The Central Role of P&I Insurance in Maritime Law

Article by John D. Kimball

When a ship proceeds to sea, it is beset by danger on all sides. The scope of risks involved is just as vast as the ocean. They range from the most minor to the catastrophic. The focus of this Article is protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance, a form of coverage under which shipowners and charterers are protected against the risk of liability to third parties and which plays a central role in maritime law. This Article considers the extent to which courts in the United States enforce and give effect to P&I insurance, especially in situations where the shipowner is unable to meet its financial obligations or has gone into bankruptcy.


About the Author

John D. Kimball. Partner, Blank Rome LLP, and Adjunct Professor, New York University Law School.

Citation

87 Tul. L. Rev. 1147 (2013)