Web alert: UK Chamber of Shipping Crisis Management Forum

On 5 February 2015, The Standard Club's Sam Kendall-Marsden​ delivered a paper entitled "Wreck Removal Post-Costa Concordia - the IG Perspective" at the UK Chamber of Shipping's Crisis Management Forum.

Sam is the Director of the club's Atlantic Syndicate, has a special interest in the management of major shipping casualties and represents the club on the International Group's salvage subcommittee and large casualty working group.  Sam has also been responsible for the club's responses to the MSC Chitra, Rena, Costa Concordia and Amadeo 1 casualties.

Sam spoke about the large casualty working group's report on the rising costs of wreck removal, what can be done in individual cases to keep costs under control and what the International Group clubs are doing to mitigate rising costs generally.

Sam described an outreach programme to raise states' understanding of the clubs' capabilities, explain concerns and to emphasise the need for proportionality in responding to major casualty situations.  Sam also made reference to a memorandum of understanding with states to provide a framework for effective casualty response.

Concluding, Sam said: "If we see another incident of [the magnitude of the Costa Concordia] and are faced with unreasonable or disproportionate orders being made then it may be appropriate to challenge, through the courts if necessary.  Whatever is necessary must be done to preserve the insurance structure we have in place for the benefit of shipowners and which is also of immense value to states which rightly look to the clubs to fund necessary and reasonable wreck removal operations."