective after three years due to previously unknown circumstances is an indication that an error in design is involved. If, however, the vessel functions satisfactorily for more than ten years before starting to show signs of wear and tear, this does not itself indicate error in design as a cause, and can suggest that the effect of the vessel’s normal use may have been underestimated or that the vessel has operated in a trade that is more demanding than anticipated. But even after a number of years allowance must be made for the possibility that an error in design will manifest itself in a sudden breakdown or malfunction.
The factors that need to be evaluated when drawing the border line between damage that is a result of an error in design and therefore covered if the part in question has been approved by class and damage which must be regarded as excluded by Cl. 12-3 or Cl. 10-3 include therefore:
- Whether the error is of such a nature that steps would have been taken to correct it either in the light of current or subsequent knowledge if it had been discovered before the part in question was taken in use. In this case, the starting point is that the error constitutes an error in design.
- How much time has elapsed since the vessel was delivered or the relevant part was installed. A short period provides an argument for the error to be qualified as an error in design, whereas a long period may be an argument against this result.
- Whether the damage is a result of a gradual process or has occurred suddenly. The more gradual the development of the damage is, the more likely it is that the cause is wear and tear, lack of maintenance or similar, and not an error in design.
Finally, it should be noted that cases sometimes occur where equipment is taken in use in order to have a full scale test of new technology or a new design. The risks inherent to such testing clearly fall outside the normal scope of cover of a standard H&M insurance contract and can only be covered by specific agreement with insurers.
Interaction with other provisions in the Plan
Duties of the assured Chapter 3
If the assured is aware that the vessel has defects resulting from an error in design, then he must comply with class rules in respect of giving notice and fulfilling mandatory class requirements. This follows from the rules in Cl. 3-22. Any failure to remedy a known defect irrespective of its origin is likely to amount to a breach of a safety regulation and trigger the sanction rules in Cl. 3-25.Cl. 3-14 requires that vessel’s main class is maintained. If class is lost pursuant to Cl. 3-14 the entire insurance cover is automatically terminated so that all claims arising from a peril that struck after the termination are not covered. This includes any claim under Cl. 12-4 but always subject to the rules as to incidence of loss. It is important to notice that Cl. 3-14 does not apply to changes in the status of a vessel’s voluntary additional class, although other rules such as safety regulations or duty of disclosure might possibly become relevant in appropriate circumstances.
Causation, Cl. 2-13
It is possible that the rule in Cl. 2-13, apportionment of loss partly caused by an insured peril and partly by an excluded peril, might become applicable in some cases. A part might suffer damage partly as a consequence of error in design or faulty material, an insured peril for parts approved by class, and partly by wear and tear or ordinary corrosion. This kind of case depends always on a careful analysis of all the relevant technical details but could result in an apportionment of the repair costs. The costs of repairing any consequential damage to other sound parts, is of course covered in all cases subject only in to the provisions in Ch. 3.Incidence of loss, Cl. 2-11
By their very nature, defects arising from errors in design and faulty material tend to remain undiscovered. The interest insured under a hull insurance contract, namely the risk of economic loss arising from physical damage to the vessel, has therefore already “struck” at the time the relevant part is built into the vessel since it is usually difficult if not impossible to discover the defect before damage occurs and the economic loss materialises. For practical reasons explained in the Commentary to Cl. 2-11, these cases fall within the rule in Cl. 2-11 sub-clause 2 and the loss will be allocated to the insurance contract on risk at the time the damage occurred. The issues dealt with by Cl. 2-11 can arise in respect of other defects than those attributable to error in design and faulty material, including defects due to faulty workmanship or arising from a previous casualty. In some cases the damage to the part in question can occur in a period spanning more than one insurance contract, and in others it is very difficult to establish the exact course of events so that the rules as to burden of proof must be applied. See further the Commentary to Cl. 2-11.Clause 12-4. Error in design, etc.
If the damage is a result of error in design or faulty material, the insurer is not liable for the costs of renewing or repairing the part or parts of the hull, machinery or equipment which were not in proper condition, unless the part or parts in question had been approved by the classification...
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Clause 12-5. Losses that are not recoverable
View Clause Go to Plan pageSub-clause (f) was deleted in 2016. The Commentary was amended in the 2019 Version.
Cl. 176 of the 1964 Plan contained a number of limitations in the hull insurer’s liability for damage to the vessel. Furthermore, the Special Conditions contained provisions relating to bottom painting, which replaced Cl. 176 (d) and relating to loss resulting from contamination of lubricating oil, etc., which replaced Cl. 176 (m). The provisions relating to bottom painting in sub-clause (d) and Cefor I.16 and PIC Cl. 5.18 are impractical and have therefore been deleted. This means that bottom painting in hull insurance for ocean-going vessels must henceforth be treated in the same way as other painting, and that the insurer shall always cover bottom painting in the damaged area. Sub-clause (e) contained a provision relating to the caulking of hull and deck. This provision is impractical in hull insurance for ocean-going vessels and has therefore been moved to Chapter 17 on insurance of fishing vessels and freighters, cf. Cl. 17-12 (c). The rules in sub-clauses (g) to (l) and (n) were considered unnecessary in conjunction with the general provision in Cl. 12-1 and have therefore been deleted.
The limitations in the provision apply first and foremost to compensation for particular damage. However, the provision shall also apply where general average under Cl. 4-10 is recoverable according to the rules relating to particular average, because this is more favourable for the assured.
The limitation in sub-clause (a) has been taken from Cl. 176 (a) of the 1964 Plan, but the term “similar direct expenses” has been replaced by “other ordinary expenses”. Ordinary operating expenses during repairs are not normally a necessary consequence of the repairs, and have traditionally not been covered by the hull insurer. Crew’s wages and maintenance and other ordinary operating expenses have, however, been covered during the period of time it takes to move the vessel to the repair yard in accordance with Cl. 12-13.
The exception applies only to operating expenses that are incurred independently of the repairs, e.g. the cleaning of tanks on a chemical tanker, which would have been required regardless of the casualty. Expenses relating to the repairs must, however, be covered, such as bunkers consumption during testing of the engine and during a trial run, maintenance of a repair crew staying on board, and expenses for fire watch required by the repair yard or the authorities. The same applies to expenses for accommodation ashore for the crew where the damage to the vessel makes it impossible for them to stay on board. According to practice, maintenance of the crew is nevertheless not covered in such cases, based on the point of view that the assured would have had to pay these expenses if the crew had stayed on board.
Until 1996, in practice, the crew’s overtime in connection with recoverable repairs was covered, but not maintenance and ordinary wages. In the 1996 revision this practice was explicitly maintained. Since then, however, it has proved to be difficult to make a distinction between ordinary working hours and overtime. Moreover, it has been the opinion that both the shipowner and the insurer benefit from the crew carrying out recoverable repairs during ordinary working hours. When preparing the 2002 Version, therefore, it was agreed to leave room for a change in practice on this point. Such a change in practice could in itself have been carried out without changing the wording, because "ordinary expenses connected with the running of the vessel" may be interpreted as meaning that they do not cover expenses relating to the crew's participation in recoverable repairs during ordinary working hours. To prevent confusion and discussion concerning claims settlement, it has nonetheless been stated explicitly that "this must be specially agreed". This ensures that the assured and the insurer agree in advance, or soonest possible during the repairs if time did not allow for an agreement in advance, on what is to be done and how much time is to be spent. For the assured and the claims leader, it is also an advantage to be able to refer to an explicit provision. However, a fundamental condition for cover is nonetheless that the insurer benefits from the repairs in the form of a reduction in the cost of repairs. It is emphasized that the insurer must respond quickly and appropriately when being asked by the assured for such special agreement. If the insurer does not provide within reasonable time a concrete answer to a specific request from the assured, the assured can consider its request accepted by the insurer.
Even if it is not stated explicitly, it is clear that the insurer is not liable for the more indirect expenses incurred while the repairs are carried out, such as interest on mortgage loans, insurance premiums, general administration costs, etc.
The limitation in sub-clause (b) is identical to Cl. 176 (b) of the 1964 Plan and is founded on the basic point of view that whether or not the vessel carries a cargo shall, in principle, have no bearing on the hull insurer’s liability. Expenses for discharging, warehousing, etc. of cargo necessitated by the repair work are therefore no concern of the hull insurer’s. This provision applies both where the work in connection with the cargo has become more expensive because of the damage to the vessel and where the cargo has sustained damage requiring special measures in order to remove it. It is furthermore irrelevant if the cargo has, due to the damage, shifted and moved to areas of the vessel where it does not belong, or if the vessel has to be discharged after the casualty in order to make a survey possible. Extraordinary discharging expenses may be recoverable under P&I insurance.
In practice, it has been assumed that the necessary thorough cleaning of bulkheads, etc. shall not be regarded as the removal of “cargo”, and no changes are intended on this point.
The exclusion in sub-clause (c), which concords with the corresponding provision in Cl. 176 of the 1964 Plan, is based on the same idea as sub-clause (b) as regards the passengers.
Sub-clause (d) is taken from Cl. 176 (f) of the 1964 Plan, and excludes objects used for mooring, towage, etc., as well as tarpaulins, provided that certain specific conditions are met. Often such objects will fall outside the scope of cover simply due to the identification of articles intended for consumption in Cl. 10-1, sub-clause 2. However, for equipment covered in Cl. 10-1, sub-clause 1, the exclusion acquires independent significance. The term “etc.” shall not be given a wide interpretation to include loading and discharging equipment.
In contrast to what applied under the 1964 Plan, the exclusion applies only if the object in question has been used. Thus, if a reserve mooring rope is soiled by paint before use, the damage shall be covered. The burden of proving that damaged objects have not been used is on the assured. The term “which must normally be replaced several times during the expected life of the vessel” is also new in relation to the 1964 Plan. Anchors, chain and other equipment with a long life expectancy will therefore be within the cover, in contrast to a “pennant wire” which is used in connection with dropping and weighing the anchors on drilling vessels, and a tow wire on salvage vessels, etc.
Sub-clause (e) is identical to Cl. 176 (k) of the 1964 Plan. The provision covers all types of blocks and anodes that will be corroded over a period of time. This means that silver anodes also fall under this provision, even though this differs in certain respects from earlier practice on this point. Electric anodes, however, fall outside the scope of cover. The exclusion covers every cause, including theft of the blocks.
Clause 12-5. Losses that are not recoverable
The insurer is not liable for: crew's wages and maintenance and other ordinary expenses connected with the running of the vessel during the period of repair, unless this is specially agreed, expenses of shifting, storing and removal of cargo, accommodation of passengers, objects which must normal...
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Clause 12-6. Deferred repairs
View Clause Go to Plan pageThe provision corresponds to Section 177 of the 1964 Plan. The provision was amended in the 2002 version.
In the 1996 version, the rule was formulated as an absolute time-limit for carrying out repairs, setting the time-limit at five years after the damage occurred, cf. Cl. 12-6, first sentence, of the 1996 version. If the repairs were carried out later, the insurer was not liable for any costs. However, in practice this provision could give rise to problems in relation to the limitation rules in Cl. 5-24 of the Plan, because the period of limitation and the five-year time limit for repair of damage were not coordinated. It was therefore asserted that the assured might run the risk of the claim being time-barred under Cl. 5-24, sub-clause 1, before the five-year time-limit under Cl. 12-6 had expired. Attempts to coordinate the provisions proved to be difficult because it was then also necessary to take into consideration repairs of unknown damage and total loss.
To avoid this type of coordination problem, it was agreed to revert in the 2002 version to the solution for deferred repairs that was used in the 1964 Plan. Consequently, the rule is that the liability of the insurer does not terminate after five years, but that the insurer shall not be liable for any increase in the cost of the repairs that may occur after expiry of the five-year time-limit. The absolute time-limit of five years was introduced into the Special Conditions when the conditions were made more stringent at the end of the 1980s, but the insurers have now concluded that there is no longer need for such a strict rule, and that the solution in the 1964 Plan was acceptable.
Thus, as before, the insurer is liable for the full costs of repair for repairs that are carried out within the time-limit of five years. For repairs that are carried out later, however, liability is limited to such costs as would have been incurred if the repairs had been carried out before expiry of the time-limit. Any increase in cost that may be incurred after expiry of the five-year time-limit thus becomes the risk of the assured. The deduction for the cost increase must be calculated on the basis of either an estimate of the repairs upon expiry of the five-year time limit or the ordinary index for repair costs.
Cl. 12-6, second sentence, of the 1996 version of the Plan contained a rule regarding extension of the time-limit for repairs if the classification society accepted a period of more than five years between each docking. The new rule renders this provision superfluous.
Clause 12-6. Deferred repairs
If the repairs have not been carried out within five years after the damage was discovered, the insurer is not liable for any increase in the cost of the work that is incurred later.
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Clause 12-7. Temporary repairs
View Clause Go to Plan pageThis Clause corresponds to Cl. 178 of the 1964 Plan, Cefor I.7 and PIC Cl. 22.
Sub-clause 1 is identical to Cl. 178 of the 1964 Plan and imposes full liability on the insurer for “necessary temporary repairs”. Temporary repairs are “necessary” when permanent repairs cannot be carried out in a satisfactory manner at the place where the vessel is lying, or where such repairs would be unreasonably costly. In such cases, it will be in the best interests of the assured as well as the insurer that temporary repairs of the damage are carried out, and the insurer will normally consent to such repairs being carried out and cover the full costs. If the insurer does not give his explicit consent, the assured may have the temporary repairs carried out for the insurer’s account if permanent repairs cannot be carried out at the place where the vessel is at the time.
The term “temporary repairs” comprises all measures necessary to get the vessel to the repair yard, but which are not intended to be permanent. This includes renewal of parts of the vessel or its equipment and in some cases also rental of equipment, e.g. the rental of a mobile generator. If parts are installed in the vessel which are to be replaced later, e.g. a rented generator, this must be regarded as a temporary repair. This nevertheless presupposes that the vessel sails to a repair yard. If the assured, after having received a rented generator to enable it to proceed to a repair yard, instead chooses to sail on without having repairs carried out, he forfeits his right to cover. In that event, the rented generator is no longer a part of necessary temporary repairs, and the cover lapses.
Destruction may also be regarded as temporary repairs if such destruction is necessary in order to get the vessel to a repair yard, e.g. where part of a propeller blade has partly fallen off in connection with a casualty and the opposite blade is cut off as a provisional solution in order to reduce the vibrations, thus enabling the vessel to proceed until it is convenient to replace or repair the propeller.
That repairs “cannot be carried out” means that no repairs that meet the requirements in Cl. 12-1, sub-clause 1, can be carried out. The provision is first and foremost aimed at a situation where repairs are physically impossible, i.e. that there is no repair yard that can carry out the work in a satisfactory manner. However, waiting time at the repair yard may, depending on the circumstances, also constitute “unrepairability” if the waiting time is long enough. The distinction between “unrepairability” and more ordinary waiting time, which is governed by sub-clause 2, must be decided on a case-to-case basis. Basically, the owner must accept a waiting time of 1-2 weeks, but not 3-4 months. The dividing line will, however, depend on the type of vessel and the nature of the repairs. A high-cost vessel cannot be expected to lie still for months waiting for some small part to be manufactured ashore. It is therefore not possible to stipulate any absolute upper or lower limits. In extreme cases, even two weeks’ waiting time may have such unfortunate economic consequences for the owner as to qualify as “unrepairability”.
Sub-clause 2 regulates the situation where there is no “unrepairability”, but where the assured is nevertheless interested in postponing the permanent repairs and is content with a temporary alternative. This will first and foremost be the case where the more extensive work in connection with permanent repairs cannot be carried out without waiting time, whereas it is possible to have temporary repairs taken care of immediately. However, it is also conceivable that, due to the general operation schedule of the vessel, the assured is interested in postponing prolonged and permanent repairs, e.g. until the vessel has to undergo a classification survey in any event, and will therefore be content with temporary repairs which can be effected quickly. If it is also to the insurer’s advantage to have such temporary work carried out, e.g. because it makes it possible to have the permanent repairs done at a less expensive repair yard, sub-clause 2 makes the insurer liable for the costs of the temporary repairs within the limits of what he has saved.
The normal situation, however, is that the costs of temporary repairs are wasted from the insurer’s point of view. In that event, the insurer will prefer that the damage to the vessel is repaired immediately. This is just one aspect of a problem that may arise in several connections, viz. the conflict of interests between the assured and the hull insurer when the assured wishes to avert a loss of time. The assured normally wants repairs carried out as promptly as possible and at a time where it does not interfere with the operation of the vessel. The assured may therefore be interested in choosing the tender that offers the shortest time of repairs, even if it is not the cheapest. The assured wants to use methods that expedite repairs, and will be interested in temporary repairs of the damage if this makes it possible to postpone the permanent repairs to a more convenient time. As for the hull insurer, it is not liable for the loss of time and therefore wants the total costs of repairs to be as low as possible, provided that the quality of the work is up to standard.
The 1964 Plan solved these problems by requiring the insurer to consider the assured’s interest in averting a loss of time in most of the situations where this question might arise. The rules were worded somewhat differently in the various situations, but the common denominator was that the value of the loss of time suffered by the assured, or which he averted through special measures, was set at 20% p.a. of the agreed insurable hull value, which corresponds to approximately 0.55 per thousand per day.
During the revision, discussion took place as to whether the current solution with a limited loss-of-time cover in connection with temporary repairs, costs of accelerating the repair work and inviting tenders should be retained, or whether this element of the cover should be transferred to loss-of-hire insurance. In contrast to the situation in 1964, loss-of-hire insurance is now so common that it may be natural to consider the cover of loss of time collectively for hull and loss-of-hire insurance, and attribute the essential part of the cover to the loss-of-hire insurance. The fact that the solution from the 1964 Plan was nevertheless maintained was due to several factors. One thing is that not all owners have loss-of-hire insurance, and that at any rate the fact must be faced that such insurance may become less common again if the loss-of-hire insurance premium increases. The elements of the loss-of-hire cover which fall within the scope of the hull insurance will furthermore often represent such modest amounts that they will fall below the deductible in the loss-of-hire insurance, so that a transfer of the cover to the loss-of-hire insurer will in practice mean that the owner will not have his loss covered. Furthermore, it is a fact that it will, from a market point of view, be difficult to offer a hull insurance where the loss-of-hire element is significantly inferior to the situation in comparable markets.
As under the 1964 Plan, therefore, Cl. 12-7, sub-clause 2, second sentence, imposes a certain liability on the insurer for “unnecessary” temporary repairs, even if they are wasted from the insurer’s point of view. The insurer shall, under any circumstances, cover the costs within the framework of the “normal loss of time” which the assured avoids by choosing such a procedure. When looking into the question as to how much time has been saved, it is, on the one hand, necessary to look at the time the temporary, and later the permanent, repairs took and, on the other hand, the time it would have taken if the vessel had carried out the permanent repairs immediately.
A condition for applying the rule is that, from an overall point of view, the assured has saved time. Consequently, it will first and foremost be applicable where the vessel would have had to lie and wait for repairs if such repairs were to be permanent. If a repair yard could in actual fact have taken the vessel immediately, but the assured preferred short, temporary repairs in order to take the loss of time at a more convenient time, the final settlement will have to wait until it has been established how long the total repair time will be.
In the evaluation of whether the assured has saved time, not only the time for repairing the damage of the casualty in question shall be taken into account but, contrary to earlier practice, the time for other work shall also be included.
An example illustrates the problem:
The vessel is lying in port (A), where temporary repairs take 10 days and permanent repairs 20. The assured chooses to postpone permanent repairs to a planned stay of 15 days at a repair yard for routine maintenance and classification work in 12 months in port (B). In port (B) it turns out that the casualty damage can be repaired permanently in 15 days. According to earlier practice, classification work was not taken into account, only the time for the casualty repairs was considered. Temporary repairs in (A) plus permanent repairs in (B) would then give 25 days of repairs, while permanent repairs in (A) would give 20 days of repairs. The assured would thus not save anything on the temporary repairs and did not get any compensation for the temporary repairs under the 20% rule. Under the Plan, however, the casualty repairs and the classification work shall be considered collectively. In that event, the assured will, by choosing temporary repairs in (A) and permanent repairs plus classification work in (B) have a total time of repairs of 25 days, whilst permanent repairs in (A) and classification work in (B) give a total repair time of 35 days. The assured will in that event save 10 days by having temporary repairs carried out in (A).Cl. 178, sub-clause 2, of the 1964 Plan made the principle of the insurer’s liability for loss of time applicable to all cases of “temporary repairs” which were not “necessary”. In the Special Conditions, however, this solution was limited so that the 20% rule in sub-clause 2 was not to apply “where part of the vessel or its equipment is renewed in order to save time for the assured”. It has, moreover, been established practice to refuse compensation under sub-clause 2 in the event of rental of objects, e.g. mobile generators, in order to save time. These limitations have been generalised by sub-clause 2 now only applying to “temporary repairs of the damaged object”. This means that, contrary to sub-clause 1, the term “temporary repairs” in sub-clause 2 only comprises repairs in a strict sense, i.e. the actual repair of the damaged part, but not the renewal of a part, nor the rental of substitute machinery. In the case of hull damage the “damaged object” must be regarded as synonymous with the “damaged part”.
If the assured is also granted full or partial compensation for the temporary repairs in general average, the insurer will be subrogated to the assured’s claim in the general average according to the normal rules. It is not necessary to state this explicitly.
To the extent that the temporary repairs are recoverable, this will be without ice damage or machinery damage deductions, cf. Cl. 12-17 (c).
Clause 12-7. Temporary repairs
The insurer is liable for the costs of necessary temporary repairs when permanent repairs cannot be carried out at the place where the vessel is located. If temporary repairs of the damaged object are carried out in other cases, the insurer is liable for costs up to the amount it saves through...
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Clause 12-8. Costs incurred in expediting repairs
View Clause Go to Plan pageThis Clause corresponds to Cl. 179 of the 1964 Plan, Cefor I.7 and PIC Cl. 5.22. The Commentary was amended in the 2010 version.
The Clause is based on the view of the loss-of-time problem which was discussed in the preceding sub-clause. When the assured takes extraordinary measures to save time during the repairs, the insurer should be liable for the additional costs that the assured thereby incurs within the limits of the normal loss of time that he has averted. The rule may lead to the assured initiating extraordinary measures in exceptional cases, even if the possibilities of the vessel making a profit are slight. Based on an overall evaluation, it will nevertheless normally be worthwhile from an economic point of view to use overtime or other extraordinary measures.
The provision is based on a distinction between “ordinary” and “extraordinary” measures to expedite repairs. The dividing line is, however, far from clear-cut, cf. Brækhus/Rein: Håndbok i kaskoforsikring (Handbook of Hull Insurance), p. 493, and may also be adjusted over time if the methods of repair change. The provision therefore opens the door to discretionary evaluations, where the individual solutions must vary in accordance with technical developments. In the current situation, it is common practice to carry out certain types of work by means of mobile repair teams. Sending spare parts by charter plane is “extraordinary”, however. Overtime payment to the repair yard will normally also be “extraordinary”. A bonus paid to the repair yard is “extraordinary” if overtime or other extraordinary measures have been used to obtain the bonus - in other cases such a bonus is ordinary.
As regards the dividing line between “increased ordinary travel expenses” and “extraordinary measures”, reference is made to the discussion concerning Cl. 4-7.
Cl. 179 of the 1964 Plan concerned the expediting of “repairs”. In the Special Conditions, however, it was emphasized that the provision did not apply where part of the vessel or its equipment was renewed in order to save time for the assured. In practice, time saved by renting equipment has not been recoverable. The Plan maintains these limitations, and has therefore replaced the term “repairs” with “repairs of the damaged object”. Other measures, such as rental of a generator, consequently fall outside the scope of Cl. 12-8. The same applies if the assured chooses to buy a new and more expensive part in a situation where the part in question could be obtained at a more reasonable price after some waiting time. This concords with prior practice. It has also been practice to indemnify new parts that are used to save time, up to the amount of what it would have cost to repair the parts. Here we are still dealing with repairs of the damaged object.
“Repairs of the damaged object” comprise all the time that will be required in connection with the repairs, including waiting time. In other words, the insurer’s liability cannot be limited to the time when the repairs are in actual fact in progress. The deciding factor is the total period of time during which the vessel would have been forced to lie idle in connection with the repairs if the extraordinary measures had not been initiated, compared with the period of time during which the vessel in actual fact lies idle. Thus, if another vessel is taken out of dock in order to allow space for repairs of the insured vessel and save waiting time, expenses in connection with the other vessel leaving and entering the dock are covered under the 20% rule. The narrowing of the repair concept applies only to the specification of the actual repairs, and not to the time frame of what constitutes “repairs”.
If the repairs are carried out by mobile repair teams without causing delays in the vessel’s schedule, the loss of time must be set at zero. As mentioned above, the use of mobile repair teams will, however, normally fall outside the scope of the provision for the simple reason that today this form of repairs cannot be regarded as extraordinary.
Even though the provision applies to the time saved, practice has been that when overtime is used to save dock rental, the overtime costs have been covered up to the saved rental amount. The intention is not to make any change in this practice.
Costs that do not expedite the actual repairs are not recoverable under Cl. 12-8. For instance, a damaged crane pedestal on a rig might conceivably be left behind for repair in Singapore while the rig is shipped on a heavylift to reach its next charterparty in Scotland in time. When the crane pedestal has been repaired, it is sent by charter plane to Scotland, to ensure that it arrives as the same time as the rig. The use of a charter plane has not expedited the repairs of the crane pedestal, and is therefore not recoverable under Cl. 12-8. The repairs would have taken the same amount of time regardless of whether or not the rig had waited. However, the assured avoids a loss of income because without the crane, the rig rate would have been reduced. If the assured has loss-of-hire cover under Chapter 16, any costs he has incurred in order to avoid loss of time may therefore be recoverable under Cl. 16-11.
Often several repair jobs will be carried out concurrently, each of which could be expedited by separate measures. According to the second sentence of this Clause, the total repair time the assured saves by having the repairs carried out in this manner must in such cases be checked, and the total additional costs within the limits of the normal loss of time during the period of time saved shall be covered. If the vessel is ready 10 days earlier by having the hull work done on overtime and sending a new propeller by air, the additional costs incurred by these measures are recoverable within the limits of the normal loss of time for 10 days.
As regards general average, the same applies under this provision as under Cl. 12-7. If the assured has received compensation for the additional costs as “substituted expenses” in general average, the insurer will be subrogated to his rights in the general average to the extent compensation has been paid for the same costs under this clause.
Clause 12-8. Costs incurred in expediting repairs
If the assured, in order to limit its loss of time, expedites repairs of the damaged object by extraordinary measures, the insurer's liability for the costs thereby incurred is limited to 20 % p.a. of the agreed insurable hull value for the time saved by the assured. The time saved for the assur...
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Clause 12-9. Repairs of a vessel that is condemnable
View Clause Go to Plan pageThe provision is intended as a defence for the insurer if the assured insists on making repairs. If the assured repairs the vessel because the insurer refused to approve a claim for condemnation, or the parties agree that repairs are expedient, the insurer can not invoke Cl. 12-9 if the actual costs of repairs exceed the sum insured plus additional costs. The provision is furthermore commented on in further detail under Cl. 11-5 above.
Clause 12-9. Repairs of a vessel that is condemnable
If a vessel is repaired despite the fact that the conditions for condemnation are met, the insurer's liability is limited to the sum insured plus additional costs under Cl. 4-19, if applicable, but with the deduction of the value of the wreck.
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Clause 12-10. Survey of damage
View Clause Go to Plan pageThis Clause corresponds to Cl. 181 of the 1964 Plan. Sub-clause 4 was amended in the 2010 version.
Sub-clauses 1-3 are identical to the 1964 Plan and concern survey of damage and the submission of survey reports by the parties’ representatives prior to repairs. In practice, sub-clauses 1 and 2 concerning survey are often not adhered to because the assured either has not had his own representative present, or because the representative fails to submit a report. This type of conduct on the part of the assured must be interpreted to mean that he accepts the report from the insurer’s representative. If he later wishes to contest it, he has the burden of proving that it is incorrect.
Sub-clause 3 gives both parties the right to demand the submission of preliminary reports with an approximate estimate of the costs of repairs. The significance of the provision is that each of the parties may demand that also the other party’s representative submit such a preliminary report. For the assured, this right will be particularly relevant if he is in doubt as to whether it is worthwhile repairing the vessel. The conclusions in the survey reports are not decisive in the claims settlement, but they will, of course, carry a great deal of weight. The surveyors’ evaluation as to when and how the individual incidents of damage occurred may therefore in actual fact ultimately be decisive for the question of compensation.
Under the 1964 Plan, if the representatives of the assured and the insurer disagreed about these questions, they were to obtain a reasoned opinion from an umpire. Sub-clause 4 leaves this decision to the parties and their discretion, cf. the fact that the word “shall” has been changed to “may”. Like the parties’ representatives, the umpire shall not make any binding decision, but his opinion will, of course, carry great weight as evidence in the event of a subsequent litigation.
Again under the 1964 Plan, if the parties disagreed as regards the choice of umpire, he was to be appointed by a notary public or the Norwegian consul if the ship was abroad. This system did not work very well in practice: if the parties disagreed to begin with, they would normally not manage to agree on the appointment of an umpire either, and it turned out that frequently the notary public or the consul appointed someone who did not command confidence in the relevant circles. In the event of disagreement, the umpire should therefore be appointed by a Nordic average adjuster, see sub-clause 4, second sentence. This may be done regardless of whether the claims settlement has already been submitted to an average adjuster. The right to demand an umpire will furthermore remain in effect until the claims settlement has been brought to its conclusion. It is therefore no condition that the umpire be given an opportunity to inspect the damage before the repairs have been completed. In earlier versions the umpire in these cases was to be designated by a Norwegian average adjuster. The reason for this amendment is the desire to promote greater Nordic collaboration on use of the Plan.
As regards cover of the expenses of the assured’s representative, reference is made to Cl. 4-5.
According to sub-clause 5, private surveys are the normal procedure for the assessment of damage. Judicial valuation of the damage may only be undertaken when required by mandatory rules of law. See also Section 487 of the Norwegian Maritime Code.
If the assured has the vessel repaired without first conducting a survey where the insurer has had the opportunity to attend, this will affect the assured’s burden of proof, cf. sub-clause 6. The assured is required to notify the insurer well in advance as to the time and place of the repairs so that he can take the appropriate measures. If the assured notifies the insurer of the survey so late that his representative is unable to form a definite opinion as to the cause and extent of the damage, this must be equated with making repairs without giving the insurer the opportunity to survey the damage. The assured will, in that event, have the burden of proving that the damage is not attributable to causes excluded from the cover by separate provisions, e.g. inadequate maintenance, etc., cf. Cl. 12-3, that it did not occur during an earlier insurance year, or was not attributable to causes which are subject to special deductions.
As regards the problems that may arise if the assured accepts the repair invoices without the insurer’s surveyor having attended the negotiations with the repair yard, or agreeing about the amounts of the invoices, reference is made to the Commentary on Cl. 12-1.
Clause 12-10. Survey of damage
Before any damage is repaired, it shall be surveyed by a representative of the assured and a representative of the insurer. The representatives shall submit survey reports, in which they describe the damage and state their opinions as regards the probable cause of each individual item of damage,...
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Clause 12-11. Invitations to tender
View Clause Go to Plan pageSub-clause 1, first sentence gives the insurer the right to demand that tenders be obtained. If the insurer is aware of the casualty, it must be his duty to clarify with the assured whether or not he will demand invitations to tender. If he fails to do so, he may not react if the assured commences repairs without further notice. If, on the other hand, the insurer has demanded invitations to tender and the assured fails to follow up, the second sentence establishes the insurer’s right to obtain tenders himself, possibly after the repairs have been carried out. The same applies if the assured repairs the damage without having notified the insurer.
Given that the invitation for tenders from several repair yards is first and foremost in the insurer’s interest, the insurer should not be allowed to cause the assured any further loss of time through the invitation to tender without being liable for a normal rate of compensation for the time that is in actual fact lost. However, it is normal procedure in connection with repairs of major damage that tenders are invited, and the assured must therefore in any event accept a certain delay. For this reason, the insurer’s liability for loss of time does not start to run until after 10 days. It is also a condition that the loss of time is exclusively a consequence of the fact that tenders are to be invited. If there is any waiting time at all the relevant repair yards, the invitation to tender will not in itself have caused the assured any loss.
Clause 12-11. Invitations to tender
The insurer may demand that tenders be obtained from the repair yards of its choice. If the assured does not obtain such tenders, the insurer may do so. If the time taken to obtain tenders exceeds ten days as from the date the invitation to submit tenders is sent out, the insurer is liable to...
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Clause 12-12. Choice of repair yard
View Clause Go to Plan pageThe Clause was amended in the 2023 Version by introducing an increase in the maximum contribution from hull insurers in case fuel consumption for removal can be reduced by choosing a more expensive yard than the cheapest. The Commentary to sub-clause 3 was also amended by introducing an example as to what shall be considered “special circumstances” giving the assured the right to demand that a tender shall be disregarded.
According to sub-clause 1, the tenders received shall be adjusted by adding the costs of removal when ascertaining which tender is in actual fact the lowest.
Sub-clause 2 was amended in the 2023 Version by adding a new sentence on fuel consumption.
Sub-clause 2, first sentence states the basic rule in Nordic hull insurance that it is the assured itself who decides where its vessel is going to be repaired, cf. sub-clause 2. However, if the insurer has obtained a less expensive tender from another repair yard than the one chosen by the owner, he cannot be held liable to pay the full costs of repairs at a yard that has submitted a more expensive tender. As mentioned above in connection with Cl. 12-7, however, the insurer shall consider the assured’s interest in having the vessel repaired at a yard which is expensive, but works fast, thereby reducing the loss of time. When it has been established which tender is in real terms the lowest, the insurer shall cover the assured’s additional costs in choosing a faster repair yard within the limits of the “normal value of the time” which the assured saves. The additional liability will obviously be contingent on equivalent additional costs having accrued. The insurer is never liable to pay loss-of-time compensation as such in addition to the invoice for repairs, but in some cases a share of the assured’s increased repair costs incurred because of his wish to use a faster repair yard.
Sub-clause 2, second sentence is new, and provides for an incentive in form of an extra allowance (in addition to the 20% rule), which is applicable for repair alternatives requiring relatively shorter removal voyages with corresponding lower emissions due to reduction in fuel consumption. The extra allowance for reduced emission is stipulated at USD 40 per ton CO2 emission saved, compared with the alternative emission for the lowest adjusted tender. Further, as an example, combustion of one kg marine diesel oil (MDO) produces approx. 3.15 kg CO2, and the following calculation may serve to illustrate the new provision:
After a casualty, the following tenders are taken and adjusted for removal time and costs:Yard A Yard B Cost of repairs, USD 630,000 500,000 Removal, 2 days to yard A, and 5 days to yard B Wages and maintenance of crew, USD 3000 / day 6,000 15,000 Marine diesel (MDO) for removal, 50 MT per day @ USD 400: 40,000 100,000 Adjusted tender, USD: 676,000 615,000 Time: At yard 19 days 22 days Removal 2 days 5 days Total adjusted time 21 days 27 days Sum insured is USD 10 million. Obviously, yard B (which is the cheaper) would be covered in full, if elected. However, if yard A is elected, the following allowance is made under the hull policy:
Cost of cheapest alternative 615,000 Additional allowance under the 20% rule: USD 10 Mill * 6 days saved *20% 32,877 365 days Max allowance under 2019 and earlier Plan versions 647,877 (i.e. less than actual cost) Additional allowance for reduced emissions of alt. A: Reduced emissions 150 MT *3.15kg CO2 / kg MDO = 472,5 MT CO2 Additional allowance: 472,5 MT CO2 * USD 40 / MT 18,900 Max allowance under the new provision in 2023 version: 666,777 Total costs 676,000 Repair costs not covered under H&M 9,223 That means that there will only be a relatively small amount which will not be covered under hull insurance, however, the assured saves 6 days by choosing alternative A, which presumably makes this alternative most attractive as the vessel retains income for 6 days more. See also example in Cl. 16-9 as far as loss of hire cover is concerned.
If the insured vessel needs to be towed to a shipyard for repairs, the allowance in respect of reduced emissions should be based on the total savings of fuel for the tug and the insured vessel during removal. Emission properties will be different for various types of fuel, and the calculation shall be based on the actual type of fuel saved.
Sub-clause 3 regulates the situation where the assured does not want to have the vessel repaired at a particular repair yard. Provided that the assured “due to special circumstances” has “justifiable reason to object to the repairs”, he may demand that the tender from that yard be disregarded. An example of circumstances which give the assured “justifiable reason” to object to the repairs being carried out at one of the yards is justifiable doubt as to whether the yard’s technical and economic capacity is sufficient, cf. Brækhus/Rein: Håndbok i kaskoforsikring (Handbook of Hull Insurance), p. 491. The fact that the assured is not on good terms with the repair yard due to disputes concerning the payment for earlier assignments is normally not relevant, unless the assured is able to prove that the disagreement is due to dishonesty or the like on the part of the repair yard. An actual threat of strike at the yard will also be relevant, as will a situation where the yard has relatively recently been the victim of repeated strikes and there is reason to fear that the conflict has not been resolved.
Another relevant issue would be the level of Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) friendly operations of the relevant shipyard. In general, the assured will have the right to demand repairs to be effected at a yard which complies with the ESG standards reasonably and usually required by the assured for scheduled dockings and repairs for the assured’s own account. As an example, in case the assured and/or technical manager has a general requirement only to use yards which have an environmental management system certified according to the ISO 14001 standard, it can demand other yards to be disregarded. The assured’s objections to the yard must be made as soon as he becomes aware of the relevant circumstances, and of the fact that the insurer intends to invite the yard to submit a tender. If the assured has himself requested the yard to submit a tender, he may not normally raise objections concerning circumstances of which he was, or ought to have been, aware when he requested the yard to submit a tender.
Clause 12-12. Choice of repair yard
The tenders received shall, for the purpose of comparison, be adjusted by the costs of removal being added to the tender amount. The assured decides which yard shall be used, but the insurer's liability for the costs of repairs and removal is limited to an amount corresponding to the amount that...
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Clause 12-13. Removal of the vessel
View Clause Go to Plan pageThe Commentary was amended in the 2019 Version.
The removal of the ship to the repair yard constitutes part of the repairs, and the costs of the removal must therefore be covered by the insurer, cf. sub-clause 1. The costs of removal first and foremost cover costs of bunkers, towage if the ship has to be towed, canal and port expenses, etc. The assured also has a limited cover of his loss of time during the removal, in that the insurer is liable for the “necessary” crew’s maintenance and wages throughout the period of time involved. The requirement that the crew must be necessary is new in relation to the 1964 Plan. In the consideration of this question, regard must be had to what is necessary with a view to the removal. The maritime crew will obviously be covered, but normally not hotel and shop staff on a passenger liner, or mobile repair teams who work temporarily on board. However, the provisions must be implemented with some caution: it is not the intention to force the assured to empty the vessel of crew for shorter voyages.
“Bunkers and similar direct expenses in connection with the running of the vessel” include supplies and similar “out-of-pocket expenses”. To this must be added expenses for the rental of objects necessary to get the vessel to the repair yard, such as a rented generator. If it is necessary to take out additional liability insurance to cover any liability the vessel may incur in relation to a rented tug, the premium must be regarded as removal expenditure. This shall also apply where the liability insurance shall cover the assured’s liability for any damage which the tug may sustain whilst sailing to the place where the vessel is moored. Liability for costs of removal does not, however, include interest on debt, general insurance premiums, or any share of the owner’s general administrative costs.
In the offshore sector, there are often two crews per vessel because the crew alternates between work and leisure time. The question whether the insurer is liable for the pay of one or both crews during removal has therefore been discussed. However, the issue is not quite to the point: the crew that is on board the vessel during removal earns, in addition to the wages paid for work during the removal period, wages for its leisure time, but this part of its wages is not paid until the period of leisure time. If the crew had only been paid wages during the period in which it worked and nothing had been paid during the time when the crew was not working, the wages would have been twice as high. Thus it is not correct in this situation to say that it is a question of wages for two crews, but rather of pay earned for time off related to a period of work. This pay must therefore be covered in its entirety.
The “removal” covers the entire deviation to and from the repair yard. However, the expenses which the assured saves through the fact that the removal places an employed vessel in a more favourable position, cf. sub-clause 1, second sentence, must be taken into consideration. Other advantages shall not be deducted, e.g. where the vessel because of casualty damage has been removed to a repair yard where owner’s repairs were less expensive than they would have been if the vessel had followed its normal docking schedule. Nor shall any advantage the assured obtains by an unemployed vessel getting into a more favourable position for chartering be taken into account. On the other hand, the assured will not be compensated for the disadvantage that arises if the vessel gets into a less advantageous position.
In certain cases the vessel is moved to the port of delivery in connection with a sale and has the casualty repairs carried out in that port. If the sale and the port of delivery were agreed on prior to the commencement of the removal, the removal must be regarded as strictly an owner’s expense, even if the vessel was in ballast during the removal. The call at the port must in that event be regarded as ordinary in connection with the running of the ship.
The removal costs must be regarded as accessory costs of repairs to be apportioned among recoverable and non-recoverable work under Cl. 12-14.
During a removal to a repair yard, all insurances concerning the vessel will normally be in effect on the conditions agreed on. However, according to Cl. 3-20, each of the insurers may exclude liability for any loss arising during or as a result of the removal, if the removal involves a significant increase of the risk. According to sub-clause 2, liability is transferred to the insurer who is liable for the damage to the vessel, unless he has also excluded liability, cf. sub-clause 3. If a claims leader has been appointed under the hull insurance, he has, as mentioned in the Commentary on Cl. 3-20, the right to decide the question of removal on behalf of the hull insurers under the hull insurance as well as the interest insurers, cf. Cl. 9-6 and Cl. 14-3, sub-clause 4. If the claims leader decides that liability for the removal shall be excluded, the removal will normally have to take place at the assured’s own risk. If, however, the vessel is moved as the result of damage covered by the war-risks insurance, and the marine-risk insurer, but not the war-risk insurer, has rejected liability for the removal, the war-risk insurer is also liable for marine perils during the removal. Reference is furthermore made to the Commentary on Cl. 3-20.
In accordance with practice, no portion of the removal expenses will normally be attributed to damage arising during the removal to the repair yard. By contrast, a proportion of these expenses shall be attributed to damage that is not discovered until the vessel is at the repair yard, but which clearly existed before the removal commenced.
Clause 12-13. Removal of the vessel
Subject to the limitation that follows from Cl. 12-12, the insurer is liable for the costs of moving the vessel to the repair yard, including wages and maintenance for necessary crew, bunkers and similar direct expenses in connection with the running of the vessel during the period of time...
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Clause 12-14. Apportionment of common expenses
View Clause Go to Plan pageCl. 12-14 was slightly amended in 2016, and the Commentary was largely rewritten to reflect current adjusting practice.
The Clause regulates the apportionment of repair expenses that are common to more than one category of work effected during a stay at a single port or place of repairs.
According to the first sentence, expenses that are common to recoverable and non-recoverable work shall be apportioned taking into account the cost of each category of work.
The second sentence makes an exception for dry dock charges and quay rental, which are to be apportioned over the length of the time of repairs.
In practice, certain principles of apportionment have developed, and the most important features are mentioned below.
The Clause refers to apportionment over various “categories” of work. Usually the relevant categories will be;
- repair work for which the insurer is liable, and
- work that is not covered by the insurance.
However, if repairs of more than one casualty are effected simultaneously, each casualty’s repairs will also be a separate category of work. It should also be noted that the issue of “common repair expenses” is relevant only where more than one category of work are repaired simultaneously within a single port or place of repairs. If repairs are carried out at various occasions in various ports, the expenses incurred at each port must be apportioned separately to each category of work effected at that port.
Common repair expenses to be apportioned on a cost basis are as a main rule exemplified as follows;
- Fire watch and fire lines
- Port dues
- Agency fee (general) for the repair stay
- Owners’ superintendence (see also Cl. 4-5)
- ISPS watchmen
- Tank cleaning
- Gas freeing / gas free certificates
- Removal expenses (see also Cl. 12-13)
- 50% of telephone expenses
- Electric power allocated to repairs
Regarding supply of electricity, see the Commentary to Cl. 12-1.
The basis on which the common repair expenses shall be apportioned is the total repair costs of each category of work in a particular port. As a main rule this will include the following;
- Shipyard repairs
- Any (sub)contractors’ repairs
- The value of spares supplied for repairs
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Proportion of dry dock and berth charges allocated to each category (see also below)
Dry dock charges and quay rental shall be apportioned on a “time required” basis. Dry dock charges are accordingly to be apportioned over the time required in dry dock as if each category had been effected separately. Berth hire is similarly apportioned over the time required alongside for each category of work. Whilst berth hire is usually charged as a single item in the yard’s invoice, examples of the main dry dock charges to be apportioned over the time required in dry dock are as follows;
- Dock rental
- Docking in and out
- Shifting to/from dry dock (pilots, linesmen and tugs for docking in and out)
- Ballast water for undocking
- Docking master
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Placing of dock blocks (unless effected specifically for a particular category of work)
The practice for apportioning costs on a time basis differs between various insurance conditions. The following serves as examples of the approach according to the Nordic Plan:
a) Where one casualty and owner’s work require dry dock:
If owner’s work required 10 days in dry dock, and casualty repairs required 15 days in dry dock, the total of all dry dock related charges shall be apportioned as follows: The sum of 10 days for owner’s work and 15 days for casualty repairs is 25, and 10/25ths of dry dock costs are allocated to owner’s work and disallowed, and 15/25ths allocated to casualty repairs and thereby allowed. If charges for a total stay of 15 days in dry dock are USD 75,000, 10/25ths or USD 30,000 would be disallowed, and 15/25ths or USD 45,000 would be allowed.b) Where there are two or more casualties together with owner’s work requiring dry dock:
If owner’s work required 10 days in dry dock, casualty 1 required 15 days in dry dock, and casualty 2 required 9 days in dry dock, the total of all dry dock related charges shall be apportioned in two “steps”. Firstly, the total dry dock charges are apportioned between owner’s work and casualties, as follows: The sum of 10 days for owner’s work and the casualty requiring the longest stay in dry dock, 15 days, is 25. 10/25ths of dry dock costs are allocated to owner’s work and disallowed, and 15/25ths allocated to casualties and thereby allowed. With dry dock costs as in example a) USD 30,000 is disallowed and USD 45,000 is allocated to the casualties. Secondly, the proportion allocated to casualties shall be apportioned internally between the two casualties as follows: The sum of 15 days for casualty 1 and 9 days for casualty 2 is 24 days. Hence, USD 45,000 shall be apportioned with 15/24ths or USD 28,125 allowed to casualty 1, and 9/24ths or USD 16,875 allowed to casualty 2.The exclusion in Cl. 12-5 (a) for expenses connected with the running of the vessel is closely connected to Cl. 12-14. Examples of excluded expenses are;
- cooling water supply
- galley garbage removal
- black and grey water connection/disposal
- gangway watchmen (ISPS watchmen and fire watch are however allowed, see above)
- electric power consumed in running the vessel, see the Commentary to Cl. 12-1.
It should be noted that some of the above examples of “common expenses” are not necessarily related to all categories of repairs effected in which case they are often termed “accessorial expenses”. They may in other words be accessorial to some, but not to all categories of work effected. As an example, removal expenses shall not be apportioned on any damage arising during removal (see Commentary to Cl. 12-13). And “extra” tank cleaning e.g. to allow hot work may be related to repairs in a particular tank. In case certain expenses are not common to all categories of work, they shall be attributed only to the category(ies) in respect of which they incurred.Finally, it should be noted that the above principles of apportionment apply irrespective of whether any category of work is due e.g. under Class’ requirement, or could have been postponed to a later date. Thus, there is no difference between an emergency docking and a scheduled docking. The simple question is what actually is effected at the particular port or place of repairs. However, there is a practice to disregard owner’s work if the costs represent less than 5% of the total cost of repairs.
Clause 12-14. Apportionment of common expenses
If expenses have been incurred which are common to repair work for which the insurer is liable and work which is not covered by the insurance, these expenses shall be apportioned on the basis of the cost of each category of work. However, dry dock charges and quay rental shall be apportioned on t...
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Clause 12-15. Ice damage deductions
View Clause Go to Plan pageThe second sentence was added in 2016. For the sake of clarity, the new sentence emphasizes that the ice damage deduction comes in addition to the general deductible under Cl. 12-18, sub-clause 1.
In line with the general deductible provision in Cl. 12-18 and other clauses of similar nature, it is left to the parties in the individual contracts to agree on the deduction, if any, that shall apply to ice damage.
The ice damage deduction is based on the view that the assured may, through its actions with the vessel, influence the risk of it sustaining ice damage. An ice damage deduction is therefore considered to have a certain deterrent effect.
If deduction of a fraction is used, it is unnecessary to introduce special rules on the calculation of deductions for the situation where the vessel is navigating in ice for several days on end. Such special rules must also be agreed on individually if the owner wants the ice damage deduction in the form of a fixed amount, cf. below regarding the deductible.
Unless otherwise agreed the ice damage deduction shall also be applied in those cases where the assured has paid additional premium to be able to proceed beyond the ordinary trading areas. If the parties want another solution, this has to be agreed in connection with the notification that the vessel will proceed beyond the trading areas, cf. Cl. 3-15, sub-clause 1.
The same repair costs fall outside the scope of the ice deduction as are excluded from the scope of the machinery damage deduction, cf. Cl. 12-17. As regards the basis for calculating the deduction, reference is made to Cl. 12-19 and the Commentary on that provision.
Clause 12-15. Ice damage deductions
Damage due to striking against or contact with ice - excluding collision with icebergs on the open sea - is recoverable subject to a deduction stated in the insurance contract. To this shall be added the deductible referred to in Cl. 12-18, sub-clause 1.
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Clause 12-16. Machinery damage deductions
View Clause Go to Plan pageCl. 12-16 provides for a machinery damage deduction in addition to the standard deductible which the parties can activate by agreeing on the amount to be deducted, cf. sub-clause 1. Such a deduction may have a certain deterrent effect and it provides flexibility in the underwriting process.
For the sake of clarity, it is emphasised that the machinery damage deduction comes in addition to the general deductible under Cl. 12-18, sub-clause 1.
Cl. 12-16 was revised and updated in the 2023 revision. First, due to the technological development it was appropriate to replace the outdated term “engine room” in two of the exceptions and elaborate in the commentaries on the terms “machinery and accessories”. It was also considered appropriate to mention in the text that the provision concerns the propulsion or operations of the vessel. Second, it was agreed that “pipelines and electrical cables outside the machinery” shall not any longer be covered by the machinery damage deduction set out in sub-clause 1. Third, the technological development has made it appropriate for the commentaries to expressly mention “battery packs” and to define the relevant “battery packs” with regard to vessel operations in Cl. 12-16. Fourth, the commentaries are restructured by elaborating on the scope of the main provision in sub-clause 1 prior to the exceptions in sub-clause 2. The logic is that a firm understanding of the main provision will make it easier to understand the scope of the exceptions.
The provision provides three exceptions in which no machinery damage deduction applies, and the common feature of the exceptions is that the root cause of the damage to the machinery etc. does not originate from the machinery as such.
Until the 2023 revision, Cl. 12-16 used the term “engine room” in the exceptions set out in (b) and (c). Historically, this term was indeed useful to determine the scope of the machinery damage deduction because it pointed to the heart of its scope; damage to the machinery etc. located inside of the “engine room”. New design layouts of vessels and the introduction of new propulsion technology etc., however, have outdated the concept “engine room”; there may be several “engine rooms”, and machinery etc. may also be located outside of what may reasonably be considered “engine rooms”. This development has called for a more functional description of the scope of Cl. 12-16 and its exceptions; e.g. a description that does not rely on the narrow term “engine room”.
The scope of the machinery damage deduction, as set out in sub-clause 1, is set out to be “Damage to machinery and accessories concerning the propulsion or operations of the vessel”. The key term is still “machinery”, which essentially refers to the vessel’s equipment for propulsion and power generation. The term “accessories” points out that the machinery damage deduction is not limited to damages to the machinery itself, but also includes damages to the accessories to the “machinery”. The latter entails that “machinery and accessories” refers to all kinds of equipment for propulsion of the vessel and/or production of energy for the vessel operations. For example, damages to engines, auxiliary engines, turbines, generators, battery packs etc. are covered by the machinery damage deduction, provided that such “machinery and accessories” concerns propulsion of the vessel and/or provides energy for the vessel operations. The latter term “provides” energy for the vessel operations includes both producers of energy, for example auxiliary engines, and equipment for the provision/storage of energy, for example, battery packs.
The terms “machinery and accessories” include numerous kinds of equipment/components, and in practice it might be difficult to determine their scope in the present context. To provide predictability in this respect, the following equipment/components shall be considered included in “machinery and accessories” covered by the machinery damage deduction in sub-clause 1, provided that such “machinery and accessories” concerns propulsion of the vessel and/or provides energy for the vessel operations: shafts, bearings, propellers, auxiliary engines, starting air tanks, exhaust pipes for main and auxiliary engines, electric motors (however, with the exception of household appliances, nautical instruments, etc.), generators, converters, battery packs, steam boilers with flue outlet and internal funnels, condensers, coolers, pre-heaters, refrigeration machinery, steering gear, pumps, anchor windlasses, winches, machinery and wires and hydraulic piping with valves forming part of the deck cranes (except of the steel construction of the crane itself), electrical panels, pipelines and electrical cables inside the machinery or the space containing the damaged machinery, and paint and insulation of equipment/parts falling within the scope of sub-clause 1.
With regard to vessel operations, it might be difficult to determine the relevant “battery packs” referred to above. Taken literally, the term "battery packs” could in this context include various batteries on board a vessel. However, the machinery damage deduction in sub-clause 1 only includes “battery packs” serving the same purpose as an ordinary auxiliary engine used in a conventional vessel; typically, the major battery packs providing power for electric engines for propulsion/maneuvering and general power while a vessel is located in a port.
Sub-clause 2 lists three exceptions from the general rule relating to machine damage deductions. As indicated, the common feature of the exceptions is that the root cause of the damage to the machinery etc. does not originate from the particular “machinery risk” as such, but has an “external” cause. The second (b) and third (c) exceptions were revised in the 2023 revision to reflect that the main provision in sub-clause 1 was rephrased to replace, inter alia, the concept “engine room”.
According to sub-clause 2 (a), no deduction shall be made if the vessel has been involved in a “grounding, collision or striking”. In practice, the term “striking” has caused a number of problems in relation to the machinery damage deduction. The purpose of the deduction is that it shall apply to damage to the machinery attributable to defects in machinery or inadequate maintenance, wear and tear, etc. All damage that has an “external” cause and where it is a question of contact with foreign objects from the outside should therefore not be subject to a deduction. “Striking” therefore occurs in situations where the propeller strikes drift wood or drift ice, where pieces of ice or a plastic bag or the like are sucked up against the cooling water inlet obstructing the water circulation with the result that the machinery is overheated and damaged, and where a thin fishing line or the like gets twisted around the propeller shaft between propeller and stern tube and subsequently penetrates into the stern tube stuffing causing leakage and damage. On the other hand, deductions must be made if damage from overheating or vibration occurs in consequence of prolonged sailing through ice. However, difficult borderline cases may arise in connection with damage caused by sailing through ice.
A prerequisite for “striking” is nevertheless that the vessel strikes a foreign object. It will therefore never constitute “striking” when parts of the vessel strike other parts of the vessel, e.g. where the rudder or the nozzle loosens and gets into contact with the propeller. This applies regardless of whether or not the propeller was moving. On the other hand, if the vessel strikes its own fishing tackle or its own equipment outside the vessel, this will constitute “striking”.
According to sub-clause (b) which was revised in the 2023 revision by replacing the narrow concept “engine room”, no deduction shall apply if the machinery or accessories have been damaged due to water ingress or flooding of the space in which it was installed. This may be the situation in casualties of a more serious nature. But the exclusion also covers a situation where the crew has forgotten to close an open valve with the result that water pours out into a space, typically the engine room, which causes damage to the machinery or its accessories.
The exception in sub-clause (c) concerns fire or explosion. It was revised in the 2023 Version by replacing the narrow concept “engine room”. The exception entails that the machinery damage deduction in sub-clause 1 is not applicable to fire or explosion, unless the fire or explosion originated in the “space” containing the damaged machinery or accessories. The introduction of the neutral and broader term “space” instead of the traditional term “engine room” is a consequence of the layout of modern vessels, which often have more than one space containing equipment for propulsion and power generation.
It might be difficult to determine whether a fire or explosion originated within or outside the broader term “space” used in sub-clause (c). However, if such a “space” containing “machinery or accessories” is separated by bulkheads and decks of appropriate fire integrity standards, fires or explosions originating outside this separated space shall not be covered by the machinery damage deduction. The said appropriate fire integrity standards shall be considered met if the bulkheads and decks are designed and built for the purpose of ensuring that a fire remains within its space of origin - as per the applicable safety regulations, such as SOLAS Reg. II-2/9 for cargo and passenger vessels, or in the absence of applicable safety regulations, by ensuring an equivalent level of fire protection to be maintained.
The question whether it is a case of a nautical casualty, which is not covered by the machinery damage deduction in sub-clause 1, or a "machinery casualty", must be decided on the basis of general principles for standard proof and burden-of-proof. For example, it is proven on the balance of probabilities that certain damage detected later was attributable to an earlier grounding, no deductions shall be made, even if the damage is discovered some time more than three months after the casualty.
Clause 12-16. Machinery damage deductions
Damage to machinery and accessories concerning the propulsion or operations of the vessel is recoverable subject to deductions as set out in the insurance contract. To this shall be added the deductible referred to in Cl. 12-18, sub-clause 1. However, no such machinery damage deduction shall be...
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Clause 12-17. Compensation without deductions
View Clause Go to Plan pageCertain losses are covered without deductions. This applies to depreciation in value under Cl. 12-1, sub-clause 4, normal loss of time under Cl. 12-11, sub-clause 2, costs of removal under Cl. 12-13, unused spare parts and temporary repairs.
In practice, “shifting” within the port area is not regarded as removal and accordingly falls outside the scope of Cl. 12-13. Bunkers consumed during such “shifting” shall therefore be subject to deductions.
Furthermore, all accessory costs of repairs shall be subject to deductions, provided the costs are directly related to the repair work carried out. Costs which are recoverable in accordance with the general part of the Plan, e.g. survey or litigation costs, are, however, fully recoverable. In practice, no deductions have been made in costs incurred in classification surveys, but such expenditure has been subject to a deductible.
Costs of measures to avert or minimise loss, such as a salvage award for a vessel in ballast and general average contributions, need not relate to any specific damage to the vessel and are therefore recoverable without deduction. If, during the rescue operation, the vessel sustains damage that is recoverable under general average, deductions will be made in accordance with YAR and a corresponding proportion of the repairs will be charged to the assured. Deductions shall also be made under Cl. 12-15 and Cl. 12-16 if the general average damage to the vessel is settled under Cl. 4-10; the same applies to assumed general average, cf. Cl. 4-11. The reason is that the compensation for a certain type of damage to the vessel shall be approximately the same regardless of the cause of the damage. This reasoning means that deductions must also be made where damage to the vessel is recoverable under the general rule on particular measures to avert or minimise loss in Cl. 4-12, sub-clause 1, e.g. where the vessel sustains damage solely for the purpose of averting liability, or a minor casualty which does not endanger the safety of the vessel, cf. Cl. 12-19, sub-clause 2.
Clause 12-17. Compensation without deductions
The following are recoverable without deductions according to Cl. 12-15 and Cl. 12-16: loss recoverable under Cl. 12-1, sub-clause 4, Cl. 12-11, sub-clause 2, and Cl. 12-13, unused spare parts that are damaged or lost, temporary repairs.
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Clause 12-18. Deductible
View Clause Go to Plan pageIn Cl. 189, sub-clause 1, of the 1964 Plan the deductible (formerly “the franchise”) was set at one-thousandth of the sum insured, however, not less than NOK 1,000 and not more than NOK 10,000. The Special Conditions left the deductible to the parties’ negotiations, however, and this approach has now been adopted in the Plan. This means that the amount of deductible will appear from the individual insurance contract, cf. sub-clause 1.
As under the 1964 Plan, the deductible is to be calculated for “each individual casualty”. The purpose is to achieve a clear-cut limit for the size of the recoverable casualty, thereby eliminating the claims settlements for the minor casualties. It is also assumed that one deductible per casualty has a deterrent effect. However, the result may cause the assured economic problems if several casualties occur at short intervals. This is something the assured may have to take into consideration during the negotiations concerning the size of the deductible.
Normally, the distinction between one and several casualties will not cause any problems. If a fire in the engine room spreads and results in damage to other parts of the vessel, this is clearly one casualty. On the other hand, if the vessel sustains damage due to a grounding and later during the voyage sustains damage to the superstructure as the result of a hurricane, this will constitute two casualties. When several casualties are connected in terms of time and place, it may, however, be difficult to decide whether there has been one or several casualties. Reference is made to the description of relevant type cases concerning the corresponding problems associated with the insurer’s liability for the sum insured, cf. Cl. 4-18.
The question regarding the dividing line between one and several casualties must be decided by a discretionary assessment of the same factors as those mentioned in relation to Cl. 4-18. However, the factors stated must be combined with the real considerations behind the provision regarding a deductible. Thus, it is not a foregone conclusion that the delimitation of the individual casualty will be identical under the two sets of rules.
In practice, the question has been raised regarding the extent to which a new deductible shall apply where there has been a further development of damage which the assured could have averted, e.g. damage to the stern tube due to postponed repairs of damage to the propeller, or where an error in design has been discovered which will lead to more and more cracks in the main engine unless it is repaired. The deciding factor for the number of deductibles in such cases must be when the assured’s negligence acquires the nature of an independent damage cause which “breaks” the causal chain from the first damage. Such a new cause occurs if the assured’s conduct can be characterised as negligent in relation to the development of the damage after the first damage was discovered. New damage must then give rise to a new deductible. This must apply even if the insurer has failed to object to a postponement of the repairs, but not, however, if the insurer has confirmed directly to the assured that it is safe to proceed without making repairs.
It is also irrelevant to the question of the number of deductibles whether the classification society has approved the postponement, unless it is a question of damage that may have a bearing on the safety of the vessel, e.g. certain types of engine damage. If the classification society has given approval for the vessel to proceed with damage that may threaten the safety of the vessel, it must be assumed that the further development was not foreseeable, and that the assured was not guilty of negligence. As long as the requirements of the classification society are complied with, the further development should in such cases be recoverable without any new deductible.
In the type of situation where one incident of damage requires several repairs, a deciding factor for the number of deductibles must be whether the error committed by the repair yard is foreseeable, cf. ND 1977.38 NH Vestfold I: Only where the repair yard’s error is unforeseeable, e.g. because it is a question of gross negligence on the part of the repair yard, shall the new damage be deemed to constitute a new casualty which gives rise to a new deductible. An example of repair yard errors which may under the circumstances be considered unforeseeable is where the repair yard forgets tools or the like inside an engine resulting in damage when it is started. By contrast, it is not necessarily unforeseeable that a part is installed the wrong way in an engine, cf. the Vestfold I case. Sub-standard work, e.g. poor welding work, will normally also be foreseeable. If the yard’s error is foreseeable, both the repairs of the same damage and the further development of the damage must be recoverable without any new deductible.
In the event of new damage caused by errors by the repair yard, considerable problems of evidence may arise, e.g. where welds in the propeller break open after a long period of time. If the period of time from when the damage was repaired until it reoccurs or new damage develops is lengthy, strict evidential requirements must be imposed before it is decided that the cause is the original damage and that no deductible shall apply. The assessment of evidence must also be stricter the more the part in question is exposed to damage.
A situation that has given rise to considerable problems in relation to the number of deductibles is where there is an error in design or the like in the cylinder linings from the factory which causes them to crack after a certain period of use. There may not necessarily be any pattern to when the cracks occur. In some cases it is discovered at the same time that several linings have cracked, whereas in other cases weeks or months may pass between each time a lining cracks. The deciding factor for the question regarding the number of deductibles in such cases must be the extent to which the cracks can be traced back to the same cause. If the cracks are attributable to the same cause, they must be regarded as one casualty, which only gives rise to one deductible. Elements in this evaluation include whether there is a close connection in terms of time or place between the incidents of damage, or whether the new incidents are of a totally independent nature, and whether the common underlying factor increases the risk of new damage, cf. above under Cl. 4-18. Cracks that may be traced back to the same error on the part of the manufacturer should be regarded as one casualty and only give rise to one deductible. The incidents described here take place within the same area in the vessel and, in the event of an error in manufacture, it is foreseeable that the error will affect several of the manufactured units until the error is discovered. If, however, there are several separate errors, or it is clear that the manufacturer should have discovered the error and done something about it, the incidents will constitute several casualties in relation to the deductible.
At the same time, it is clear that if the assured can be blamed for not having averted the damage, this warrants the calculation of a new deductible from the time the assured should have intervened. If the assured has shown negligence in failing to replace the linings that have not yet cracked, new cracks should give rise to a new deductible. In that event, each new crack should be regarded as a new casualty in relation to the deductible, based on the view that the assured’s motivation to replace the rest of the linings increases with each new crack that arises.
The deductible shall apply to the overall compensation for each casualty. If the casualty results in several invoices, the deductible must therefore be apportioned over all invoices, and not be settled on the basis of the initial costs. This is necessary in order for the calculation of interest and the apportionment of refund settlements not to be affected by the manner in which the decision is made to organise the repairs of the vessel based on practical, technical and commercial considerations. The apportionment of the deductible results in the assured getting a proportionately equal share of insurance contract interest on all invoices subject to deductibles, regardless of whether the invoice is received at an early or late stage of the repairs of the vessel. In connection with refund settlements, an apportionment of the deductible over all invoices will result in the assured benefiting from the proportion of the refund claim that corresponds to the proportion of the deductible for the relevant claim.
Sub-clause 2 creates an exception to the rule that the deductible is to be applied to each casualty in cases where it may be particularly difficult to decide whether there have been one or more casualties. Under the 1964 Plan, the exception was limited to damage due to “heavy weather”. The exception has now been extended to include damage caused by “navigating in ice”. The extension is taken from Cl. 4.6 of the Loss-of-Time Conditions in Cefor Form 237, and may be justified by the fact that the legal considerations constituting the background to the exception for heavy-weather damage are just as applicable to continuous navigation in ice.
So-called “ranging damage”, which occurs in the event of bad weather lasting for several days while the vessel is berthed, has in practice been recoverable with one deductible. This practice shall be continued.
The exception for damage sustained between the departure from one port until arrival at the next shall apply, regardless of the nature of the calls. Heavy-weather damage that occurs between a port of loading and a port of refuge will thus be subject to one deductible.
For voyages on the Great Lakes, Cefor IV, B 4, sub-clause 5, contained a clause to the effect that for damage caused by collision or striking “one deductible was to be calculated for the round voyage up from and down to Montreal”. This rule has not been maintained. Previous experience with voyage franchises shows that they create problems of interpretation and evidence and are therefore likely to be abused.
Sub-clause 3 is identical to the 1964 Plan and states that the costs of measures to avert or minimise loss and certain accessory costs are recoverable without deductible. As the assured will never know the extent of the damage which might have been caused by the casualty which he has averted, it is important that he shall under any circumstances receive compensation for the losses he suffers through measures to avert or minimise loss. Similarly, the insurer should cover in full the expenses incurred after a casualty for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of the damage.
Cover of the relevant costs without deductible shall not apply if it is clear in advance that the costs incurred in repairing the damage are lower than the deductible, cf. the Commentary on Cl. 4-6 and Brækhus/Rein: Håndbok i kaskoforsikring (Handbook of Hull Insurance), p. 588.
If the vessel is docked in order to establish whether damage has occurred after a grounding, the normal procedure has been to apply a deductible even if no damage is found. According to Cl. 12.1 of the English hull conditions (ITCH), such survey is recoverable without deductible if the survey was “reasonable”. Today it is usually unnecessary to dock a vessel to carry out such surveys. Normally a diver’s inspection will be sufficient. If, in exceptional cases, the classification society demands docking, the costs should be regarded as survey expenditure, which is recoverable without deductible. The situation is different where docking is demanded and damage is in actual fact found. In that event, the docking expenditure follows the casualty and gets its share of the deductible, even if the repairs are not carried out the first time around due to the assured’s commercial decisions.
Clause 12-18. Deductible
For each casualty the amount stated in the insurance contract shall be deducted. Damage caused by heavy weather or navigating in ice which has occurred during the period between departure from one port and arrival at the next one shall be regarded as a single casualty. Costs in connection with th...
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Clause 12-19. Basis for calculation of deductions according to Clauses 12-15 to 12-18 and Clause 3-15
View Clause Go to Plan pageThis Clause corresponds to Cl. 190 of the 1964 Plan.
Sub-clause 1 is identical to the 1964 Plan, but a reference to Cl. 3-15, sub-clause 2, which contains a new deduction provision relating to the situation where a vessel proceeds beyond conditional trading areas, has been introduced. The provision entails that all deductions shall be made from the gross costs before any other deductions. Insofar as machinery damage deductions and ordinary deductibles are calculated in the form of fixed amounts of money, the provision is only relevant to the ice damage deduction and the deduction for proceeding beyond the trading areas.
Sub-clause 2 is discussed in further detail under Cl. 12-17.
Clause 12-19. Basis for calculation of deductions according to Clauses 12-15 to 12-18 and Clause 3-15
Deductions under Cl. 3-15, sub-clause 2, Cl. 12-15, Cl. 12-16 and Cl. 12-18 are calculated on the basis of the full amount of compensation according to the Plan and the insurance conditions before deductions under any of these sections are made. Deductions are also made if damage to the vessel is...
Clause 12-1. Main rule concerning liability of the insurer
If the vessel has been damaged without the rules relating to total loss being applicable, the insurer is liable for the costs of repairing the damage in such a manner that the vessel is restored to the condition it was in prior to the occurrence of the damage. Liability arises as and when the...