If you have insured cargo on board the following vessels and would like us to assist you in pursuing any claims arising from these incidents (or any similar cases), or if you require assistance in providing GA or salvage guarantees, please contact us as soon as possible.
Date: 02 June 2010 Type: Hijacking Voyage: Brazil and South Africa to Somalia
Reports have been received that Panama flag vessel QSM DUBAI (9213gt built 1976) has been hijacked by Somali pirates today.
The elderly general cargo vessel had sailed from Durban on 8th May and, before that, from Santos in March where her cargo is believed to have been loaded. The vessel was destined for Mogadishu.
It is likely that a ransom demand will be made by the pirates quite shortly. Shipowners commonly claim a proportion of any ransom payment from cargo owners as a general average contribution.
Because ransom payments can often lead to a very large claim on cargo insurers, it is important that the full circumstances of the hijacking are investigated. The legality of contributing to any ransom also needs to be verified.
We have acted for cargo insurers in respect of piracy incidents in the past and have often been able to negotiate reductions in general average payments requested from cargo insurers.
