Press release 2025

 

The Association's annual report, as presented by the Chairman of the Board Dr. Kurt Klemme (Reederei Nord GmbH) at the Members' Meeting, shows a financial surplus of EUR 72,510.79 net for the 2024 business year (2023: EUR 240,044.86 net). The positive result is primarily due to a rise in the premium income by 17.2% (abt. 1.643 million in 2024 compared to 1.401 million in 2023). On the other hand, increased expenses for insurance claims and insurance operations had a negative impact on the underwriting result.

 

By resolution of the Members’ Meeting the surplus from the 2024 business year was added to the reserves. The reserves of the Association thereafter stand at abt. EUR 6.09 million.

In the reporting period (2024) claims totalling EUR 27.9 million (previous year: EUR 17 million) were either recovered or resisted on behalf of Members.

 

According to the report of the Managing Director Michael Wester the number of members has stabilized. Presently 870 ships with a total tonnage of 16.7 million GT are entered with the Association. 

 

The number of disputes is currently well below the previous year's figure (173 compared to 201). It is therefore assumed at this time that the Association will have fewer cases to deal with at the end of 2025 than in 2024. One factor playing a role here is that the charter markets in most segments continue to be positive. This often helps to resolve disputes at an early stage without the need for legal action.

 

In the current financial year the focus in many cases is again on regulations for the decarbonising of shipping. In addition, the “service fees” planned by the US administration which are justified by China's alleged dominance in the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors are keeping the members of the Association busy.

 

Disputes also frequently arise in connection with security issues resulting from acts of war or terrorism. To be named here in particular are the conflict in Israel and the attacks by the Houthi. In addition, there are sanctions issues, primarily in view of the war in Ukraine.

 

For the current business year consistently high expenditure on insurance claims as well as a substantial increase of provisions are expected. Persistently high expenditure on digitalisation measures due to additional regulatory requirements will also have a negative impact on the result. On the other hand, a further rise in the premium income and a positive investment result are expected for 2025. Overall, a loss is forecast for the 2025 business year.

 

For 2026 a constant or slightly rising number of insured ships is expected.

 

The Association’s premiums will increase slightly in 2026 and thereafter range between EUR 630.00 and EUR 2,575.00 per annum and ship.

Re-elected to the Board of Directors were Dr. NielsHartmann, Hartmann AG, Stefan Krohn, Bereederungsgesellschaft Alstership mbH & Co. KG and Christoph Toepfer, Borealis Maritime Limited.

 

Dr. Kurt Klemme, Reederei Nord GmbH will hand over the chairmanship of the board to Dr. Michael Silies, Wilhelmsen Ahrenkiel Ship Management GmbH & Co. KG at the beginning of 2026 after an eight-year term of office. The other board members as well as the management thank Dr. Klemme – who will remain a member of the board – for his outstanding engagement for Schutzverein.

 

There will also be a change in Management. From 1 January it will be supported by the lawyer Simon Schardt, who has been working for the association since 2007, as Deputy Managing Director.

 

The Association's traditional Annual Dinner followed the General Meeting. During the dinner, Mr Ron Keller, who has inter alia served as Dutch ambassador to Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and China as well as an advisor to the IMF and World Bank, spoke about current geopolitical and global economic developments.

 

Schutzverein will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a reception on 2 July 2026.