Total hull losses fall to record low

The percentage of total hull losses fell to a record low, according to statistics released by the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI).

The figures, which cover hull, cargo and energy insured losses, reported the frequency of total losses for ships above 500 GT increased marginally in 2012 compared to preceding years.

However, overall, the trend of reduced total losses over the last 15 years continued. The frequency declined in 2013, now standing at a record low of 0.13 percent in terms of numbers and 0.05 percent in terms of tonnage.

Age appears to be more of relevance for total losses of bulker carriers than for tankers. More than 60 percent of the dry cargo ships lost were bulkers older than 25 years in the period 2009-2013.

However, weather continues to be the major cause of the total losses representing almost 50 percent of the vessels lost between 2009 and 2013. Grounding is the second most frequent cause accounting for 25 percent of the cases.

The number of major incidents including total losses also continued to fall in 2013. The major single cause of serious losses remains from incidents occurring to the machinery and in the engine room. This category represents 35 percent of the cases. Navigation however – groundings and collisions combined – stands for almost 50 percent of the claims in terms of numbers. Vessels older than 25 years generated 35 percent of the losses.

The loss of the MOL Comfort dominated the cargo market with an expected insured loss of between $300 million and $400 million.

However, the loss highlighted the growing concerns of the cargo underwriters given the MOL Comfort was carrying 4,382 containers and the market is set to welcome a new breed of container vessel which have a capacity of 24,000 TEU.

In the energy market there are signs that the construction boom, which began in the mid-2000, is reaching its peak, with the number of rig deliveries set to reach its highest next year.

The worldwide mobile fleet has continued to grow and is at a record number, with utilisation rates overall increasing sharply in all areas of the world.

In term of rigs, attritional loss activity remains relatively high compared to the 1990s and early 2000s. The is believed to be  is due to the fact that there is significantly more offshore drilling activity now than in those prior periods.