COLLISIONS AND
PROPERTY DAMAGE
P&I clubs do not cover damage done to the ship itself – that is the
responsibility of the hull and machinery underwriters. If a collision
only results in damage to your ship, your Club will probably not be
involved financially but may still assist the owner.
The damage caused to the other ship in a collision may be insured
by the Club or by the hull underwriters or by both of them. P&I clubs,
however, always insure liabilities arising from collisions relating to
pollution, personal injury, cargo and other property damage.
Clubs usually cover damage to docks and other fixed property, but
sometimes this is covered by the hull underwriters.
General Procedures
• Alert your owner or manager, the relevant authority and the P&I
correspondent. Advise them of the other ship’s name and port
of registry, details of the property damaged, and the date, time
and location where the incident occurred. Outline the extent of
the damage and whether injury or pollution has occurred.
• The Club will invariably investigate the incident to find out the
cause and who is to blame. To assist the Club, you should:
• Instruct those on watch (on the bridge, deck and in the
engine room) and any other potential witnesses on board to
make personal notes regarding the incident as soon as
possible, noting only the facts and timings;
• Take copies of the navigation charts that detail the courses
and positions for a period of at least 60 minutes before the
collision, and rough bridge notes;
• Collect and retain:
• Printouts, with times, from the GPS, course recorder,
engine log, echo sounder;
• Rough bridge notebook, radar, gyro, radio and
weather logs;
• Standing orders/night order book;
• The passage plan and pilot card (if relevant) with details
of additional information that may have been
exchanged between the Master and the pilot;
• Note the names and the position of tugs that are ‘made fast’
or ‘in attendance’, and the time when each tug arrived;
• Verify the synchronisation of bridge, engine room and
other clocks;
• Take photographs of any damage to your ship and the other
ship or structure. If possible, estimate the angle of blow, the
ship’s speed, the other ship’s speed and both ships’ courses;
• Remember not to admit liability when questioned (in most
collision cases investigated by the Club, both parties, to a
greater or lesser extent, have been found to be at fault), and
take special care to prevent unauthorised surveyors and
lawyers from boarding the ship;
• Brief crew members to stick to the facts and instruct them not
to discuss the incident with anybody;
• Depending upon the damage caused during the collision, a
survey of the ship’s damage or of the cargo or an accident
investigation may be necessary – the P&I correspondent will be
able to arrange these surveys;
• If injuries, pollution or cargo damage have resulted from the
incident, check the relevant pages of this guide for the
recommended actions;
• If the damage has been caused by a ship’s wash, make a list of
all other ships that passed at or near the time of the incident. If
possible, estimate their course, speed and distance from
your ship.