Baltimore bridge collapse will send claims through P&I, P&C and more

The container ship which brought down the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore will trigger claims up the ladder through its P&I club Britannia Club with possible kick-on to International Group reinsurance, but the claims won't stop there. 

Beyond the P&I claim, property and liability claims pend for bridge, the victims and the port of Baltimore, and related businesses may very well have a business interruption claim or two on blockage of what appeared to be the entire port waterway, the quick view of Baltimore and the accident scene suggest. 

The port bills itself as the nation's largest port facility for specialised cargo (roll-on/roll-off) facilities and bulk facilities, with heavy weightings of the nation's automotive, coal and steel trade. 

The Dali, which early reports suggested had suffered power failures ahead of the collision while leaving the Baltimore harbour, figures on the fleet listing of the Britania P&I mutual shipowner insurance club.

Tindall Riley manages the insurance programmes and placements of the Britannia Club, itself one of thirteen members of the International Group.

Maersk confirmed in a statement to Intelligent Insurer that the Dali, operated by cargo ship manager Synergy Group, had been chartered by Maersk and is carrying Maersk customer cargo out of the port of Baltimore. 

“We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed,” Maersk said. 

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