In one of our recent collision cases which P&I club’s cover excludes 4/4 collision liability, there has been a discussion in depth whether P&I Clubs should pick up the personal injury and the oil leakage claims from the opponent vessel when incurred. From our point of view, whenever an opponent’s pollution liability does not fall under the hull cover or any other covers of own vessel, the P&I Clubs should pick up any potential pollution liability from the opponent vessel. We have made this enquiry to the IG Clubs and summarize their advices for our clients.
Based on the assumption that 4/4 collision liability in H&M cover is extended to normal ITC 1.10.83 or PICC’s 2009 policy which are widely used in the Lloyd’s and the Chinese market respectively, there are two schools of thought within the IG Clubs. One school of thought is that once the members opt to exclude 4/4 collision liability from the Clubs, the Clubs would exclude all the claims including injury, death, the pollution and etc. from the other vessel because all these claims are from the opponent vessel. The other school of thought is that Club is to exclude own vessel’s collision liability on the physical damage to the opponent vessel and property onboard the opponent vessel only, other collision liability of the own vessel such as crew claim onboard the opponent vessel, pollution from the opponent vessel shall be under the P&I cover even if 4/4 collision liability is excluded.
After reviewing various advices from IG Clubs, most of the Clubs’ advices can be interpreted as in line our view. With respect of the contribution and apportionment of opponent vessel’s personal injury and oil pollution, three IG Clubs advise that it should be the matter of interpreting the governing law. If the governing law holds member is jointly and severally liable to the personal injury/death and oil pollution originated from the other ship, then the club should be responsible for this. One Club has provided a clear list regarding the covered items indicates that under excluding 4/4 RDC, i.e. personal injury/death, pollution, wreck removal, property not on ships and cargo on own ships. Moreover, one IG Club has kindly reminded that because of an absence of cover for, like pollution arising out of a collision, in the hull policy, this does not mean that the Club will automatically cover such pollution where RDC cover has been completely excluded.
For the purpose of handling smoothly, under the 4/4 collision liability in H&M cover, we recommend that H&M underwriters should play a vital role to help the Assured to take necessary and emergency actions, i.e. appointing the surveyor to investigate the incident of both vessels, employing the local lawyer, collecting the relevant evidence and etc. Moreover, in order that P&I Clubs could clearly understand and determine if the relevant claimed items are covered by them, in reference to their P&I rules and terms of entry, it is advisable for the members to disclose the H&M policy for the Clubs’ consideration at the time of placing and seek clarification if in doubt.
See attached file:ALCO20120064 The application of IG Clubs in excluding 4-4 RDC Liability
国际保赔协会对于免除4/4碰撞责任的适用
在我司最近处理的一宗碰撞案件中，在保赔险免除4/4碰撞责任的情况下，我们对协会是否应承保他船人身伤亡及漏油等事宜进行了深入讨论。我们认为，因与本船碰撞而造成的他船油污责任，保赔协会应对因他船引起的潜在污染责任予以承保。为使客户在今后处理碰撞案件时能够清楚了解协会在此情形下的要求，我们对十三大国际保赔协会进行了咨询并总结如下。
首先，我们在此所指的船壳险下4/4的碰撞责任是基于当前分别在劳合社保险市场及中国保险市场中广泛适用的《协会船舶定期保险条款(1/10/83)》(ITC 1.10.83)及《中国人民财产保险股份有限公司船东保障和赔偿责任险条款（2009版）》之规定。对此，各协会大致有两种意见。一种意见是，如果会员选择在保赔险下免除4/4碰撞责任，则协会将不会承保任何他船的人身伤亡、污染等索赔，因为这些索赔均起源于他船；另一种意见是，协会仅对本船对于他船物理性损坏及船上财产损失的碰撞责任不予承保，本船的其他碰撞责任，如他船船员索赔及污染责任等，协会予以承保。
十三大国际保赔协会中大多数的回复意见与我们观点基本相近。其中，有关他船人身伤害及油污责任按比例分摊事宜，有三家协会进一步指出这是一个法律适用的问题。若该适用法律规定本船对他船发生的人身伤亡以及油污承担连带责任，则协会应承保相应责任；其中一家保赔协会甚至写明在4/4碰撞责任除外时，仍会主动承保如人身伤亡、污染、残骸清理、非船上财产及本船货物等项目；但有一家协会表示，保赔协会对船壳险下不承保项目（如油污污染事故）并不能自动予以承保。
为使客户能够顺利地处理类似案件，在船壳险为4/4碰撞责任的情况下，我们建议船壳保险人在碰撞事故发生后，应牵头采取必要的紧急措施，尽可能地保护投保人利益，如立即委派检验员调查双方船舶事故情况、聘请当地律师、搜集相关证据等。此外，为使协会更好地了解并决定是否承保碰撞事故中的相关责任，除参考协会规则及具体入会条款，同时也要求会员在入会时把船壳险内容告知协会，便于协会了解两个保险人之间对于碰撞责任的明确划分，以免产生不必要的误会。
以上由 ANDREW LIU & CO.,LTD 编译，应以英文为准！
详细信息请参阅附件。
