Dolphin Maritime’s casualty service offers tailor-made assistance with losses resulting from groundings, collisions, fires, engine breakdowns, ingress of sea water and explosions.
Our Casualty and General Average (GA) Department is capable of dealing with all aspects of casualty claims including: assessment of initial policy coverage; investigation to obtain evidence as to the merits of the salvage/GA claim; provision of salvage and GA guarantees to release cargo; calculations of contributory values; salvage arbitration and negotiations; recovery of any losses including salvage payments and defending claims made against cargo interests in GA.
We have highly experienced, dedicated staff who are available around the clock to deal with urgent matters. Our casualty reports are promptly circulated to give our clients early notice and advice and we provide clients with regular updates throughout the life of a case.
Where salvage security is required, our personal corporate salvage guarantees are accepted by Lloyd’s and Salvors. We also provide general average guarantees for cargo insurers when cargo insurers’ own guarantees may have been refused by average adjusters. The cost of providing personal salvage and average guarantees (i.e. the premium that has to be paid to insure the guarantees) is charged to our clients at cost. Rates start at 0.50% of the guarantee amount. We make no charge ourselves for issuing any guarantee but we are only able to arrange personal guarantees when we are also instructed to handle the claim secured by the guarantee.
Commercial difficulties that face cargo interests during a casualty situation, such as, for example, the need to tranship the cargo or sell it for salvage, are also addressed. Often casualty cases require lateral thinking in order to solve the problem and we are proud of our proactive and innovative approach. Most importantly, we always look for the most cost effective solution.
For general guidance and advice on GA and salvage, click: HERE