Since 1 January 2023, the Panama Canal Authority (PCA) has been imposing a "Disruption Charge" on vessels with deficiencies. These charges can be as high as USD 250,000 and Gard members have reported ...

The allocation of liability for cargo operations remains a crucial and often contentious issue between shipowners and charterers. Disputes frequently arise over responsibility for stowage, lashing, ...

The incident developed extremely quickly. Alarms for an abnormal oil mist detector, main-engine slowdown, engine-room fire and activation of the local firefighting system were recorded within just ...

The Panama Canal remains the preferred route for vessels trading between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, recurring drought conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon have repeatedly ...

Gard has seen a worrying increase in fatalities and serious injuries from container ship fires this year. This article looks at what is driving the fires and the continuing efforts to address them.

The International Group (IG) Pooling and Group Excess of Loss Reinsurance contract (GXL) structure for the 2026/27 Policy Year has now been finalised. Mike Hall, Chairman of the IG’s Reinsurance ...

With permission from Vanguard-Tech, we have reproduced their analysis and recommendations: As of 12 March, the war remains ongoing, with immediate spillover risk to Gulf airspace, regional energy ...

Continuing our series on heavy weather risks, this article turns to the sea passage, when vessels may be more exposed to sustained or deteriorating conditions. We examine scenarios, decision points ...

In a brand-new publication, Gard analyses some of the key trends within crew and people-related insurance claims, highlighting the most frequent injuries, illnesses and other risks that can face ...

Despite several recent deaths during enclosed space entries, we have again been reminded that entering cargo tanks without proper ventilation and gas measurements can be fatal. Below we highlight a ...

Drawing on around 3,000 P&I crew claims from 2025, including an in-depth review of around 400 injury cases, the report highlights persistent patterns in crew illness, injuries and fatalities. It also ...

Automatic backflush filters are designed to protect engines by keeping fuel and lubricating oil clean. However, Gard’s recent claims experience shows that when these filters fail, they can become a ...