Marine Insurance India

'Make ship owners pay for polluting shores'

MUMBAI: The oil spill from MV Rak Carrier, which sank off the city's coast last Thursday, underlines the need to fix liability for marine pollution caused by vessels. Maritime experts say the Centre should ratify at the earliest the International Maritime Organization's Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea Protocol 2010, which fixes liability by spelling out compensatory provisions and by mandating the need for ship owners to have insurance.

Unlike existing national laws, the global convention places a huge monetary liability on ship owners if their vessel causes marine pollution. For oil spills, for instance, it seeks up to 100 million Special Drawing Rights (1 SDR is equal to Rs 71.41) from ship owners, and for leakage of packaged hazardous substances, it seeks a penalty of 115 million SDR.

Coast guard records show that 68 oil spills occurred in Indian waters between 1996 and 2008 and that they have recovered Rs 8.13 crore in damages. Experts say ratifying the IMO convention could help recover true cost of damages.

Action against marine pollution currently falls under the purview of multiple agencies in India. Environmental experts say their lack of preparedness comes to the fore at times like these. India, for instance, has in place a National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan since 1996, but last year the then environment minister, Jairam Ramesh, himself raised concerns about the safeguards to handle Tier I oil spills (the most minor kind, which involves below 700 tonnes of oil) after one such incident happened off Mumbai's shores last August.

"Accidents will happen but it is important to examine if we have prepared ourselves to deal with such oil spills since the last incident ," says Deepak Apte, head of Bombay Natural History Society's maritime conservation programme.

Gopal Krishna of voluntary organization Toxic Watch Alliance says the incident highlights the lack of regulation on the trans-boundary movement of ships. "There are too many agencies involved and not much coordination ," he says. The coast guard, for instance, is the coordination agency in charge of responding to oil spills, but fixing liability on ship owners lies with the directorate general of shipping and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

Krishna says the lack of transparency in paperwork of many ships entering Indian waters further complicates the issue as tracing owners after accidents remains a challenge.

Moving to India – How Far I Advance Should I Plan for International ...

As soon as you find out you are moving to India, contact IntlMOVE India for a free online quote to plan the shipping of your household goods. Moving overseas takes some planning, but getting started early will help reduce stress as you take the time needed to get everything done.

It is best to get started as early as possible. Contact IntlMOVE India three months before your move. There are times when you need to get the ball rolling with less time to plan. Use this guide to help guide you through the international shipping process.

At Least Four Weeks Prior to Moving to India

The peak moving season takes place during the summer months. Secure your booking with your international shipping company at least four weeks in advance when you are moving to India between May and October. Secure your booking with at least three weeks notice if you are moving to India outside of peak moving season.

Contact your marine insurance company. If you do not have a marine insurance company already in mind, IntlMOVE India can help you find a provider. Prepare a list of all items packed for the insurer. Make sure to value each item at what it would cost to replace it in India, rather than listing a U.S. value.

Ensure you have everything you need, such as visas, vaccinations, documents and paperwork needed when moving to India . A list of documents will be provided by your local consulate or embassy. If you need to renew a passport, you will likely need to make it a rush order.  Make sure you carry all birth and marriage certificates on the plane with you.

Determine which items you will be shipping to India and which items you need to sell, donate or keep in storage. Make a list of all the items you want to carry with you on the plane and keep those separate when the movers arrive to pack your house.

Four weeks out, you will also want to redirect your mail and cancel all club memberships. Contact all credit cards, banks, doctors, friends and anyone else who sends you mail to update them with your new address. Close any accounts you need to close. Talk to your accountant about any tax implications. Obtain an international driving license.

Three Weeks Prior to Move

You may not bring food with you to India. Start eating all of your food, including frozen food, so it does not go to waste. List all unwanted items for sale online or sell them at a yard sale. Donate all remaining items.

Financial Services In India

The Spectator insurance year book, Fire and marine volume

The contract of marine insurance

Congressional edition

The American state reports, containing the cases of general value and authority subsequent to those contained in the "American decisions" [1760-1869] and the "American reports" [1869-1887] decided in the courts of last resort of the several states [1886-1911]