Excessive speed, poor communication and weather conditions. These are some of the most common causes of contact claims according to our Loss Prevention team. Get the facts and figures about marine contact incidents.

Contact claims cover damage caused by vessels coming into direct contact with, for example, a dock, pier, jetty, buoy or crane, or the damage caused by the vessel’s wash.

In many of the contact cases handled, our statistics give us concern that vessels approach the berth at excessive speed. There is also a failure in efficient communication within the bridge team, and especially between the Master and pilot. We have also seen a number of cases where the bridge team has been surprised by strong currents and heavy weather.

Container vessels are responsible for about 42% of all contact claims followed by bulk carriers at 16% and tankers at 12% (according to our statistics of claims between 2014 and 2018).

Get advice on how to avoid contact incidents and read about some real case scenarios.

Read more about Contact cases and causes » (page 39 in Navigational Claims)

By highlighting the causes of colntact incidents we are striving to assist shipowners and crews in their safety work.