leaks; smoking in the engine room vhere a gas engine is in operation; 

 discharge of crankcase oil into the bilges; disinterest aiad lack of 

 knowledge concerning the motor and hov it operates; how it is tuned; 

 when and how defective parts should be replaced before the engine 

 fails; periodic visits to the engine room rather than the maintengmce 

 of a continuous watch; recruiting of personnel--captains, engineers^ 

 and deckhands — with kno'^m bad accident records as well as drunks 

 and other persons who do not qualify to become crew members; and 

 finally, considering size of vessel and equipment, venturing out 

 too far looking for new fishing banks or bait, staying away from 

 home for unduly lengthy periods, or staying until the last moment 

 despite warnings about forthcoming stormy weather. Although 

 differences of opinion may exist as to the degree to which the 

 above practices contribute to the frequency amd severity of hull 

 and protection and indemnity insurance accidents, the prominent 

 part which the human element plays in the insurance problem is 

 well illustrated. 



D. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



Examination of the accident record of hull and protection and 

 indemnity insurance may be summarized as follows: 



1. Hull insurance accidents . During the years 1950-5^, 

 damages to the hull of vessel were the most frequently occurring 

 accidents in New England and especially in the Gulf, while the 

 most frequent accidents in California consisted of damages to 

 machinery and equipment. Of the damages to machinery and equip- 

 ment, motor trouble seems to be more frequent than damages to 

 electrical equipment, \7inches, and fishing gear in all three areas. 

 Navigation hazard, mechanical failure, and weather were the three 

 most frequent hazards, in that order, in New England and the G\ilf 

 Area, while in California, mechanical failure was more frequent 

 than navigation hazard and weather. A multiple classification of 

 accidents disclosed that "struck submerged object" was the most 

 frequently occurring cause in New England and particularly in the 

 Gulf Area, followed by "error of crew" and weather. "Wear and 

 tear" was the most frequently cited cause in California, followed 

 by "error of crew" and "struck submerged object." "Wear and tear" 

 was almost as important in New England as -.leather, while collision 

 with another vessel was frequent in all three areas. 



In terms of amount of loss, the adverse loss experience of 

 insurers in New England ajid Gulf Area was due to both frequency 

 of petty claims of $500 or less and large claims of more than 

 $5^000. In California, losses were due to large claims to a 

 greater extent thaji to petty losses. Total losses contributed 



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