Every maritime casualty is unique. The Managers operate a system which can be rapidly and efficiently adapted to deal with any type of incident.
General Principles
Casualties rarely conform to a pattern, and often develop in unpredictable ways. What is needed to handle an emergency is:
- A system which can be rapidly and efficiently adapted to deal with any type of incident, whatever the circumstances;
- A system which is simple to operate, not complicated by an overlay of procedures which may be irrelevant to the particular casualty and actually could hamper a response.
In order to ensure an efficient, flexible and appropriate response, Tindall Riley (Britannia) Limited, as Managers, has established an operational and communications framework. The system is capable of quickly harnessing the knowledge, experience and skills of the Managers' personnel, together with any other resources required to deal with the situation. In the belief that it is most efficient to co-ordinate the response from the Managers' office in London and employ others to attend at the site of the incident, the Managers have established a comprehensive network of relevant contacts worldwide. This system has been tried and tested in numerous casualties.
How the System Works:
During office hours
The initial incident notification may be received by the Managers by any means of communication and from any interested party during office hours. Such communication will invariably be directed to the Claims Director with responsibility for the particular fleet, and will be met with an immediate response.
Out of office hours
Britannia's Rule Book includes a comprehensive list of out-of-hours telephone numbers for all senior claims personnel, together with contact details for all the Club's correspondents worldwide. This information is available on Britannia's website (www.britanniapandi.com) and is regularly updated. Most Members and Club correspondents will be familiar with the Claims Director, and the members of his team listed in the Rule Book, who have responsibility for the Member's ships. However, in an emergency, a call reaching any one of the listed claims' personnel will be enough to ensure a positive and swift response.
Information Required
The first advice to the Managers of any incident should, wherever possible, include the following basic information:
- name and type of ship;
- nature of casualty;
- date, time and place of incident;
- contact telephone numbers, fax numbers and email addresses of those involved.
Following the initial notification of the emergency, the matter will be handled by the Claims Director and his team with responsibility for the Member's fleet, drawing on the expertise of other colleagues as appropriate. Keeping the Member fully advised of developments and explaining the issues which have arisen will be a priority.
Communications
All Claims Directors and other senior staff are contactable 24 hours a day. They maintain comprehensive details of other service providers who can be mobilised to assist in, or be dispatched to, the casualty. In addition, the comprehensive network of correspondents, who can be contacted at any time of the day or night, provide access to lawyers, experts and surveyors in their area. In any serious incident, the facility exists within the Manager's London office to set up and man a response centre, supported by backup staff and dedicated communications systems.
Communications with the Media
It is expected that the Member usually will take the lead in dealing with the media, though it is important that any statements are co-ordinated with the Managers to ensure consistency and accuracy. The Managers have contacts with public relations specialists who can assist if necessary.
Summary
Each emergency is different and will require a specific response from the Managers. The emergency response plan is therefore a flexible framework, rather than a list of precise actions required. The Managers' response will be directed on a day to day basis by the Claims Director with a support team as appropriate to meet the specific requirements of the emergency and the Member.
 Emergency Response |