在我司2011年6月21日通函 (ALCO20110016)中，我们曾就以船舶管理人作为共同受保人的问题作出一些评论，并引发客户的普遍关注。
在上述通函中，我们列举了几个船舶管理人在不作为共同受保人但却受保在”misdirected arrow clause”（意译”连带责任追偿条款”）下而未能受协会保障的情况。在本次通函之中，我们将会从财务的角度进行分析。
原则上，”共保会员”的保险方式对共同受保人相互之间的作为或不作为受连带保障，而”连带责任追偿条款”下的共同受保人则受制于船东的作为或不作为。
在上述条款下，纵然船东在某一案件中有相当的胜算，如果船东突然终止业务，协会针对该船东自身投保的、或代表船东利益投保的船舶保险也将会从船东终止业务当天起停止。这一影响同时会扩展到各个共同受保人。尽管对于停保日之前所发生的案件协会会继续承保，但具体情况却受协会条款的限制，倘若有保费应付而未付的情况，协会将会同时中止处理与该船东有关的一切案件。
在船东破产或清盘的情况下，如果船东不能支付保费和其他应付款项，亦将会导致协会停保。由于欠付保费等费用，协会将会对所有的案件均不承担责任。
除非在入会时另有规定，若原始会员破产或终止业务，共同入会会员与共同受保人均对应付未付的保费负有清偿责任。协会认为，船舶管理人既享受了主要利益也应承担主要的付款义务，因此，”在原始会员不复存在的情况下该清偿义务往往是无法协商免除的”。
现实情况下，我们建议船舶管理人在签订管理合同之前密切关注船东的财务担保情况。
此中文译本由Andrew Liu & Co., Ltd编译，应以英文版本为准！
详细信息请参阅附件。
Ship Managers as Co-assureds（II）
We have discussed the issue “Ship Managers as Co-assureds” in our Circular Ref 2011/0016 dated 21 June 2011 which has drawn wide attention from our clients.
In that Circular, we showed several examples where the manager under a misdirected arrow clause would not be able to enjoy benefit of the Club’s cover which one would have enjoyed as if a full coinsured. In this supplementary circular, we would consider from the financial side.
Basically, Co-assurance protects the co-insured from his own acts and defaults. “Misdirected arrow” co-assurance relates to owners’ acts and defaults
It refers that even if there is a good case in favour of owners, if the owners have gone bust, under the cesser of insurance clause, the Club’s cover shall be ceased in respect of any ships entered by that Owners or on their behalf from that date. In other words the entry ceases from that date and that would extend to any co-assureds on the entry. Although the Club would continue to cover any claims arising from an event which occurred prior to the date of cessation, it is subject to the Rules including those relating to payment of calls and other sums due to the Club by the owners.
In a bankruptcy/winding up situation, if that the owners are unable to pay calls and other outstanding sums due to the Club which may lead to cancellation of the entry. Under these circumstances, the Club would cease to be liable for any claims.
Unless agreed the otherwise at the inception of the policy, both joint members and co-assureds are liable for the premium if the original member become insolvent. The Clubs take the view that the manager is obtaining substantial benefit and paying no up front premium. Therefore, “The obligation to pay if the original member does not is usually non-negotiable.”
In reality, we would suggest a management look hard at the owner’s financial security before entering into the management contract.
See attached file : ALCO20110040 Ship Managers as Co-assureds (II).pdf
