We are delighted to announce that Simon Bradley will shortly be joining the MECO Group as Transmarine Manager and Class Underwriter.

We have received an update from our Correspondents in China on the status of shipping, ports and infrastructure and how it's being impacted by the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Our correspondents in Dubai have kindly passed us updates from the Maritime Authorities in the UAE and Bahrain following the implementation of the low sulphur regime on 1 January 2020.

Our local correspondent for the Dominican Republic and Haiti E&M International Consulting have advised that there are ongoing protests in Haiti.

US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued guidance to the shipping industry on the sanctions regimes applicable to the carriage of Iranian oil and petrochemical products, bunkering of vessels destined for Iran.

On 5 August 2019 President Trump issued Executive Order 13884 which further expands the scope of US Sanctions against the regime in Venezuela.

The High Risk Area (HRA) as defined by the Round Table of international shipping organisations have reduced the HRA to reflect the changing position regarding piracy in the region.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Deepa Nathvani to the Transmarine Underwriting team with effect from 4 April 2019.

In late January 2019 the US Government strengthened sanctions against Venezuela.

The Joint War Committee (JWC) of the IUA and the LMA have reviewed the summary of Listed Areas and an amendment has been made effective 14 June 2018.

On 8 May 2018 the American President announced that the US would cease its participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that the US, EU and other world powers agreed in 2015 (implemented 2016) that eased Sanctions against Iran in return for Iran stopping its Nuclear Weapons programme. Since the implementation date in January 2016, Transmarine has been…

Our Deputy Class Underwriter, Kim Whalley, has been spending some time in Lloyd’s shadowing members of the Aegis hull team. Aegis provide 100% of the Transmarine security and, as managing agents writing business on their behalf, it is important for both parties to be in sync in terms of risk appetite and underwriting principles.