Alterations to the Rules of the Association for the 2026 policy year To the Members As described in our circular  No.25-016  dated 25 November 2025, the following alterations to the Rules of the Association (the "Rules") will become effective from 12 noon GMT on 20 February 2026 for the 2026 policy year. There will also be the alterations to the Special Clauses. The amendments are explained below, and extracts of the relevant provisions are attached hereto.     Alterations to the Rules   Rule 2 (DUTIES OF DISCLOSURE AND NOTIFICATION) 2 & 3; Rule 10 (CONTINUATION OF INSURANCE CONTRACT) The heading & 5; Rule 11 (CESSATION OF INSURANCE CONTRACT) 2; Rule 12 (LAID-UP RETURNS) 3; Rule 16 (MAINTENANCE OF CLASSIFICATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS) 1(5); and Rule 42 (CLAIM OF INSURANCE MONEY) 3 Under the Rules, there are several provisions that require Members to provide information or give notice to the Association as necessary for insurance contracts. These notifications and disclosures are currently required to be made in writing. However, since in practice email is frequently used, this amendment aims to reflect actual practice by allowing such notifications to be made not only in writing but also by email (with the details of the changes included in the body of the message).   Rule 35 (RISKS GENERALLY EXCLUDED) 1(8) This Rule sets out the liabilities and expenses that are excluded from cover. Item (8) stipulates that special operations differing from normal navigation are generally excluded from standard cover. The proposed amendment adds the use of bubble curtains to this list. A bubble curtain is used, for example, during the construction of offshore wind farms to reduce underwater impact noise generated by piling and similar operations. As such activities constitute special operations that differ from the normal navigation of a vessel, the International Group of P&I Clubs has agreed to exclude them from standa