/ 1 January 2002

Shipwreck leads to R15-million in claims at Santam

The stranding of the Jolly Rubino off the St Lucia estuary had led to claims totalling almost R15-million for one of Santam’s underwriting agencies, Associated Marine Underwriting Agency (Amua).

he 30 000-ton Italian container ship was en route from Durban to Mombassa on September 10 carrying a cargo of containerised hazardous, highly-inflammable, chemicals when it caught fire about 22 miles off Richards Bay. The crew tried to extinguish the fire,

but failed to do so and were airlifted to Richards Bay.

Amua chief executive officer Arthur Broadley said on Wednesday the content of the containers insured with Santam was covered by both local and international insurers.

”We could only start registering claims once we received all invoices from the sellers to verify the international sales terms and could determine who was responsible for the losses,” Broadley said.

He said damage to the ship and its freight would cost the marine insurance sector hundreds of millions of rands.

”Santam is carrying the loss of, amongst others, food

preservatives valued at R3,2-million shipped from Cape Town,” Broadley said.

He said the insurer was also carrying the loss of steel worth R2-million as well as part of the damage one of South Africa’s largest exporters suffered when 45 containers with chemicals burnt out. – Sapa