Marine underwriters list Sudan as high-risk area after Joint War Committee meeting
Some 120 tankers, 132 bulk carriers, 85 general cargoships and 21 containerships were among the 438 vessels that called at Sudanese ports over the past year, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data
Ships calling at Sudan have additional war-risk premiums added to insurance costs
LONDON insurers have added Sudan to their list of high-risk areas, after a meeting of the Lloyd’s and International Underwriting Association’s Joint War Committee.
Shipowners must notify underwriters of any voyages to Sudan, with additional war-risk premiums added.
The Joint War Committee represents the interests of marine hull war business in the London market.
The decision was made because of the unpredictability of the fighting, increased possibility of a prolonged conflict and imminent potential for deterioration, according to Neil Roberts, the head of marine and aviation for Lloyd’s Market Association.
Container line Maersk also said yesterday it had stopped taking new bookings from Sudan, citing the “significant impact on logistics operations” of clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
Some 120 tankers, 132 bulk carriers, 85 cargo ships and 21 containerships were among the 438 vessels that called at Sudanese ports over the past year, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence data.
Vessels from container lines MSC and CMA CGM had also called at Port Sudan over the past 12 months, data shows.
The country’s main port of Port Sudan reopened on April 18 but there is a backlog of at least six tankers at anchor outside the port, vessel-tracking shows. Crude exports from Sudan and South Sudan are estimated at 200,000 barrels per day in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest monthly report.
As well as adding Sudan to areas of hull war, piracy, terrorism and related perils, the Joint War Committee also provided further details about boundaries for areas of the Sea of Azov and Black Sea, as well as inland waters, which have been included on the list since February last year.
