24 maritime news articles about Gard
A long-awaited judgment has introduced an important development in Brazilian cargo litigation. In the SEA HONEST case, a court in southern Brazil expressly held that, in the absence of an official discharge certificate, draft survey figures prevail over private apportionment documents and post-discharge calculations.
Continuing our series on heavy weather risks, this article turns to the sea passage, when vessels may be more exposed to sustained or deteriorating conditions. We examine scenarios, decision points and operational pressures that can turn heavy weather into a potential casualty.
Following coordinated military action by Israel and the United States against Iran and the cancellation of war risks cover for parts of the Persian Gulf, shipowners and charterers face immediate contractual and insurance exposure. This article outlines the principal issues arising under English law, including safety o
Recent attacks between Israel-US and Iran have significantly heightened tensions, raising concerns about the safety of merchant vessels in and around the Arabian/Persian Gulf and Israeli waters. The situation is evolving rapidly, and there is a growing risk of spillover effects impacting shipping.
Heavy weather poses significant risks for vessels in port, from mooring failures to challenges in safe departure. Investigations show how quickly situations can escalate, with serious consequences for the ship and those onboard.
Every year on World Whale Day, we are reminded that whales are more than ocean icons. They are key indicators of the health of the seas on which our industry depends.
Any defect that compromises the watertight integrity of an immersion suit can drastically reduce survival time and put lives at risk. Such failures are not always obvious, so do not wait to discover them during a real emergency.
As storm seasons intensify and climate change drives more extreme maritime weather, it is increasingly important to manage heavy weather risks. This article – the first in a series – explores the operational factors relevant to keeping ships and those on board out of harm’s way.
With a new year comes new regulatory changes. For the maritime industry, this year’s changes focus heavily on operational safety, introducing more stringent standards for fire-fighting equipment, life-saving appliances, cargo securing, and winch operations.
Gard once again alerts Members and clients to the significant risks involved in the carriage of nickel ore, particularly loaded from the Philippines. The recent tragic loss of life of crew on a bulk carrier off the Philippines has renewed concerns regarding the safety of nickel ore originating from the region.
Global piracy rose in 2025, with regional patterns varying and some areas showing improvements. Most incidents were low severity and fewer crew suffered physical harm, yet the aggressive behaviour of perpetrators can still have serious psychological impacts on seafarers.
Trading to or from the United States involves specific reporting requirements that may give rise to additional costs for shipowners and charterers. As different rules apply to U.
As the High Seas Treaty is now entering into force, Gard’s Björn Alfthan and Elizabeth Joseph offer their thoughts on what marine insurance can do to support and protect ocean biodiversity.
Failure to review and incorporate instructions and recommendations from manufacturers’ service letters into the Planned Maintenance Systems (PMS) can place crews and ships at unnecessary risk.
Vessels calling at US ports are reminded that compliance goes beyond federal and international regulations to include state-specific requirements. California, in particular, is known for strictly enforcing its environmental regulations.
Cocaine trafficking to Europe is rising sharply, with organised criminal groups increasingly exploiting commercial shipping and containerised cargo. Based on UN data and insights from Risk Intelligence, this article examines the latest smuggling trends and their implications for maritime operations and crew safety.
Automatic backflush filters are designed to protect engines by keeping fuel and lubricating oil clean. However, Gard’s recent claims experience shows that when these filters fail, they can become a serious source of engine damage, with potentially costly and time-consuming consequences.
Despite detailed IMO recommendations setting out safety precautions for fumigating vessels’ cargo holds, casualty investigations continue to reveal critical gaps in training, gas monitoring, and risk awareness - leaving crews exposed to life-threatening hazards during in-transit…
Vessels above 24 meters in length that enter Brazilian waters are required to arrive with a ‘clean hull’ or perform in-water hull cleaning. Similar restrictions apply to vessels operating between domestic marine biogeographic regions.
Gard has seen five fires originating in the main and auxiliary engines in the first month of 2025 alone. Tragically, some of these fires resulted in fatalities and serious injuries to seafarers.
For the past several years, Gard has been using AIS data to better understand our Members’ trading patterns and to provide targeted loss prevention material when and where it may be needed. So far, we have focused on liquefaction of solid bulk cargoes loaded in known hot spots and connected with subsequent tragedies o
Port Authorities today, most likely require lost anchors to be found and removed, thereby resulting in a “wreck removal” case. The more serious and very costly cases occur when dragging anchors leads to collisions, groundings, damage to subsea -cables and -pipelines, or pollution.
For our mutual Members, Gard covers the cost of pre-load steel surveys (after any contribution from charterers). Only finished steel cargos justify the costs.
A new research study urges ship operators to provide greater support to seafarers to help prevent anxiety and depression. The recommendations include the provision of on-board amenities such as internet access, improved accommodation and recreational activities.