Controlling risks at sea --- Indications of mutual insurance upon safety onboard

A lot of efforts have been made to improve maritime safety by means of enhancing safety legislation and verifying the compliance thereof. However, with the development of mutual insurance, it is contributing more and more to better maritime safety. The P＆I clubs to be discussed in the paper are now not only exercising controls and providing guidance in event of emergencies, but also keeping close and continuous monitoring over safety operations and conditions of those vessels entered, through their world-wide network and advanced communication, and by professional accident-handling teams. In view of this, it is necessary to discuss the roles of commercial shipping and the close linkage between it and onboard safety practices. The paper looks at first basic principles in maritime insurance, and then focuses on the rules and activities of P＆I clubs and their implications upon shipboard operations.