08.00-08.55

Registration and Refreshments sponsored by

08.55-09.00

Conference Chair:

09.00-09.10

Welcome Address:

Presenter: TBC

09.10-10.00

One to One discussions: Conflict in the Middle East: Resilience, Reform and Regional Opportunity

In this headline session, we will break up the various insurance classes impacted by the Gulf conflict and discuss the impact on each, from the way wordings performed to the claims experience, and what it might all mean for the future.

Faciliator: Jasmin Fichte, Managing Patrner, Fichte & Co

Cargo:

Hull:

P&I:

Ports:

Sanctions:

09.10-09.20

Cargo: Owners had entered into charter policies to discharge cargo and of course, as the Gulf erupted, they invoked their Conwar clauses. In this session, we look at how cargo policies fared in the face of war.

09.20-09.30

Hull, including loss of hire and blocking and trapping: Loss of hire claims started to emerge rapidly at the start of the war, so in this session we look back at the overall claims experience. We also consider the thorny question of blocking and trapping and how such policies might have been enacted, had the need arisen.

09.30-09.40

P&I: From a P&I perspective, we take a look at owners and charterers and at the changes to war risks, with a role play to demonstrate how that might be worked.

09.40-09.50

Ports: Some terminals in the UAE were hit by missiles and damaged by debris, events which were not covered under most of their policies. We look at what was actually hit and at the claims landscape as we emerge from the conflict.

09.50-10.00

Sanctions: One Iranian suggestion was the imposition of tolls on all vessels using the Strait of Hormuz in the future. In this session, we look at how any such levy might work and at how both the international fleet and the dark fleet would be positioned to pay such a toll.

10.00-10.20

Fireside Chat: Salvage and Wreck Removal in Wartime

During the recent Gulf conflict a number of vessels were attacked and in some cases sunk. In this session, we consider the risks of attempting salvage during conflict and discuss the possible long-term consequences in terms of a pollution threat.

Participants: Polygreen TBC

10.20-11.00

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by

11.00-11.40

Panel Discussion: Crew Matters – Keeping the Crew Safe

This is not just about crew issues, but also about the importance of the crew. The past year has shown the vulnerability of crew when conflict breaks out and in this session, we explore how the maritime sector is stepping up its responsibilities in terms of crew welfare. We investigate how P&I cover works to protect the crew and look at what the after effects might be.

Moderator: Puneet Sareen, Partner, Hill Dickinson

Panellists: Caglar Coskunsu, Partner, Cavus & Coskunsu

11.40-12.00

Fireside Chat: Necessity – The Mother of Invention

When the Gulf conflict started, vessels, crew and cargo interests were all left with the prospect of much more expensive insurance. While insurance was always available, the cover may have changed or certainly become more costly. In response, DP World and Marsh delivered a war cover designed to see cargo interests through the crisis. In this session, we look at how that cover was created, how it evolved and whether it is a blueprint for future innovation. Will it give more prominence to the local markets?

Participants:

12.00-12.20

Case Study: The Challenge of Force Majeure in Wartime

Ports and terminals in the UAE and the wider Middle East quickly became targets of Iranian missiles as the Gulf conflict erupted. The challenge for owners and operators was the lack of insurance coverage and the question became one of force majeure and whether it would be brought into play in these circumstances. In this case study, we look at what and was not covered.

Presenter:

12.20-13.20

Lunch and Networking sponsored by

13.20-14.00

Panel Discussion: Finding a Safe Haven – The UAEs’ Plans

Middle Eastern port authorities have had an interesting role to play throughout the Gulf conflict, providing a safe haven, but coming under attack themselves. In this session, we look at how ports have coped and what it means for the concept of ports of refuge going forward. We also review the law drafted for the UAE government on ports of refuge to see what might happen next and what the expectations are for the future.

Moderator:

Panellists: TT Salvage TBC

14.00-14.40

Panel Discussion: State of the Market – Continuity of Cover

In this session, we discuss the current state of the insurance market across the Middle East and the wider world. As select markets soften, we look at the impact of mergers and acquisitions as well as at the risk of insurers disappearing altogether and ask why that is happening and what it means for insurers, brokers and the insureds. Finally, we consider the shift away from London and ask whether that is a reality or just a perception.

Moderator:

Panellists: Ravi Jawani, Partner, Fichte & Co

14.40-15.00

Fireside Chat: Price Gouging – The Fallout of Conflict

There have been some huge insurance price hikes throughout the Gulf conflict. The question for this session is whether such hikes are ever justified. We look at the claims that resulted from the recent Middle Eastern conflict and ask whether insurers could be accused of over-reacting to the potential risk.

Presenter:

15.00-15.20

Coffee and Networking Break sponsored by

15.20-15.40

Presentation: UAE Maritime Law Update

The United Arab Emirates is drawing up a new maritime law. In this presentation we explore where the law has got to and what it might mean in practice for the local and wider international markets. We also look at the possibly longer term outcomes, including building the UAE into a more prominent position in the global maritime markets.

Presenter: Saif Almobideen, Partner, Stephenson Harwood

15.40-16.00

Presentation: AI Spoofing

As soon as the Middle East conflict started, spoofing incidents went through the roof. Like Russia-Ukraine, only on a bigger scale. We had more than 3000 vessels attacked in one day. There was a real danger of collisions and/or groundings.

Presenter: Kpler TBC

16.00-17.00

Role Play: Fire on Board

In this role play, we take an example of a fire on board a container ship and consider the end-to-end journey of the consequences, including a look at the immediate aftermath through to any arising disputes.

Participants: Ian Teare, Partner, Hill Dickinson

Tom Peat, Principal Associate, Hawkins

17.00-17.05

Closing Remarks:

17.05-18.00

Drinks Reception sponsored by