NSW storms: insurer responds

Club Marine says its Catastrophe Response Team is on the ground with a team of specialists as storm-battered NSW cleans up after a devastating, once-in-a-decade storm.

The clean-up has begun in New South Wales after the storm brought relentless rain and winds, claiming four lives and causing devastation in 12 declared natural disaster areas. As residents and emergency services count the human and material cost of the storms that raged on April 21 and 22, Club Marine has to date processed 237 storm-related claims and completed 55 salvage operations, with further claims expected as the week progresses.

Already, those hardest hit have been reimbursed for their losses with six total-loss claims, totalling $320,000, resolved within the week.

As the storm bore down on the coastal regions north of Sydney in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Club Marine says it responded by putting into action an Event Response Plan and mobilising its Catastrophe Response Team, led by National Claims Technical Manager Phil Johnson.

Co-ordinated by Johnson, five specialist marine assessors, together with several salvage operators, were on the ground in the worst-hit areas at Gosford, Lake Macquarie, and Port Stephens. Even as the storms raged, they identified damaged vessels and authorised the immediate salvage of boats to avoid further damage and to prevent environmental harm.

At the same time at Club Marine’s headquarters in Melbourne, claims staff prioritised claims lodged from the affected regions, with Claims Services Manager John Leach-McGill and Claims Manager (Vic) Alistair Leaper co-ordinating the efforts.

In some cases, members weren’t even aware that their boats were damaged or at risk prior to receiving a call from the claims team.

"As the assessors phoned in the details of members’ damaged boats, our claims lodgement team contacted the owners to inform them of their boat’s condition and to get the claims process underway," said Johnson.

Meanwhile, Johnson and National Assessing Manager Darryl Humphreys have joined the assessors onsite at Gosford, Nelson Bay, and Lake Macquarie to hasten the claims decision process and confirm settlements wherever possible.

But while the weather may have eased, Humphreys advises all boat owners to check their mooring and berthing lines as a priority, as these may have sustained damage during the storm and could break unexpectedly.

"Due to the extreme wave action during the storm, boat’s lines were under duress for an extended period of time," said Humphreys. "The strain and chafing may have caused fatigue or fraying on the lines, especially at the points where they leave the boat and chafe or press against the boat’s deck hardware.

"As a priority, we recommend boat owners check all lines and test the integrity of cleats, fairleads, winches, and all tie-up points that are under load as soon as possible. Even though their vessel has not broken away from its mooring lines, these could be frayed and close to failing."

Club Marine members can lodge a claim online at clubmarine.com.au or by calling 1300 00 CLUB (2582).