Warm weather and tourism may increase marine craft trips
Commercial insurance
28th May 2010
The number of people taking advantage of the summer sunshine in the UK to hop aboard marine craft could rise this year, as the trend for staycations looks set to continue. Day trippers, fishing enthusiasts and those looking to explore the country's coastal areas will all need to be catered for and companies specialising in the field should assess their insurance needs before the rush starts.
Forecasters have predicted that improved predictions for the summer this year will boost the number of people choosing to stay in Britain for their annual breaks. Temperatures reached their highest levels this year in May, with some parts of Britain enjoying highs of almost 28 C.
Speaking to the Guardian, Visit England chief executive James Berresford pointed to new attractions such as Adventure Valley in Durham, in addition to films such as Robin Hood sparking an interest in "iconic locations" as more reasons to explore the UK in the sunshine.
Continued disruptions to flights caused by the volcano eruption in the south of Iceland, coupled with the high value of the euro in relation to sterling and strikes by British Airways cabin crews could prompt more people than ever to opt for a holiday at home. And this may bode particularly well for operators of commercial marine craft in the UK.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics for the three months to March 2010 indicated visits overseas by UK residents fell by four per cent year-on-year to 13.3 million, as more people chose to stay at home.
Meanwhile, a survey by VisitEngland indicated the number of holiday trips taken rose by 18 per cent in 2009, with 90 per cent of staycationers reporting they plan to take at least one break in the country during 2010. The organisation suggested the study indicated a more permanent trend towards taking vacations in the UK, with a range of locations on offer, including coastal areas.
Susan Young, group personal lines director of Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd, advised: "Operators of marine craft such as day trip vessels, punts, yacht charters and dive-boats should reassess their insurance needs as demand is likely to rise as the weather warms up and more people are drawn to the UK's coastline.
"With recent flight disruptions and warmer weather, this year could see a record number of Britons opting for staycations and companies are advised to ensure they have all the cover they require in place in order to take full advantage of a renewed interest in holidaying at home."
As the UK becomes a more popular place to take holidays, then, marine craft operators should consult with a specialist provider of policies designed to suit their requirements. These should protect the vessel itself, in addition to crew members, passengers, equipment, the business and the income it draws in. All kinds of craft can be covered in this way, as well as those enterprises supporting the trade, such as repairers, sail-makers and boat yards.
A selection of policies that should be in place before setting taking to the waves to entertain holidaymakers this season includes crew liability, commercial risks, loss of income, employer's liability, electronic equipment, netting & potting and passenger's liability.
