Vessel & Rig Construction Insurance Options - What You Must Know

Builder's All Risk (BAR):If required, coverage can include items to become
What is it? BAR coverage is first-party coveragepart of the vessel / rig under construction while in
which is essentially an all risk property policy, plusstorage at Suppliers' warehouses - usually those in
liability and protection and indemnity (P&I)relatively close proximity to the shipyard or else
extensions to it.those specifically declared to Underwriters.
Who is to be included within the Named Assureds?Coverage for Owner-Furnished Equipment (OFE)
The parties to be included within the Named Assuredusually commences under the BAR section from the
Clause include Builder, Sub-Contractors, Owners,point whereby a Named Assured inspects and
Lenders if applicable, and other parties with insurableaccepts delivery of same at the port near the
interests if applicablerelevant shipyard (either on land or at sea).
Who is to have subrogation rights against themWhat comprises the Interest that is covered? We
waived? All parties with whom the Named Assuredsrecommend that all contract works that are to
have agreed in their negotiations, in either a writtencomprise the new construction are included within the
or verbal contract, to waive the rights of subrogationcovered Interest. This includes all Contract Works of
should benefit from waiver of subrogation. Usually,the Shipyard plus Sub-Contractors in respect of the
Manufacturers of major equipment are not amongstconstruction in all its phases, including design,
the parties who receive the benefit of this waiver ofengineering, procurement, strike steel, keel-laying,
subrogation; instead, they are held accountable forfabrication, construction, dry-docking, undocking,
their product and uphold their warranties provided toinstallation of equipment, fitting out, supply of all
the shipyard and are prepared to allow recoursematerials pre-commissioning, testing, commissioning,
against them for failure or defects in their product /sea trials and all works until delivery of the unit.
equipment.What are the parts of coverage usually afforded
What is the period? We recommend that BARunder BAR coverage?a. Property All Risk - Subject to
coverage is in place during the entire course of thespecific terms, conditions & exclusions, marine
vessel's / rig's construction; i.e., that coveragebuilder's risk insurance (BAR) covers the builder /
commence upon contract signing, remain in placeowner (others with an insurable interest - as specified
during design and engineering phase, throughoutin the policy) of a vessel / rig under construction
construction, and cease upon delivery to owner, be itagainst physical loss of, or damage to, the vessel /
ex-Yard or at final Site following a transit.rig caused and discovered during the period of
What is the Sum Insured? This sum is usuallyinsurance. We recommend that any restrictions be
specified in the construction contract between Builderremoved; common ones in standard policies include
and Owner, and should include the estimated Finalthose for earthquake, volcanic eruption, faulty design,
Contract Value (FCV) plus the Owner-Furnishedand faulty welds.b. Collision Liability - Sums paid by the
Equipment (OFE) [plus it can include the value of therespective Yard to any other person(s) arising out of
incoming hull in the event of a conversion].the Yard's legal liability to pay sums for the following
The inclusion of an Escalation Clause allows fordamages, as consequence of any vessel the Yard is
coverage up to a certain percentage above theworking on coming into collision with any other vessel:
Estimated Total Sum Insured, the standard provision- Loss or damage to any other vessel or property
being 25% escalation.thereon
In theory, the Builder's All Risk Underwriters reserve- Delay to, or loss of, use of any other vessel or
their capacity to ensure that they can pay four timesproperty thereon
(4x) the limit multiplied by the escalation provision.- General average, salvage of, salvage under contract
With an escalation provision of 25%, this means thatof, any such other vessel or property thereon.c.
Underwriters would require capacity to pay a claim ofProtection & Indemnity (P&I) -
500% of the Estimated Sum Insured, or 125% fourSums paid by Yard to any other party arising out of
times, i.e., once for physical damage, once for collisionYard's legal liability to pay sums for the following
liability, once for protection & indemnity, anddamages, as a consequence of an accident or
finally once for sue & labor expenses. We sayoccurrence during the policy period:
"in theory" because in practical application,- Loss or damage to any fixed, movable, property or
Underwriters would likely come to a point of ceasingany other thing or interest whatsoever
to pay sue & labor charges and instead pay the- Any attempted or actual raising, removal,
full amount of the physical damage / replacementdestruction of any fixed movable object or property
costs.or other thing, including the wreck of a vessel, or any
An example wherein each coverage section is used isneglect to raise, remove or destroy same
this:- Liability assumed by the Yard under contracts of
During construction, an oily rag falls into the enginecustomary towage for purpose of entering or leaving
room sparking a fire which burns out of control andthe port or maneuvering within a port
burns the lines mooring the vessel to the dock. The- Loss of life, personal injury, illness, and payments
vessel breaks free from her moorings, and thenmade for life salvage.d. Sue & Labor - Sums paid
collides with another vessel at an adjacent shipyardfor the following expenses, as a consequence of an
which causes damages in the hulls of both vessels.occurrence during the policy period, incurred in
Then, the insured vessel keeps on floating away outattempts to minimize recoverable loss:
of control. The shipyard personnel quickly hire a- In case of any loss or misfortune, it is the duty of
nearby tug in an attempt to slow the vessel and getthe Assured and their servants and agents to take
in close enough proximity to fight the fire. The fire issuch measures as may be reasonable for the
not brought under control and the vessel eventuallypurpose of averting or minimizing a loss which would
sinks in a shipping channel. What is recoverable underbe recoverable under this insurance.
a broad Builder's Risk policy?- Subject to the provisions of this clause, the
- First party physical damage to be recoverable underUnderwriters will contribute to charges properly and
the All Risk main sectionreasonably incurred by the Assured their servants or
- Damage to the other vessel at the adjacentagents for such measures. General average, salvage
shipyard to be recoverable under the Collision Liabilitycharges, collision defense or attack costs and costs
sectionincurred by the Assured in avoiding, minimizing or
- Wreck removal costs to be recoverable under thecontesting liability.
P&I section- Measures taken by the Assured or the
- Sue & Labor costs incurred by the hire of theUnderwriters with the object of saving, protecting or
tug boat and any fire fighting expenses to berecovering the subject-matter insured shall not be
recoverable under the Sue & Labor sectionconsidered as a waiver or acceptance of
What are the Situation / places of coverage? Weabandonment or otherwise prejudice the rights of
recommend that the Situation is territorial coverageeither party.
which includes the movement of material andWhat else should be considered / looked at with BAR
equipment between yards and various contractors'policy?
yards. Additionally, we recommend ensuring the- Deductibles - Are they at levels that the Assureds
adequate distance that will be required during seacan comfortably absorb? Do they apply per
trials is specifically expressed within the coverage.occurrence and/or in the aggregate?
(This is usually 250NM.)