1)   Notify Yachtlink International as soon as possible following any incident which might give rise to a claim under your policy, providing us with a contact telephone or fax number, email address and details of the loss. At this time we can discuss the potential loss and assist where we can with any advice needed. We will also forward a Claim Form for completion or you can download the one on our website.

2)   Please complete the Claim Form and return it as soon as you are able. Together with, if possible, a written estimate to repair any damage or replace damaged/stolen items. If any additional information is required subsequent to this, we will contact you.

Please note that work, other than what is necessary to safeguard the vessel &/or mitigate any damages, should not be carried out without reference to this office as Underwriters may wish to ask a surveyor to attend.

If a surveyor is appointed you will be duly advised and we would suggest that you are present during the survey if possible.

(Please ensure you retain all estimates, invoices etc. and forward the same as soon as possible.)

3)   Please ensure you notify the Police or relevant authority immediately of any theft or criminal damage and obtain a crime report number and/or details of the Police Station or Officer.

You must:

1)   Take all reasonable steps to avert or minimise any loss or damage and act at all times as if uninsured.

2)   Provide us with as much assistance as possible, including the name and address and contact as well as insurance details of any other parties involved.

3)   Pass on to Yachtlink International as soon as possible, unanswered, all communications from other parties relating to any matter which might give rise to a claim under the Policy.

You must not:

1)   Admit liability

2)   Make any offer to settle or compromise or pay any costs

Salvage: If you get into any difficulty and salvage services are offered by another vessel, where possible you should contact us your broker for guidance before accepting any terms. In most cases however this will not be possible and you must then act in the best interests of yourself and Underwriters. General guidance on this is difficult, but if you are offered a fixed price contract which is obviously reasonable you should consider accepting it, (act with care professional salvage operations often make very large demands but opportunists can be worse) - otherwise leave the matter of remuneration to be settled later and if and only necessary agree to sign a Lloyd's Open Form Salvage Agreement. Only you know what danger your vessel is in.

Dealing with the claim/settlements: Following your presentation of the claim form and estimates and following receiving any survey or other experts reports we will contact you on behalf of your Underwriters after they have reviewed the claim advising if the claim has been accepted, or seeking additional information.

If the claim has not been accepted as recoverable under the terms and conditions of your policy, or for any other reason, you will given a full explanation.

If the claim is accepted the onus is then on you as the owner of the vessel to arrange the repairs or replacements and then forward the original 'receipted' i.e. paid accounts for reimbursement. (A marine policy is one of indemnity)

In the event of problems Underwriters can be approached to look into alternative methods of dealing with the settlement such as the issuing of a Discharge Form to enable cash settlement to your account or a repairer. This concession however is at Underwriters discretion.