Insights

Risks Facing Hotels in 2026, and How To Mitigate Them
Risks Facing Hotels in 2026, and How To Mitigate Them 1000 667 James Hallam

In this post we will take a look at some of the trends and challenges that hotels may have to deal with in 2026. We will also explore how hotels and other hospitality businesses may manage and mitigate these risks.

Key Risks Facing Hotels

In 2026, we expect to see a range of risks continuing to impact the hospitality industry. In particular, we expect to see hotels continue to face the following challenges:

  • Cyberattacks
  • Rising Costs and falling profits
  • Staff shortages

We’ll look at these risks in more detail and explore what hotels can do to help mitigate the risk.

Cyberattacks for Client Data

Cybercriminals are getting smarter every year. Advances in artificial intelligence means that their cyberattacks are getting harder to detect, and harder to resist.

Hotels are prime targets for cybercriminals. Hotels store lots of valuable client data on their systems, and it is unlikely that your hotel staff will have received dedicated cybersecurity training to help them understand the risks.

How can your hotel meet the growing risk of cybercrime?
Through investing in staff training, and in advanced cybersecurity solutions. You could also acquire specialist cyber insurance. In the event of a cyberattack, cyber insurance can provide cover for customer data loss, for system breaches, and for any legal fees you might face following the incident.

Be sure to read our full guide to cyber insurance, and what it covers.

Rising Costs, Falling Profits

In recent years, hotels have struggled with rising energy prices and supply costs. And the problem is that guests are also feeling the pinch. If fewer people can afford holidays, then hotels across the world will see their profits tumble.

How can hotels mitigate the risk of rising costs?
There are a few ways in which hotels can stay afloat in this precarious economic landscape:

Hotel Staff Shortages

Across the world, hotels are struggling to attract and retain the skilled staff they need to deliver exceptional customer experiences. Low wages, demanding working conditions, and a lack of career progression means that many have left the industry to look for better paid and less stressful opportunities.

How can hotels tackle staff shortages?
How can you recruit and keep talented workers in such an environment? Through endeavouring to be the best possible employer:

  • Pay your staff as generously as you can. Also think about benefits, including healthcare, paid sick leave, pension contributions, and staff discounts. Yes, all of this will increase your overheads. But investing in your staff can lead to vastly improved customer satisfaction scores; while reducing staff turnover will help you make savings on recruitment costs.
  • Think about the work/life balance. Hotels run round the clock, which can lead to unpredictable rotas and unsociable hours. Consider ways you can help your staff manage these demands, such as through flexible hours, job sharing, time-off-in-lieu, and so on.
  • Aim to create a culture of open communication. Encourage your staff to talk about their concerns, and you may be able to intervene and offer solutions before any serious problems arise. Your frontline staff may also have some great ideas on how you might improve your hotel’s overall operational efficiency too.

Will Your Hotel Insurance Give You The Cover You Need in 2026?

Finally, as we enter the new year, it may be worth reviewing your hotel insurance to ensure it is still giving you the cover you need. The risk landscape for hotels is changing all the time, so a “comprehensive” policy from a few years ago may not necessarily cover you for all risks today.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance specialists. We are committed to protecting your hotel, your staff, and your guests from every risk you might possibly face in 2026 and beyond.

Find out how we can help you get a bespoke and cost-effective hotel insurance policy today.

 

Why Has Hairdresser Insurance Been Increasing?
Why Has Hairdresser Insurance Been Increasing? 1000 667 James Hallam

If you are a hairdresser, or you run a hair salon, then you have probably noticed a rise in the cost of hairdresser insurance over the past few years.

In this post we will take a closer look at the issue, exploring some of the underlying causes and outlining how you can best protect yourself, and your customers, as a hairdresser.

How Much Is the Cost of Hairdresser Insurance Rising?

The cost of public liability insurance for hairdressers has almost doubled over a period of two years. In 2023, hairdressers were paying, on average, £47 a year for a public liability policy. By 2025, they were paying £93 for an annual policy. This means that the cost of cover increased by almost 100%.

In the same period, public liability insurance for hair salons decreased slightly, from an average of £230 a year in 2023, to £201 a year in 2025.

Do I Need Public Liability Insurance as a Hairdresser?

Public liability insurance is essential for hairdressers and salon owners. This will cover your customers, along with other members of the public, for any accidents or injuries that may happen as a result of your work, whether that is in a salon or elsewhere.

If a customer injures themselves on your premises, or if you cause an accident on your customer’s property, they may make a claim against you. In this case, your public liability insurance would cover your legal fees, along with any compensation payments that may arise.

What Is Causing The Rise in Hairdresser Insurance?

The Impact of Inflation
The rising cost of hairdresser insurance can largely be attributed to inflation, which has increased insurance costs for all businesses. The hair and beauty sector may have seen a higher rate of claims in recent years too, which will have contributed to rising premiums.

However, there is another important underlying cause at play.

The increasing prevalence of independent and freelance hairdressers
Independent hairdressers may work from their own premises, or they may rent a chair in a salon. Some may even do home visits. This creates a lot of potential for accidents and injuries: Slips, trips, and falls in a salon; spilled hair products in a client’s home; unattended hair straighteners leading to a fire; and so on.

Growing numbers of independent hairdressers means insurers may have to consider a much broader range of risks and, potentially, more frequent and costly insurance claims. This, unfortunately, will drive up the cost of cover for all hairdressers and salon owners.

How to Keep Yourself and Your Clients Safe

Effective risk management is vital for keeping you, your customers, and your premises safe, and comprehensive hairdresser insurance is an essential part of this.

Many businesses are currently struggling with rising costs, and increased insurance premiums certainly will not be helping.

Do Not Go Without Public Liability Insurance
However, no hairdresser or salon owner should go without public liability insurance. Accidents happen, and if they do, your liability insurance will help you meet all costs. Without this cover, you would be liable to meet these considerable expenses yourself.

Compare Quotes or Use an Independent Broker
If you are worried about the rising cost of cover, there may be some ways you can make savings. Be sure to compare quotes from multiple providers to ensure you are getting the best deal. Some insurers will also provide a discount if you get a combined policy, rather than a number of separate policies.

Working with a dedicated insurance broker can also make a huge difference. At James Hallam, we have helped hundreds of hairdressers and salon owners across the UK get the specialist insurance they need at a truly competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

What Insurance Do I Need as a Photographer?
What Insurance Do I Need as a Photographer? 1000 667 James Hallam

If you are a professional photographer, you will need dedicated insurance to cover you, and your customers, for the specific risks associated with your role.

In this post we will outline the key forms of cover for photographers, including some forms of cover that you may be required to get by law.

What Insurance Do Photographers Need?

There are a number of risks which photographers and videographers face due to the nature of their job. As a result, photographers should consider the following types of insurance as essential:

  • Equipment insurance
  • Employer’s liability insurance (legally required for employers)
  • Public liability insurance
  • Professional indemnity insurance

We’ll explore each of these to look at what they cover and what it means to you and your photography business.

Photography Equipment Insurance

Equipment insurance, which may be referred to as contents insurance, will cover your expensive equipment for loss, damage, or theft. This can include your camera, lenses, lights, laptop, smartphone, development equipment, and whatever else you use as part of your role.

If any of this equipment is lost, damaged, or stolen, your insurance can cover you for repairs or replacements.

Employer’s Liability Insurance

If you hire any staff, then you have a legal obligation to get employer’s liability insurance. This will cover your staff for any accidents or injuries they may experience while working for you.

You need employer’s liability insurance even if you only hire a single temporary assistant for a few hours a week. And you even need this form of cover if friends occasionally help you out.

Public Liability Insurance

This will cover members of the public for any accidents or injuries that may occur while you are working. If a member of the public makes a claim against you, then your public liability insurance can cover your legal fees, along with any compensation payments that may arise.

Here are some situations where your public liability insurance would provide essential cover:

  • While photographing a wedding, a guest trips and falls over a loose wire, or one of your bags.
  • While visiting a client’s home or premises for a shoot, you accidentally damage their property, such as through spilling a cup of coffee on their carpet.
  • A client, contractor, delivery person, or other member of the public slips, trips, or falls while visiting your photography studio.

Professional Indemnity Insurance for Photographers

This can cover you for claims involving negligence, breach of contract or trust, or defamation.  Depending on the sort of photography work you do, professional indemnity insurance may prove invaluable:

  • If you are a product or a fashion photographer, your client may not be satisfied with your work. They may make a claim against you, alleging that your work did not meet the terms of your contract.
  • If you are a photojournalist, the subject of one of your photos may feel that your work does not paint them in the most flattering light. As a result, they may make a claim of defamation against you.
  • If you are an event photographer, someone may allege that you took their picture without their consent. This could result in a claim of breach of confidentiality or trust.

In each case, your professional indemnity insurance would cover your legal fees along with any compensation that may arise as a result of a claim.

Get Dedicated Photographer Insurance From James Hallam

At James Hallam, we are proud to support the photographic industry sector through our sponsorship of:

  • The British Institute of Professional Photographers
  • The Association of Photographers
  • The Master Photographers Association

We understand your unique insurance requirements, and you can count on us to get the specialist cover you need at a competitive price.

Learn more about our specialist photographer insurance services.

 

 

What AI Tools Are Travel Agents Using and How Do They Affect The Industry?
What AI Tools Are Travel Agents Using and How Do They Affect The Industry? 1000 667 James Hallam

Many travel agents have turned to advanced AI tools to help them in their day to day role. In this post we will look at some of the key AI tools travel agents are using, and explore how they are changing the industry.

How Travel Agents Are Using AI

There are a number of uses of AI for travel agents to help them with their day to day tasks, and to do an outstanding job for their customers. There are a number of key ways travel agents are using AI at the moment, including to help:

  • Plan trips and anticipate up-coming trends
  • Tailor exceptional experiences for their customers and their interests
  • Offer real-time customer service

We’ll explore the specific AI tools travel agents are using to help with each of these tasks and what exactly they can help with.

AI Tools For Travel Agents Planning Trips and Identifying Trends

Some AI tools are specifically designed to make life easier for travel agents when it comes to planning complex trips:

  • Pruvo – This application uses AI models to monitor hotel prices after booking, sending automatic alerts if it detects a price drop. Travel agents can use this service to help their clients make significant savings on the cost of accommodation.
  • Mindtrip – This application can plan personalised trips based on a user’s preferences. The travel agent may need to check on the quality and the feasibility of the app’s suggestions, but this can still make planning tailored travel itineraries a lot quicker and easier.
  • Clickup – This application relies on dedicated AI prompts to help travel agents identify trending destinations and generate personalised itineraries, all while navigating the complex regulatory landscape.

AI Admin Tools For Travel Agents

These AI tools can automate certain admin tasks, which can help travel agents streamline their processes:

  • Legalese Decoder – Ever struggled to understand how certain laws and regulations may impact international travel? This application uses AI to simplify complicated legal documents, to help you ensure your trips stay compliant with all relevant laws. Skimit is a similar tool that can summarise lengthy articles and documents, helping travel agents stay on top of the latest travel trends.
  • Runware – Formally known as PicFinder, this is a tool that can automatically source high quality images to suit your specific content needs. Combined with an AI outreach tool such as Hotreach, this can make content marketing a lot easier for travel agents.

AI Customer Service Tools For Travel Agents

Finally, many travel agents have started to explore the potential of chatbots for providing high quality, real-time customer service around the clock. Previously, customers had to call or email their travel agents and wait for a response, which may have taken hours, or even days. But with chatbots, customers can quickly get the information they need, precisely when they need it.

Advanced chatbots are driven by Natural Language Processing (NLP). This gives them a greater understanding of context and nuance, which makes them much more effective at responding to customer requests and queries. They can even handle cancellation requests and visa questions.

Kayak on ChatGPT is one such chatbot that can help users quickly make detailed travel plans. Some travel agents are looking for ways to integrate such chatbots into their apps, websites, and booking platforms, enabling them to deliver high quality customer service and tailored travel experiences with ease.

Looking To Enhance Your Travel Agent Services With Advanced AI Tools?

At James Hallam, we specialise in providing bespoke insurance packages to UK travel businesses. We are the trusted insurance brokers to ABTA and AITO, and we have close partnerships with ABTOT, Advantage, ABTOI, PTS and ITT.

These specialist travel bodies are actively exploring the potential of AI for transforming the world of travel. So if you want to revolutionise your processes with advanced AI tools, our trusted partners will certainly be able to help. And at the same time, we can help you ensure you have the dedicated insurance you need to cover you and your customers for whatever the future might hold.

Find out how we can help you today.

 

What Does Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover?
What Does Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover? 1000 667 James Hallam

Professional indemnity insurance is an essential form of cover for all solicitors and law firms. In this post we will explain what solicitors professional indemnity insurance covers; to help you understand why you need it.

What Is Professional Indemnity Insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance, sometimes referred to as PI insurance, can cover law firms, along with sole practitioners, partners, and other employees, against claims of negligence, breach of trust or confidentiality, or defamation.

If someone makes a claim against a law firm, professional indemnity insurance can cover any legal costs that arise, plus any compensation payments that may be due. If you or your firm does not have professional indemnity insurance cover, then you or your firm will be liable to cover these costs.

Who Needs Professional Indemnity Insurance?

The Law Society outlines a few scenarios in which you are required to get solicitors professional indemnity insurance:

  • You are a solicitor working in private practice.
  • You work in-house for clients other than your employer, particularly if you provide commercial legal advice services.
  • You work at a law centre, at a charity, or at another non-commercial legal advice service provider.
  • You work for a foreign law firm.

There is no such requirement to get professional indemnity insurance if you only work in-house for your employer (as your employer will most likely have cover in place); or if your firm operates entirely overseas. However, some overseas jurisdictions may impose their own indemnity insurance requirements.

What Does Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover?

If one of your clients makes a financial loss as a result of using your service, they may make a claim against you. Professional indemnity insurance can cover you for:

Negligence Claims
For example, a solicitor provides conveyancing services as part of a house purchase, and they neglect to request certain key documents, such as building regulations approval for extensions and renovations. The buyers may ultimately receive a fine for non-compliance with regulations. If so, they could make a claim against their conveyancing solicitors, for failing to properly research the compliance before the sale.

Breach of Trust or Confidentiality Claims
For example, a solicitor may accidentally leave a laptop or another device on a train, which could compromise sensitive client data. This could put clients at risk of data fraud or identity theft. As a result, some clients may make a claim against the solicitor on the grounds of breach of trust or confidentiality.

Defamation Claims
A client may feel that a solicitor has misrepresented them, whether in court or in dealings with other clients. If the client feels that they made a financial or a reputational loss as a result of this alleged defamation, they may make a claim against their solicitor.

Get The Specialist Solicitors Professional Indemnity Insurance You Need From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your business.

Whether you are an independent solicitor running a private practice, or you are a director or partner of a law firm, we can advise you on the regulatory requirements concerning professional indemnity insurance, and other forms of cover. We can then help you get the tailored cover you need at a competitive price.

Find out how we can help you today.

Beach Huts vs Second Homes: Mudeford Owners Push Back on Council Tax Reclassification
Beach Huts vs Second Homes: Mudeford Owners Push Back on Council Tax Reclassification 1000 750 James Hallam

Beach hut owners on Mudeford Spit, Dorset, are investigating the legal basis of proposals that could see their huts reclassified as second homes for council tax purposes.

BCP Council, which covers Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, plans to remove discounted tax rates on the iconic sandbank huts, meaning more than 300 owners may have to pay full council tax from April 2026, pending cabinet approval.

The Mudeford Sandbanks Beach Hut Association (MSBHA) has criticised the move, arguing that the policy is being applied to structures it describes as wooden sheds with no mains connections or individual toilet facilities.

There are 344 beach huts on the spit, many of which can only be stayed in overnight for part of the year and are used seasonally (typically up to 8 months annually). Despite their limited facilities, such as no running water, power, or private toilets, huts can command six-figure sale prices, sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of pounds.

How Much Could Council Tax Increase for Mudeford Huts?

While 2026/27 council tax rates will be formally set in February 2026, estimates based on current Band A property rates (2025/26) indicate:

Current council tax    Expected under second-home classification
£618 per year    £1,236 per year

This represents a 100% increase, effectively doubling annual council tax liabilities for affected owners.

BCP Council hopes the change will generate approximately £211,000 in additional revenue to help address a £9 million budget shortfall.

The proposal will be debated by the council cabinet on 14 January 2026.

Rising Fees, Stagnant Services: Owners Voice Frustration

The reclassification comes at a time when beach hut owners are already experiencing sharp cost pressures. Annual fees have nearly tripled to over £5,200, as the council moves to standardise coastal charges.

Many owners argue that they might accept increased fees if infrastructure and services improved but report minimal investment in facilities for decades.

What This Means for Beach Hut Owners

If approved, this decision could set a wider precedent for beach hut taxation across the UK, raising important questions:

  • How do councils define habitable property?
  • Can seasonal, non-serviced structures be fairly taxed as residential homes?
  • What legal challenges might arise from classification disputes?

One thing remains clear: beach huts are valuable assets exposed to weather, theft, fire, storm damage and coastal risk and require specialist insurance protection, now more than ever.

Protect Your Beach Hut with Specialist Insurance

At James Hallam, we arrange tailored insurance solutions designed specifically for coastal properties.

Whether your hut is for family use, rental income, or long-term ownership, having the right policy ensures you’re protected against unexpected financial loss.

Unlike traditional home insurance, a specialist policy can provide:

  • Protection for high-value huts
  • Storm, flood and coastal weather damage cover
  • Fire and theft protection
  • Public liability (important for rental owners)
  • Contents cover designed for seasonal use 

Protection for High-Value Huts

Our beach hut scheme provides cover for huts with a rebuild value up to £50,000 and contents up to £10,000.

If a hut’s rebuild value exceeds £50,000, it may fall outside the scheme limits. In these cases, we can explore alternative options, such as a specialist holiday home policy. Please note that this may not offer the same tailored cover as our beach hut scheme.

We work with specialist insurers and will always aim to place huts under the beach hut scheme where possible, provided the rebuild value is within the £50,000 limit. For huts above this threshold, we’ll advise on the most suitable alternative cover.

Get a quote or speak to our insurance specialists today

 

What Happens If You Leave a House Empty?
What Happens If You Leave a House Empty? 1000 667 James Hallam

If you own a second home or a holiday home, then it is likely that your property will be left empty for months at a time.

In this post we will discuss the main risks associated with leaving a house empty; while exploring some steps you can take to secure your property while it is unoccupied.

What to Consider When Leaving a House Empty

There are a number of things to consider if you’re going to be leaving your house empty or unoccupied for a significant period of time (over 30 days), including:

  • Home insurance implications
  • Risks of leaving your house empty
  • Utilities
  • Security

In this post, we’ll discuss each of these in more detail and what you can do to help keep your house safe when it’s unoccupied.

Home Insurance For Empty Properties

The first thing to bear in mind when leaving a house empty is that, typically, home insurance policies will only cover occupied homes. The cover will not apply if you leave the home unoccupied for a specified period of time. In many policies, you can only leave a home unoccupied for 30 days before your cover expires.

So if you own a second home or a holiday home, no matter what steps you take to secure your property, it is a good idea to arrange for a dedicated insurance policy to cover your home whenever you leave it unoccupied.

Read our full guide to second home insurance.

What Are The Risks of Leaving a House Empty?

There are many risks associated with leaving a house empty. The main issue is that, if anything goes wrong in the house, it could be months before you or anyone else finds out. This means that small issues could ultimately snowball into major disasters.

Theft and Vandalism

Thieves may actively target empty properties, as they know that it could be months before anyone discovers the break-in. Vandals may target the home for similar reasons. Vandalism and forced entry could also leave the home vulnerable to other issues, such as trespassers and water damage.

Floods and Escape of Water

A house does not have to be located on a flood plain to be vulnerable to flooding. Low temperatures could cause the pipes to freeze and burst, which could result in escape of water and extensive water damage.

Fire

A fire could break out for any number of reasons, whether as a result of an electrical fault or arson. Fire could also spread from an outbreak in a neighbouring property. As we mentioned above, if your home is unoccupied, then even a small fire could soon escalate into a devastating blaze. And even if the fire is contained, if you are not around to address the damage, it could result in long-term structural damage.

How To Keep Your Empty Home Safe

First, be sure to get some dedicated second home insurance to cover your property. A standard home insurance policy simply will not give you the cover you need.

Should You Switch Off The Utilities in an Empty Home?

It might seem like a good idea to turn off the water, electric, and gas when your home is unoccupied. But there are a few things to consider:

  • A house without any power will look unoccupied, which may encourage any burglars and vandals in the area to break in.
  • You may need an electrical supply to power the home’s security systems while you are away.
  • It may be a condition of certain policies for the heating to be left on in the winter months. This will prevent the pipes from freezing, which will help prevent floods.
  • It could cost money to disconnect the home’s utilities, and it could cost you even more money to reconnect them again. Put simply, switching off the utilities could be more trouble than it is worth.

Keeping Your Empty Home Secure

Above all, never make it obvious that any property you own will be unoccupied. This means that you should not share posts on social media talking about your property while hinting at when you will, and will not, be around.

  • Invest in CCTV cameras, extra locks, automatic floodlights, alarms, and other security systems. Some CCTV systems allow you to monitor the feeds remotely, meaning you can personally check up on any alerts in real-time.
  • You could also invest in alarm systems that automatically alert the local emergency services, so that they can check up on incidents if you are not around to do so.
  • Consider appointing a house sitter, or an onsite security guard, to monitor the property while you are not around.
  • If possible, lease the property as a holiday home any time you are not using it. This will create additional insurance implications, but it will at least mean that the home is not left empty for too long.
  • Arrange for any mail to get redirected whenever you are not around. If your second home is in the UK, you can use the Royal Mail’s redirection service.
  • You could also talk to your neighbours and ask them to keep an eye on your house when you are not around. They could collect any packages that delivery drivers may leave on or around the house, and you could also ask them to look out for any suspicious activity.

Get Dedicated Second Home and Holiday Home Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who specialise in protecting your second home, whether it is in the UK or abroad.

We can also provide expert risk management advice to help you keep your second home secure whenever you leave it unoccupied.

Find out how we can help you today.

 

The Dangers of Undeclared Goods in Shipping
The Dangers of Undeclared Goods in Shipping 1000 561 James Hallam

In this post, we will outline the critical risks that improperly identified shipments, or undeclared goods, can post to ships, their crews, and other individuals. We will also discuss how accurate declarations, along with adequate packaging and handling procedures, can contribute to safety at sea.

What Are Undeclared Goods in Shipping?

During transit, some goods pose a certain risk to human health, to property, or to the environment. Specific documentation and handling procedures are vital for managing and mitigating these risks.

But if these goods are shipped without the correct identification, documents, or packaging, then they are considered “undeclared goods”.

Essentially, an undeclared or misdeclared good is any shipment of potentially dangerous goods in which there is no visible indication that the packaging contains hazardous materials.

Examples of Common Undeclared Goods

There are nine main categories of dangerous goods, with specific handling and labelling requirements for each. If any of these are undeclared or misdeclared, they could pose serious risks to your ship or your crew:

  1. Explosives, such as ammunition or fireworks.
  2. This category incorporates both flammable and non-flammable gases, and both toxic and non-toxic gases, along with aerosols.
  3. Flammable liquids, such as paints and fuels.
  4. Flammable solids, including those which are capable of spontaneous combustion.
  5. Oxidising substances and organic peroxides – i.e. substances that could aid combustion in the event of a fire.
  6. Toxic and infectious substances, including medical waste and pesticides.
  7. Radioactive material.
  8. Corrosive substances, such as drain cleaners and other industrial cleaning agents.
  9. Miscellaneous dangerous goods. This category incorporates lithium batteries, which could spontaneously ignite, or even explode, if they are exposed to extreme temperatures, or if they are crushed or damaged during transit.

For more information, take a look at the HSE’s Carriage of Dangerous Goods (CDG) resources.

The Potential Risks of Undeclared Goods

Risk of Harm
If they are not correctly packaged, stored, or handled, these dangerous goods could cause:

  • Fires
  • Explosions
  • Infections
  • Illnesses
  • Other damages to people, property, and the environment.

Regulatory Risks
Undeclared goods also carry a significant regulatory risk. There are severe penalties for shipping undeclared or misdeclared dangerous goods. You could face a significant fine per container, along with even heftier fines, and even prosecution, if any serious injuries or property destruction arises as a result of your actions.

Insurance Risks
There are also insurance implications. If a hazardous substance causes illness, injury, or property damage, you will naturally make a claim on your maritime insurance policy to cover the costs. But if your insurer finds that the hazardous substance was undeclared or misdeclared, then it will invalidate your insurance policy, meaning you may be liable to cover all of your costs yourself.

Managing The Risks of Undeclared Goods

You must ensure that any dangerous goods you ship are correctly documented and labelled, and you must abide by all relevant procedures for handling and storing these goods. Some goods may need to be segregated from others – certain chemical substances are reactive, for example – and you should also outline your response plan in the event of an incident.

Beyond this, it is important that you and your crew learn to identify potentially undeclared goods.

Signs You Might Have Undeclared Goods

Here are some red flags that could indicate that a crate, container, or package might actually contain something hazardous:

  • Vague documentation. All shipping documents should be as accurate as possible. If the documentation says something generic, such as “parts” or “chemicals” or “samples”, then you should act to find out exactly what the shipment contains, and in what quantity.
  • Packaging discrepancies. If the packaging appears rough, or damaged, or otherwise compromised, then it may suggest oversights on the part of the shipper. If they have been this shoddy in packing their goods, then who knows what else they have overlooked?
  • Also look out for discrepancies in the declared contents and the weight, appearance, and labelling of the package. Odd odours may also indicate that the package may contain undeclared hazardous goods.

The Risks of Transporting Bulk Cargo

Certain bulk cargoes may also be at risk of spontaneous combustion or liquefaction, even if the materials themselves are not necessarily classed as dangerous goods.

Coal, iron ore fines, nickel ore, bauxite fines, and other bulk cargoes may pose a serious fire hazard if they are not correctly stored or managed while in transit. Documentation is important here too: Among other things, the moisture content of the bulk cargo must be certified prior to shipping, so as to ensure the correct precautions can be taken to prevent spontaneous combustion during a voyage.

What To Do If You Find Undeclared Goods In A Shipment

If you suspect there may be undeclared or misdeclared goods in a shipment, then you should refrain from taking things any further. Instead, contact the relevant authorities in your current location, who will advise you on your next steps.

You might be worrying about tight shipping deadlines, along with the added costs that delays could incur. But as we have seen, shipping undeclared goods could expose your ship, your crew, and the environment to some serious risks. You may also face some punishing fines, and you could even compromise your marine insurance.

Get The Specialist Marine Insurance You Need From James Hallam

Everard Insurance Broker is the specialist marine division of accredited Lloyd’s broker James Hallam Limited. We can help you secure comprehensive cover for shipping all kinds of dangerous goods, and we can advise you on best practice techniques for identifying and responding to potentially undeclared or misdeclared goods.

Learn more about our dedicated marine insurance services.

 

Hybrid and Electric Boats: Considerations and Risks For Marinas
Hybrid and Electric Boats: Considerations and Risks For Marinas 1000 667 James Hallam

Hybrid and electric boats are becoming increasingly popular on UK waterways, with an annual increase of almost 7%.

In this post we will outline some key considerations and risks concerning hybrid and electric boats for marinas.

The Different Types of Hybrid and Electric Boats

Fully Electric Vessels
Fully electric vessels are entirely powered by onboard batteries. Usually, these are charged by connecting the boat to a dedicated electric charging point at a marina.

However, some fully electric boats can recharge themselves using onboard solar panels, meaning they are technically self-sufficient: They can have unlimited range in full sunshine.

Hybrid Boats
Hybrid boats will replace one or more of their onboard diesel engines with an electric motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery bank. These vessels will often include a thermal generator, which can recharge the batteries as the boat is running.

Usually, hybrid boats will rely on standard diesel propulsion for high speeds and long distances, before switching to electric propulsion at low revs and for short passages.

The Benefits of Hybrid and Electric Boats

Hybrid and electric boats are much cleaner and quieter than standard diesel powered vessels. A marina full of electric and hybrid boats will be:

  • Almost silent
  • Free from the strong odours
  • Free from harmful emissions

Electric propulsion also offers sailors instant torque and a much tighter and smoother manoeuvrability. This could help reduce congestion and prevent collisions in your marina and throughout the surrounding waterways.

Considerations and Risks For Marinas

If you want to attract electric and hybrid boats to your marina, then you will have to provide dedicated charging stations. This can add pressure on marinas because:

  • Charging stations can be expensive and difficult to install.
  • Marinas will need to find a certified installer to ensure that your charging points satisfy all relevant regulations
  • Marinas will need to commit to ongoing maintenance to ensure that everything stays in good working order.

Electric and hybrid boats may be cleaner and quieter than diesel boats, but they may present certain additional risks too. The onboard lithium-ion battery banks may carry a strong fire risk, and you will have to ensure that your marina is equipped with the means of handling electric fires.

 How Will Electric and Hybrid Boats Affect Your Marina Insurance?

It is unlikely that your current marina insurance policy will cover you for electric and hybrid boats. You will need specialist insurance to cover you for the increased risks and expenses associated with allowing electric and hybrid boats to use your marina, particularly if you provide dedicated charging points.

Maritime Insurance for Marinas and Boatyards

Everard Insurance Brokers are the specialist marine trading division of accredited Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited.

We can help you ensure you have the insurance you need to cover your marine and boatyard for electric and hybrid boats, along with any dedicated charging stations you plan to install. We can also provide essential risk management advice to help you ensure you are prepared to meet all of the risks associated with these greener and cleaner vessels.

Find out more about our dedicated marine insurance services.

Fire Safety Regulations For High Rise Buildings
Fire Safety Regulations For High Rise Buildings 1000 666 James Hallam

Following the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government introduced the Building Safety Act 2022. This legislation introduced a selection of new fire safety regulations for high rise buildings.

In this post we will discuss these new fire safety regulations for high rise buildings, to help you ensure you stay compliant.

What Qualifies as a High Rise Buildings in the New Fire Safety Regulations?

If a building has seven storeys or more, or if it is at least 18 metres high, and if it has at least two residential units, then it is classed as a higher risk high rise building. As part of these new regulations, buildings that meet this criteria must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator (BSR).

Responsible Persons for High Rise Buildings

Under these new regulations, all high rise buildings must assign a responsible person to provide key information to Fire and Rescue Services. This information is intended to help the authorities effectively plan their response in the event of a fire.

Responsibilities of Responsible Persons

Under Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, responsible persons are required to:

  • Provide local fire services with electronic building plans, along with details of external wall systems, specifying the building material used. They must also keep hard copies of these plans in secure information boxes.
  • Install signage throughout the building to help firefighters find their way in the event of a fire.
  • Conduct monthly checks of all onsite firefighting equipment, including any firefighting lifts.
  • Immediately report any issues with any firefighting equipment to the local fire and rescue services.
  • Undertake annual checks of all residential entrance doors, along with quarterly checks of all onsite fire doors in the building’s communal areas.

Responsible persons must also provide any residents in the building with relevant fire safety instructions, which includes information on the importance of fire doors. They should instruct residents on how to report a fire, and on the actions they should take once a fire has broken out, in line with the building’s evacuation strategy.

Floor Plans and Building Plans Requirements for High Rise Buildings

As we mentioned above, the responsible person in a high rise building must keep hard copies of the building’s plans in a secure information box, while also providing local emergency services with digital copies.

These building plans must specify which lifts in the building are to be used for evacuation, and which are to be used by firefighters. They must also highlight where all of the key firefighting equipment in the building is to be found. This should include specifying all inlets and outlets for dry-rising and wet-rising mains, along with the locations of any shut-off controls for sprinkler and smoke control systems.

Other Fire Safety Regulations For High Rise Buildings

In addition to these ongoing checks and reporting duties, responsible persons must undertake routine monthly checks of the following:

  • Rising mains
  • Smoke control systems
  • Fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers
  • Fire detection and fire alarm systems. This includes any systems that are linked to other fire safety equipment, including smoke control systems.
  • Evacuation alert systems. Please note that the responsible person does not have to test the system itself each month, but they must perform a visual check of the control system and indicating equipment.
  • Any automatic door opening or closing systems that are linked to the fire detection and alarm systems.

The responsible person must keep a record of all of these monthly checks, and all residents should be able to access these records on request.

Should the responsible person detect a fault in any of these systems, they must aim to rectify it within 24 hours of discovery. If this is not possible, they must notify the local fire and rescue services of the fault, before notifying them again once the fault has been addressed.

In the event of a fault, the responsible person should consider the potential impact, and implement temporary mitigation measures if necessary.

You can read a full guide to the ongoing responsibilities outlined by the regulations.

Get Dedicated Property Insurance Cover With James Hallam

If you are a property owner, developer or a building manager, then you have a legal obligation to ensure that all of these fire safety regulations are followed in any high risk high rise residential buildings in your portfolio.

If you do not comply with these regulations, you will face some harsh penalties, and potentially even prosecution. On top of this, if you fail to protect your property and your tenants against fire risks, it could also compromise your buildings insurance policy.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals. Talk to us, and we can help you ensure you have enough cover to protect your high rise property at a competitive price. We will also provide expert risk advice to help you meet all relevant fire safety regulations for your building.

Get in touch for a free quote today.

 

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