According to director, The West of England Ship Owners Insurance Services, Richard A Webbe, the present financial strength reflects the quality and diversity of the Club's membership.

"We are very selective on tonnage as its impact is more big on individual club," he said adding that the club maintains geographical diversity to minimise the risks.

Webbe felt that the frequency and quantum of claims/legislations have been increasing across the globe. "The incidence of claims are on the increase but most of them fall under the run-in-the-mill types ranging upto $5 million," Webb added.

The P&I clubs in the world have 15 member club called mutual clubs.The claims or liabilities are shared between the clubs if the claims are between $5 million and $30 million. Claims below $5 million are borne by the individual club.

Big claims in the range of $30 million to $2 billion are put in the market re-insurance in which the mutual clubs has around 10 per cent co-insurance.According to Webbe, the club is strict on membership as it does not need to grow as the members are owners themselves. He said that the annual growth of the club is around 2-3 per cent only and this growth ensures that the quality of personalised service and operations is maintained.

The total entered tonnage for both mutual and time charter entries stands at 52 gross tonnage (GT).

The break-up of the vessel types of Club's total GT includes 30.3 per cent of tankers, LPG and LNG carriers, 29.1 per cent bulk carriers, 27.9 per cent dry cargo and container ships, 8.6 per cent specialist vessels and miscellaneous carriers and 4.1 per cent passenger liners and ferries.

The club has been busyhelping the membership with ISM compliance issues and has also held 36 seminars and presentations around the world in the past year. "These were at the request of members wishing to acquaint ships and shore personnel with the ISM code, STCWD 95, Port State Control and P&I matters in general," he added.

According to Webbe, the issues which shipowners face as they approach the year 2000 remain challenging. Faced with difficult trading markets, they find themselves burdened by more onerous legal liabilities.

The club remains committed to working in partnership with the Indian and worldwide memberships during difficult times for the shipowning community, he said.

"Our challenge is to continue providing the best service with a comprehensive and secure cover at reasonable cost which is shared equitably amongst the membership," Webbe added.