Willis Report: Marine Insurance Market Facing Choppy Seas in Wake of Global Economic Crisis
--Plenty of capacity keeps rates from hardening; Piracy spreading to East Somali Coast and into
Indian Ocean--
London, UK, November 17, 2009 – The Marine insurance market continues to face choppy
seas in the wake of the global economic crisis, with a sharp decline in
international trade crippling certain sectors of the shipping community, piracy spreading to new
regions, and stalled capital markets and lower investment returns battering underwriters, according to
the latest Marine Market Review from Willis Group Holdings (NYSE: WSH), the global
insurance broker.
Against a backdrop of falling values of insured assets, rate increases have been
minimal in most Marine classes for clients with good loss records. Willis’ annual
review, titled “Riding the Waves,” found that, despite a hardening of Marine reinsurance
rates at the start of 2009, with no contraction in direct marine underwriting
capacity, the initial increase in direct rates has largely evaporated. Willis says that
as long as surplus capacity remains in the market, rates are unlikely to rise
dramatically. The exception had been the P&I market, where the mutual clubs at
the February renewals announced an average increase of 16.5 percent, the report said.
Commenting on the review, Alistair Rivers, Chief Executive Officer of Willis
Marine and Willis Global Energy, said, “Since the five-year shipping boom came
to a shuddering halt at the end of last year, we've seen a
huge fall in demand for the shipment of goods that has led to the laying
up of vessels to an extent not seen since the 1970s. Laid up vessels
mean less premium for insurers and sadly, once again, we find Marine underwriters
hoping to raise prices just as their customers need to cut costs. However,
there is still a lot of capacity in the market and far fewer claims
due to the reduction in shipping activity, so we are challenging rate increases for
clients with good risk management and claims history.”
Willis experts also comment on the rise of new piracy hotspots
outside of the Gulf of Aden, including off the coasts of Brazil, Nigeria,
Thailand and Vietnam. The report notes that since the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor
(IRTC) has been implemented in the Gulf of Aden, pirates have attacked vessels
further out at sea, more than 800 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia
and East Africa. The Willis report notes that there have been 75 attacks off the
East Somali coast and in the wider Indian Ocean region in 2009 –
a 625% increase from the 12 reported attacks in 2008. There have also
been incidents in the Red Sea, the Straits of Bab El Mandeb and off
Oman. The report looks at the nature of these incidents, the coverage conundrum
relating to who pays the ransom, and the solutions - both insurance and physical
protection measures - that shipowners can implement to guard against attacks.
Other key findings of the Willis Marine Market Review include:
New builds – At the beginning of 2009, as a result
of the shipping boom, there was a record number of ships on order –
equivalent to 50 percent of the existing world fleet - but, with the demand
now reduced, both shipowners and shipyards are faced with the costs of cancellations.
Hull and Machinery market – In early 2009, modest increases of
2.5 to five percent were universally applied to good performing accounts, with far
greater increases of up to 80 percent being given to poorer performers.
Protection and Indemnity – Willis expects general increases announced at the 2010 renewal
to be substantially lower than those in the last two years, with most Clubs
publishing general increases of up to five percent in premium and some higher
deductibles. But with claims falling, Willis says that 2010 may well represent the
turning point from a hard to a softer market.
Marine Liabilities market for shore-based risks – Insurers attempted to increase
premiums in the first half of 2009, particularly for high-level capacity and catastrophe-prone
property coverage. However the surplus capacity in the market meant that the prices
have now stabilized.
Cargo market – The increases in global Cargo underwriting capacity and the
perceived profitability of the sector has created a competitive buyer's market, with insurers
offering wider coverage, deductible buy-downs and long-term deals.
Singapore Marine market – Singapore has established itself as the Marine insurance
hub of Asia, with several new underwriters setting up offices there. In the
Asian market, there is now enough capacity to place US $80 million of
hull and US $400 million of cargo risk, with Singapore leading the way.
Willis Group Holdings Limited is a leading global insurance broker, developing and
delivering professional insurance, reinsurance, risk management, financial and human resource consulting
and actuarial services to corporations, public entities and institutions around the world. Willis
has more than 400 offices in nearly 120 countries, with a global team of approximately
20,000 Associates serving clients in some 190 countries. Additional information on Willis may
be found at www.willis.com.
# # #
Note to Editor:
To view the full Marine Market Review, please click here.