CircularsNews
November 2014

North of England P&I Club - 2015/16 P&I/FDD policy year

The European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) was extended to cover emissions from shipping as of 1st January 2024.

The EU ETS is limited by a 'cap' on the number of emission allowances. Within the cap, companies receive or buy emission allowances, which they can trade as needed. The cap decreases every year, ensuring that total emissions fall.

Each allowance gives the holder the right to emit:

  • One tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2), or;
  • The equivalent amount of other powerful greenhouse gases, nitrous oxide (N2O) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).
  • The price of one ton of CO2 allowance under the EU ETS has fluctuated between EUR 60 and almost EUR 100 in the past two years. The total cost of emissions will vary based on the cost of the allowance at the time of purchase, the vessel’s emissions profile and the total volume of voyages performed within the EU ETS area. The below is for illustration purposes:
  • ~A 30.000 GT passenger ship has total emissions of 20.000 tonnes in a reporting year, of which 9.000 are within the EU, 7.000 at berth within the EU and 4.000 are between the EU and an outside port. The average price of the allowance is EUR 75 per tonne. The total cost would be as follows:
  • ~~9.000 * EUR 75 = EUR 675.000
  • ~~7.000 * EUR 75 = EUR 525.000
  • ~~4.000 * EUR 75 * 50% = EUR 150.000
  • ~~Total = EUR 1.350.000 (of which 40% is payable in 2024)
  • For 2024, a 60% rebate is admitted to the vessels involved. However, this is reduced to 30% in 2025, before payment is due for 100% with effect from 2026.
  • Emissions reporting is done for each individual ship, where the ship submits their data to a verifier (such as a class society) which in turns allows the shipowner to issue a verified company emissions report. This report is then submitted to the administering authority, and it is this data that informs what emission allowances need to be surrendered to the authority.
  • The sanctions for non- compliance are severe, and in the case of a ship that has failed to comply with the monitoring and reporting obligations for two or more consecutive reporting periods, and where other enforcement measures have failed to ensure compliance, the competent authority of an EEA port of entry may issue an expulsion order. Where such a ship flies the flag of an EEA country and enters or is found in one of its ports, the country concerned will, after giving the opportunity to the company concerned to submit its observations, detain the ship until the company fulfils its monitoring and reporting obligations.
  • Per the EU’s Implementing Regulation, it is the Shipowner who remains ultimately responsible for complying with the EU ETS system.

There are a number of great resources on the regulatory and practical aspects of the system – none better than the EU’s own:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02003L0087-20230605

https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/transport/reducing-emissions-shipping-sector_en

https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-emissions-trading-system-eu-ets/what-eu-ets_en

Dear Sir/Madam,

Further to the press release on the 17th November which we sent herebelow, please also find the attached circular receivied from the Club explaining in more detail the premium and deductible increases as well as the open policy years and release call levels.

Dear Sir/Madam,

You may please find herebelow the very recent announcement of North of England with regard to the new policy year requirement.

Monday, 17th November 2014

Directors of the 180 million GT North P&I Club have decided on an overall premium increase of 4.75% for mutual protection and indemnity (P&I) cover next year, with a minimum increase per Member of 2.5%. The increase reflects the Board's commitment to maintaining the financial strength and stability of the ‘A' rated Club in the face of continuing inflationary pressures on claims.

According to North's chairman Pratap Shirke, ‘North remains financially secure, with a strong capital position evidenced by Standard & Poor's affirmation of its ‘A' stable rating in March following our merger with Sunderland Marine. This is our tenth consecutive year with an ‘A' rating and our strong technical underwriting performance means Members have not been burdened by unbudgeted supplementary calls for 23 years now.

‘However the claims environment remains challenging. Although freight rates are recovering very slowly from historical lows, the overall level of global trading remains high. As a consequence there are still a significant number of larger claims in excess of US$1 million and continuing inflationary pressures on all claims.'

Shirke says that largely as a result of two large claims arising during the 2013 policy year, the Club's share of contributions to the claims of the International Group of P&I Clubs Pool has risen quite significantly and is now comparable to the Club's actual tonnage and premium proportion of the Pool. ‘This in particular has had a material impact on the assessment of the future premium requirements, compounded by the fact that investment markets continue to produce modest returns.

‘While the Club remains mindful of the difficult trading conditions that our Members are operating under, the Directors believe it is imperative to maintain the financial strength of the Club and to continue with their strategic objective of not burdening Members with additional unbudgeted calls in the future,' he says.

For the P&I class the Directors have decided to apply an overall increase of 4.75% on mutual premiums at the February 2015 renewal. This will be based on a minimum 2.5% mandatory increase to all Members' premiums to cover the Club-wide increase in Pool costs, plus further increases to reflect individual claims performance and exposure. Rates will also be adjusted to incorporate any changes in the cost and structure of the International Group excess loss reinsurance programme. All crew and cargo deductibles below US$25,000 will be increased by US$2,000 per deductible, and premiums will be payable in four equal instalments in April, June, September and December 2015.

Mutual premiums for North's freight, demurrage and defence (FD&D) cover will also increase by 2.5% at the February 2015 renewal but there will be no change to deductibles. Fixed-premium P&I and FD&D cover rates will increase by 5%.

Joint Managing Director Alan Wilson says, ‘We will this year adopt a robust approach to ensure suitable premium levels are achieved to reflect poor claims performance, and will also focus on ensuring that adequate net premium is available for each Member to cover anticipated exposure. While this means most Members will be paying around 4.75% extra for their mutual P&I cover, some could be paying significantly more.'

Joint Managing Director Paul Jennings concludes, ‘The Directors are satisfied North remains in a strong position and that our proactive renewal strategy will maintain this position. Our over-riding aim is to ensure that all Members continue to receive the high levels of service and financial security they have come to expect from us.'

No items found.