Monthly Archives: April 2024

PAGASA recently reported that 23 areas in the Philippines could experience dangerous heat levels with a high heat index of 42 to 44 degrees Celsius. With temperatures rising today and the scorching heat continuing, Pacific Union would like to present some safety tips to keep you safe during the summer season. 

Stay Hydrated

The importance of water and staying hydrated has never been understated, especially with the current climate. Whether indoors or outside, make sure to have a water bottle to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids. And as a way to contribute to the betterment of our environment, we’d like to suggest bringing a reusable water container while on the go.

Wear Protective Clothing

Despite the heat, it is still important to wear protective clothing that helps you block the sun’s harmful rays. Make sure your body is covered with light and comfortable clothes and wear light colors that can help bounce off the sunlight. Aside from clothing, you can also wear other protective garb such as caps or hats.

Apply Sunscreen

One of the best ways to combat the sun, sunscreen is a key item during the summer season. At the start of the day, make sure to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and take note of when the effects of the sunscreen will wear off so you can reapply later during the day. Applying this can prevent sunburn and protect your skin from the high heat.

Seek Shade

Another helpful tip for the summer season is to seek shade as much as possible. You can take shelter through trees, buildings, indoors, or even bring your own shade by taking an umbrella with you wherever you go.

Avoid Heat Stress

Heat stress is a serious condition that can happen when exposed to the high temperatures of the sun. Make sure to take note of the symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and fatigue as you may be experiencing heat stress. Knowing the warning signs may be the difference between life and death.

Related Article:
23 areas nationwide to experience high temperatures

Want to protect your vessel? Pacific Union’s Hull Insurance is designed to protect you and your vessel from different kinds of vessels. As mentioned previously, there has been a reported Php 738.68 million losses for maritime and aviation insurance here in the Philippines last 2020. And as the world grows more unpredictable day by day, the need for hull insurance has never been more necessary.

Here, then, are some of the benefits of availing your insurance policy today! 

Financial Protection

A big benefit of hull insurance is just like all kinds of non-life insurance, it is designed to protect you financially. Hull insurance covers ship damage expenses against material/physical damage and liabilities arising from the perils of the sea, extraneous perils, war risks, and other allowed perils. 

Generally, it covers the hull, machineries, boilers, materials and outfits, stores, provisions, and fittings.

Liability Coverage

Covers liability for other vessels or property damage, bodily injury to passengers, crew, or third parties. Marine hull insurance also provides coverage for pollution caused by vessels. 

Salvage Charges

These are charges/expenditures that are incurred in the process of recovering a ship and its cargo after a shipwreck or other maritime casualty.

Sue and Labor Charges

It is the provision that spells the duty of the Assured and their servants in respect of loss recoverable under the policy to take such measures as may be reasonable for averting or minimizing such loss and to ensure that all rights against carriers, bailees, or other third parties are properly preserved and exercised.

Running Down Clause

Running clause or 3/4th collision liability clause in marine hull insurance offers a shipowner with some kind of coverage which is necessary in case of third-party liability in the event of a collision. It is a clause within a marine insurance policy that offers legal coverage if the insured vehicle collides with another vessel.

Flexible Options

Another big benefit of hull insurance is the flexibility we provide to our customers – these policies can be tailored to suit the specific needs of different types of vessels and operations. So our customers can feel safe and sound knowing they’d be able to choose a time policy (covers for a year) or a voyage policy (covers the entire voyage from one point to the final destination). Coverage options also include hull damage, machinery breakdown, liability protection, and more. 

Regulation Compliance

Just like marine cargo insurance, many jurisdictions require vessels to have hull insurance to operate legally. By availing hull insurance, shipowners can feel free by complying with certain regulations, saving them time and avoiding legal penalties. 

Pacific Union’s Margo Cargo Insurance is designed to protect you from the financial risk of transporting goods via land, sea, and air. But what exactly are these dangers and how do we define them? Here, then, are the Marine Cargo Insured Perils for everyone’s reference.

Perils of the Sea

Collision

Collision occurs during physical impact between two ships which results in a damaging accident. At the same time, it can also occur between a ship and a stationary object such as an iceberg or a port. 

Fire

Fire is defined as direct fire loss or caused by fire or lightning attributed to negligence. This includes damage done by measure to extinguish the fire. (ex. Water damage)

Stranding

This happens when forced by accidental causes to take ground and stay aground within a reasonable time. 

Shipwreck

A shipwreck is when a vessel is driven to shore by violent winds and/or waves that cause destruction or loss of the said vessel. 

Foundering

Occurs when vessel is filled with water and sinks.

Jettison

This refers to the throwing of a ship’s cargo or gear as a measure to preserve the ship and cargo from loss in time of common danger. 

Barratry

Barratry is defined as every wrongful act willfully committed by the master and crew to the prejudice of the owner of the ship, or the owner of the cargo. 

Pirates, Rovers & Thieves

Finally, rovers and pirates are persons without legal commission who plunder vessels indiscriminately on the high seas. Thieves refer to the persons who use violence to commit robbery. This does not include ordinary theft or pilferage. 

In-Land Perils

Basic Coverage

In-Land Basic Coverage covers multiple perils which include:

• Accident fire whether internal explosion or self-ignition

• Lightning
• Explosion
• Collision
• Overturning or upset of the conveyance
• Collapse or subsidence of bridge
• Flood
• Storm
• Cyclone
• Mishandling during actual loading and unloading
• Breaking into conveyance whilst conveyance is parked overnight

Robbery & Thievery (Extension)

Robbery is defined as the felonious act of taking property through the use of violence and intimidation. On the other hand, thievery refers to the unlawful or violent seizure by armed persons of the scheduled conveyance.

Pacific Union believes in its core values and among them is the values of Continuous Excellence and Empowerment. For the former, we believe in performing to the best of our ability, always striving to process and produce our work with the best standards. For the latter, on the other hand, we believe in our workforce – where each member of the team is valued and inspired to work as a collective whole.

And so one of the latest innovations created by Pacific Union’s management was to create a program that would help our Head Office – one that would teach them various skills and insights that could help them both in their personal and professional space.

This led to the creation of the Support Education Program: Pacific Union’s monthly training designed to foster each member of the team into becoming the best they can be. These sessions take place every Friday and once a month where over the course of two hours, a highly qualified instructor teaches our team different lessons and skills. This is an optional yet highly informative seminar, covering topics such as customer service, time management, Ikigai, and many more.

As a bonus to our Head Office, the seminar provides food and drinks while there is a raffle every session. There is even a grand prize given to a select few who manage to attend every session of the Support Education Program. In short, the 2023 SEP was a big success for Pacific Union – gathering different members of our various departments where they have been imparted with invaluable information.

This 2024, Pacific Union continues the Support Education Program, this time with the goal of a more holistic approach and a broader range of topics. This year’s SEP will be covering topics such as the Victor vs. Victim Mindset, customer service etiquette, and more to come that will surely be a huge help to every member of the team.

In the Philippines, there was a reported PHP 738.68 million in losses incurred for maritime and aviation insurance last 2020. Because of this, the need for marine cargo Insurance in the country has never been more necessary. 

Risk Mitigation

Marine cargo Insurance has been helpful in reducing risk and mitigating the financial risks associated with transporting goods via sea, air, or land. It provides coverage for potential losses or damages to cargo, vessels, and other assets due to accidents, natural disasters, and other covered perils.

Legal Compliance

Across international areas, many countries and trade agreements require marine cargo insurance as a legal requirement for shipping goods. By being protected through marine cargo insurance, you ensure compliance with these regulations and can help prevent delays or legal issues during the shipping process.

Financial Protection

All parties involved in maritime activities such as shipowners, cargo owners, freight owners, and more are protected through marine cargo insurance. In the event of losses or any unforeseen accidents, your insurance policy will aid you through indemnification by helping your business recover financially and continue operations without significant interruptions. 

Different Types

At Pacific Union, we offer a wide range of marine cargo insurance policies. These range from voyage policies, time policies, open policies, and more. To learn more about our service, contact us today!