Optimising Legal and Insurance Strategies — Without Compromising Your Cover

Practical Tips for Operators and Owners

FD&D and P&I insurance are indispensable to commercial shipping. Yet, how these covers are interpreted and used in practice — particularly around documentation, dispute handling, and extensions — can significantly influence your outcomes and efficiency.

At Devantiers, we work closely with clients to ensure their setup reflects operational realities and complements their relationship with their club. Our focus is always on being commercially minded, strategic, and aligned with your business goals.

Here are four practical areas to consider:

1. Clarify Charterparty Terms Before Fixing

A considerable number of FD&D claims arise from charterparty provisions that seem commercially acceptable but are legally inconsistent or vague. A short legal review before finalising terms can prevent these issues. Ask yourself: would the legal interpretation of the clause align with the parties’ commercial expectations?

2. Align Cover With Your Operational Risk

Optional cover extensions are useful, but not all are necessary for every trade. We frequently support clients in tailoring their cover to match their fleet type, route profile, and chartering activity. This often results in a simplified risk profile with reduced cover on irrelevant or throretical liabilities.

3. Understand the Basis of Risk Allocation and Assumptions

Your insurance framework reflects assumptions — loss ratios, incident trends, and clause interpretations. Understanding these foundations can improve your renewal positioning and internal planning. Even asking the right questions can open more balanced, informed discussions during review periods.

4. Know When to Seek External Legal Input

Clubs offer extensive support, but there are scenarios where independent advice helps — especially when discretion, fast response, or layered commercial factors are involved. We work to complement club efforts, not replace them, offering added flexibility when required.

Whether you're preparing for the next fixture, navigating a dispute, or reviewing your broader legal and insurance exposure, we’re here to support you — practically and precisely.

Feel free to reach out for a confidential discussion.