Versloot Dredging BV v HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG (The “DC Merwestone”) – QBD (Comm Ct) (Popplewell J) [2013] EWHC 1666 Comm – 14 June 2013

Marine insurance – Time policy – Vessel suffering ingress of seawater in bowthruster room causing damage to engine – Negligence of crew – Whether loss proximately caused by peril of the seas – Whether loss caused by unseaworthiness of vessel – Whether insured forfeited claim by employment of fraudulent devices

The defendant underwriters were the hull and machinery insurers of the vessel DC Merwestone under a time policy, issued to the claimant owners, for 12 months at 1 April 2009. The policy included the Institute Time Clauses – Hulls 1/10/83 and the Institute Additional Perils Clauses.