Making a claim

Whilst no-one wishes to experience any loss or damage to their boat nor any liability to anyone else, accidents do happen. To provide you with peace of mind and a feeling of security concerning your boat, you have taken out insurance. At Haven Knox-Johnston we aim to give you that peace of mind and sense of security by providing an efficient and helpful claims service.

To ensure a claim runs smoothly we will need your assistance. We hope you will take the time to read this section as it contains some useful guidance and sets out some of your duties and responsibilities. It is important that you tell us everything you know about an incident that might give rise to a claim whether you think it is relevant or not, it might become important later.

How to contact us

Tel: 01732 223610 from the UK or
+44 1732 223610 from abroad
Fax: 01732 871482
E-mail: havenclaims@amlin.co.uk

Our core office hours are 9 - 5 pm. Outside of these hours we provide a claims message service/helpline.

When loss or damage occurs act as if uninsured. This may seem unusual advice but it is most important that, in the event of any incident involving your vessel you must take all reasonable steps to minimize the loss.

Own Damage

• Take immediate action to safeguard and protect property from further damage or deterioration (this would certainly include taking first aid action in respect of any machinery or electrical items).
• Enlist help (professional if necessary) if immediately required to safeguard/protect craft and equipment. Try to agree a realistic charge or fee if a tow is required before acceptance.
• Retain and look after all broken/torn/damaged items for inspection.

Damaged by Third Party

• If racing, protest the Third Party if they did not accept a penalty. Obtain witness statements.
• Obtain details of boat type/class/number/name/club and any witnesses details in addition to name and address of helm and boat owner.
• Road Accidents - Obtain details of driver & insurer and any witnesses, or call the Police to the scene.
• If possible write down all the details and make a sketch of the site.

Damage to Third Parties

• If a Third Party wishes to hold you liable for damage (alleged to be your fault) provide them with your insurers details, your name, policy number, boat type/class and boat name/number.
• Do not make any admission of liability and do not make any offer of payment.
• It is not necessary to disclose that you are insured (as with motor insurance). If you receive a claim from another party (the Third Party), acknowledge the correspondence and pass to us immediately.

Theft/Vandalism

• Any theft or malicious damage should be reported to the Police promptly.
• Keep a note of the Police Crime Reference Number.
• We will also need the serial numbers of any engines, tenders etc.
• Notify your club, local harbour master, etc with full details of the theft/vandalism.

While it does not necessarily follow that the costs of any such action will be fully covered by the terms of your insurance, it is in your own interest to take such action. Should you have any doubts as to what to do you should contact us immediately for advice and assistance.
Your local marina may also be able to provide assistance.

Procedure

It is very important that we are immediately informed of any event that may lead to a claim under your insurance. We will forward a claim form to you for completion as soon as we are told of the incident. This should be returned to us, fully completed, as soon as possible whether or not you intend to make a formal claim.

We may ask you:

(a) to obtain estimates for repairing any damage

and/or

(b) to obtain quotations for the replacement of any items lost or destroyed.

Any estimates or quotations should be sent to us without delay. We reserve the right to ask you to obtain alternative estimates.

We may instruct a surveyor to inspect and/or investigate. Except in an emergency or to prevent further damage, repair instructions should not be given without prior agreement.

When you are satisfied with the repairs the invoice should be paid by you and the receipted invoices should then be forwarded to us.

Useful Information

1. Please remember that the repair contract is between you and the contractor. Any instructions regarding either repair or replacement must come from you - the owner. You must, however, seek our agreement in the first place.
2. The claim may be subject to deductions in addition to any policy excess and the clauses in the policy wording should be read carefully so that you are fully aware of these (e.g. sails, covers and outboard motors).

This claims information is intended to provide some guidance should you have to submit a claim under your insurance. It does not form part of any policy wording or give any indication of acceptance of liability by the underwriters.