42
SURVEYING & CLAIMS In association with Matthews Daniel
Cyber and COVID-19, have now been added to the other Five Cs of seaworthiness: Condition; Certification; Compliance; Crew; and, Conduct.
Marine Surveying and Claims: The Seven Cs Jim Clark (left) and David Cox (below) of Matthews Daniel, the loss adjusting, marine warranty and risk services company, point out that the five Cs of seaworthiness has now become the Seven Cs with the addition of cyber and COVID-19. They warn, however, that the core five should not be overlooked because of the seemingly all-consuming nature of cyber and COVID-19. The ‘Seven Seas’ is an ancient phrase which has come to mean all of the world’s oceans. It existed in many cultures before the extent of the oceans were known, and indeed the reference to seven is likely not literal. Seven Seas is alliterative, and conveys a sense of far-flung travel, a degree of romance, and once one has ‘sailed the Seven Seas’ an air of experience and expertise. Many of our surveyors have indeed sailed the Seven Seas. But in their day-to-day work they have traditionally had to think more of Five Cs of seaworthiness as a rule of thumb: The Marine Insurer P&I Special Edition | July 2020
Condition; Certification; Compliance; Crew; Conduct. Now, with cyber and COVID-19, Seven Cs are again on their minds. The basic premise of seaworthiness, that a marine asset is reasonably fit to encounter the ordinary perils of the sea for the intended voyage, is applicable to all aspects of our surveying work, whether it be risk assessment or casualty response. The Five Cs is a mantra that works across this surveying spectrum. Whilst COVID-19 and cyber are rightly at the forefront of the maritime industry’s mind at present, it is important that we do not lose sight of the core Five Cs. Indeed, the COVID-
