16 May 2002 TO ALL MEMBERS Dear Sirs CONFIRMATION OF SHIP ENTRY IN THE ASSOCIATION The Association is aware of the growing pressure on Members, from third parties such as Charterers and Port Authorities, to confirm entries of their vessels in a P&I Club and sometimes even to give details of the cover. These demands are leading to a growing administrative burden. From time to time the third party requiring a confirmation of entry insists upon receiving it directly from the Association. If that sort of request were to be acceded to, then there would be a risk of the Association assuming a liability beyond that which would have arisen under the terms of the cover. In order to avoid that risk and in common with other Clubs in the International Group, the Association is, generally speaking, unable to give such individual confirmations. Some third parties requesting confirmations will be satisfied upon the production by the Member of a copy of the Certificate of Entry, although occasionally that may not be accepted as a sufficiently contemporaneous document. Meanwhile, in an endeavour to assist those providing P&I service to the Membership, the Association has made available on its website a searchable list of all vessels entered for Owners’ risks. This facility is available not only to service providers, but also to Members and anyone else who may have a legitimate interest in the identity of ships entered, including the third parties referred to above. Any Member under pressure to provide a confirmation that a vessel is entered in the Association, and who wishes to comply, is urged as a first step to refer the third party concerned to the Association’s website at www.lsso.com. The “Ship Search” facility is readily accessible within the site and can be operated after registration and acceptance of the terms of use. By this means it is hoped that the demands of and administrative burden on Members can be alleviated. Yours faithfully A BILBROUGH & CO LTD (MANAGERS) 5:312