Top 12 Maritime Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs
In the high-stakes world of maritime shipping, where unpredictable seas and complex global regulations collide, having the right insurance coverage is essential for shipowners and operators. Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance stands as a cornerstone of risk management, safeguarding against third-party liabilities such as crew injuries, pollution, and cargo damage. As the backbone of the maritime insurance industry, P&I Clubs offer critical support to ensure smooth operations and regulatory compliance. In this report, we explore the top 12 P&I maritime insurance providers, each offering unique solutions to protect the vessels, cargo, and crew that power global trade.
1️⃣ American Club
The American Club is one of the 12 principal International Group P&I clubs and operates as a mutual P&I insurer for shipowners and related members. It pairs core P&I liability cover with FD&D support for dispute-related legal costs, so members can lean on the club for both casualty response and contract-driven conflicts. The club is managed by Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., and maintains multiple regional offices to support members across time zones.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Established: 1917 (established in New York)
- Head office: New York, United States
- Manager (as stated): Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc.
- Core covers stated: Mutual P&I; FD&D (Freight, Demurrage & Defense)
- Office footprint (club-listed): New York; London; Piraeus; Shanghai; Hong Kong; Houston
- Notable operational note (club-stated): Describes itself as the only mutual P&I club domiciled in the United States (and in the Americas)
- Official website:
https://www.american-club.com/
2️⃣ Britannia P&I
Britannia is an International Group P&I club that provides mutual P&I and FD&D cover and positions itself around long operating history and global service availability. It runs a hub model with regional teams and states it has a large worldwide correspondent network to help members locally when incidents happen. Britannia also operates a Europe entity headquartered in Luxembourg while stating London as the main operational centre for the group.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Established: 1855
- Head offices / operational centre (club-stated): UK head office in London; Britannia Europe headquartered in Luxembourg; main operational centre stated as London
- Core covers stated: P&I; FD&D (Freight, Demurrage & Defence)
- Regional hubs (club-stated): Multiple hubs across key regions (as listed by the club)
- Correspondent network (club-stated): More than 400 correspondents
- Notable operational note (club-stated): London operations moved to 33 King William Street effective 14 July 2025
- Official website:
https://britanniapandi.com/
3️⃣ Gard (Gard P.&I. (Bermuda) Ltd / Assuranceforeningen Gard
Gard is one of the 12 principal International Group P&I clubs, operating through the Gard P.&I. (Bermuda) Ltd structure with the mutual association listed as Assuranceforeningen Gard – Gjensidig. Alongside core P&I liabilities, Gard also offers “Defence cover” for legal and other costs incurred in pursuing or defending claims, which matters when disputes turn into long-running legal spend. Gard states it has operated since 1907 and supports members via a multi-office footprint rather than a single-location model.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Established: 1907
- Head office / main office (as listed): Arendal, Norway (main office listed in Gard’s office directory)
- Club entities listed by IGP&I: Gard P.&I. (Bermuda) Ltd; Assuranceforeningen Gard – Gjensidig
- Core covers stated: P&I; Defence cover (legal and other costs in pursuing/defending claims)
- Office footprint (club-stated): Gard states it works across 15 offices worldwide; its office directory lists locations including Arendal, Aarhus, Bergen, Copenhagen, Bermuda, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Imabari (and others in the directory).
- Official website:
https://gard.no/
4️⃣ Japan P&I Club
Japan P&I is one of the 12 principal International Group P&I clubs and is Japan’s mutual P&I organization for both ocean-going and Japanese coastal vessels. It was founded on 2 October 1950, and it states it became an International Group member in 1976 (later joining the Pooling Agreement in 1989).
Operationally, Japan P&I runs a Japan-plus-international office network (Tokyo plus multiple branches and overseas offices) and offers FD&D as a separate “special cover” for dispute-related costs.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Founded: 2 October 1950
- Headquarters / principal office: Tokyo, Japan
- Core covers stated: P&I; Special cover for Freight, Demurrage and Defence (FD&D)
- Offices (club-listed): Principal Office (Tokyo); Kobe Branch; Fukuoka Branch; Imabari Branch; Singapore Branch; London Liaison Office; Japan P&I Club (UK) Services Ltd
- Scale indicators (club-stated, as of 31 March 2025): 2,826 members; 3,530 entered vessels; 85.3 million gt entered tonnage
- Official website:
https://www.piclub.or.jp/en/
5️⃣ London P&I Club
The London P&I Club is one of the 12 principal International Group P&I clubs and provides mutual liability cover to an international membership. It states it offers P&I and FD&D, and also writes War Risks cover, which is useful when owners want the liability layer and a related conflict-risk product under one roof. The club traces its history to 1866 and lists London as its registered office location, alongside operational presence in key shipping hubs.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Founded: 1866
- Registered office / base: London, United Kingdom
- Core covers stated: P&I; FD&D; War Risks
- Who they cover (stated): Shipowners and charterers
- Key locations (club-listed): London; Piraeus (Greece); Hong Kong; Cyprus (Europe office)
- Notable operational note (club-stated): “The London P&I Club” is the trading name for the mutual association and its European subsidiary (listed on the site footer/legal wording)
- Official website:
https://www.londonpandi.com/
6️⃣ NorthStandard
NorthStandard is one of the 12 principal International Group P&I clubs and was created by the merger of North of England P&I and The Standard Club (completed 20 February 2023). It operates as a marine mutual liability insurer and is positioned as a larger combined platform offering P&I and FD&D alongside additional marine lines that many owners buy adjacent to liability cover. Public listings describe a global office footprint spanning major shipping regions, with a UK address in Newcastle upon Tyne.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Established: 20 February 2023 (merger completion date)
- Base / address shown publicly: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Core covers stated (public listings): P&I; FD&D (and additional marine covers listed publicly such as Hull, War, Offshore, Strike & Delay)
- Office footprint (public listings): Offices across major shipping regions including Asia, Australasia, Europe, and the USA
- Notable operational note: Formed from the merger of North of England P&I Association and The Standard Club
- Official website:
https://north-standard.com/
7️⃣ Shipowners’ Club
Shipowners’ Club is an International Group P&I club that’s widely associated with the “working end” of the industry, where frequent, smaller claims and operational issues matter just as much as the rare big casualty. In practice, owners value how clearly the club explains what’s covered, how to get help fast, and how claims support is delivered port-to-port. It’s also one of the more transparent clubs about its member scale and where it has staffed offices.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Founded: 1855
- Headquarters: Luxembourg (registered office)
- Core covers stated: Mutual P&I; Legal Costs Cover (often presented as a dispute / defence-style product)
- Key strengths: Operationally focused P&I support model; emphasis on responsive claims handling and practical guidance for day-to-day trading risks
- Global reach: Offices listed in Luxembourg, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Piraeus (Greece), supported by an international correspondent network
- Notable features: Member portal / online services; loss prevention resources and guidance materials
- Scale snapshot (club-published): Published figures include membership and entered vessel/tonnage totals (often shown with an “as at” date on their stats pages)
- Official website:
https://www.shipownersclub.com/
8️⃣ Skuld
Skuld is an International Group P&I club known for combining mutual P&I with a broad marine insurance footprint, which can be useful when owners want aligned support across liability and adjacent covers. Owners typically look at Skuld’s value through two lenses: how strong the casualty response feels in real time, and how effective the club is at handling multi-jurisdiction claims and disputes. The club also publishes a straightforward global office footprint across major shipping hubs.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Founded: 1897
- Headquarters: Oslo, Norway
- Core covers stated: Mutual P&I; Defence (FD&D / dispute support)
- Key strengths: Strong claims and legal support positioning; global case handling capability across common shipping jurisdictions
- Global reach: Offices listed across major hubs (commonly including Oslo, Bergen, Copenhagen, Hamburg, London, Piraeus, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, New York, and Bermuda)
- Notable features: 24/7 emergency contact model; loss prevention publications and member-facing resources
- Official website:
https://www.skuld.com/
9️⃣ Steamship Mutual
Steamship Mutual is a principal International Group P&I club that provides mutual P&I liability cover designed for real-world casualty response and third-party claims management. It also offers FD&D style dispute support plus several related covers that owners often buy alongside P&I when trading patterns demand it. The club operates through a multi-office model and publishes a correspondent network directory to help members get local support quickly.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Established / roots: The club traces its history back to 1909, with its Bermuda structure established later
- Registered office: Bermuda
- Core covers stated: Mutual P&I; FD&D (Defence)
- Additional covers stated: War risks; Kidnap & Ransom; Special Products for certain non-poolable liabilities
- Office footprint (club-listed): Bermuda; London; Piraeus; Singapore; Hong Kong; Tokyo; Cyprus; Rio de Janeiro
- Notable features: Published correspondent search tool; multi-time-zone office coverage aimed at 24/7 response
- Official website:
https://www.steamshipmutual.com/
🔟 The Swedish Club
The Swedish Club is a principal International Group P&I club offering mutual P&I cover backed by a broader marine insurance platform. Owners tend to focus on the club’s practical service posture: published offices in key maritime hubs and a clear 24/7 support message. The club also provides FD&D style legal cost cover to support disputes that often follow incidents, chartering conflicts, or contract issues.
- International Group member: Yes (principal club)
- Established: 1872
- Head office: Gothenburg, Sweden
- Core covers stated: P&I; FD&D (legal cost support)
- Office footprint (club-listed): Gothenburg; Athens; Oslo; London; Hong Kong; Singapore
- Notable features: 24/7 support positioning from head office and local offices; clear global hub footprint for response and member access
- Official website:
https://www.swedishclub.com/
1️⃣1️⃣ UK P&I Club
UK P&I is a mutual marine insurer focused on third party liabilities and related claims support for ocean going merchant ships and charterers. It operates through a UK head office with branches in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, and maintains a global office network across the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. The club is managed by Thomas Miller and is one of the principal clubs in the International Group of P&I Clubs.
- Founded: 1869
- Headquarters: United Kingdom (core operations run through the UK head office; London is a listed key office location)
- International Group: Principal club (IGP&I)
- What it covers (high level): P&I liabilities such as crew and passenger injury, cargo liabilities, collision related liabilities, wreck liabilities, fines, and legal costs (scope varies by rules and entry)
- Global reach (office footprint): Offices listed across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific including London, Piraeus, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Shanghai, and others
- Notable features: 24/7 claims support positioning, plus structured risk management resources (safety guidance, training, and related services)
- Corporate structure note: Insurance business is conducted through The United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association Limited (with branches noted above), with UK (Bermuda) acting as the club’s internal reinsurer
- Official Website: https://www.ukpandi.com
1️⃣2️⃣ West of England P&I Club
West of England is an International Group P&I club providing mutual P&I and a wider suite of marine insurance products for shipowners, charterers and operators. Its modern association traces back to the 1870 formation of the West of England Steamship Owners Protection and Indemnity Association, and the club has been domiciled in Luxembourg since 1969. It supports members through regional service centres including London, Piraeus, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York, alongside additional listed locations such as Dubai.
- Founded: 1870
- Headquarters (domicile): Luxembourg (domiciled in Luxembourg since 1969; authorised there)
- International Group: Principal club (IGP&I)
- Member profile snapshot (club stated): Third party liability cover for over 4,800 ships, around 100 million GT
- Global reach (service centres): Regional service centres stated in London, Piraeus, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York
- Cover and products (high level): Mutual P&I plus complementary products including Defence, Fixed, Charterers and Traders, Hull, War, Piracy Protection, Delay Insurance, and Cyber Security (availability depends on product and underwriting)
- Notable features: Defence cover offered as standalone or packaged; manager is wholly owned by the club (alignment with member interests); AM Best rating shown as A- with stable outlook (club stated)
- Official Website: https://www.westpandi.com
P&I Benefit Simulator
Interactive Tool to estimate what P&I changes financially: expected annual out-of-pocket exposure, plus a single-event stress test. This is planning math only. Your club rules, entry, exclusions, and deductibles control reality.
1) Basics ▶
Label only. No exchange rates are applied.
Set to 1 for a single ship, or use a fleet count to scale expected exposure.
If you do not know it, leave 0 and focus on exposure and stress testing.
2) Single-event stress test ▶
Use 0 if you assume fully covered. If unsure, use a conservative percent.
Out-of-pocket without P&I
USD 0
Full event cost sits on owner liquidity.
Out-of-pocket with P&I
USD 0
Deductible plus uncovered portion.
Risk transferred by P&I
USD 0
This is the shock absorber effect.
3) Annual exposure scenarios ▶
For each scenario, enter annual count and gross cost per event. Then enter what you still expect to pay with P&I: deductible and uncovered percent. Results update instantly.
Expected annual out-of-pocket without P&I
USD 0
Expected value based on your annual counts and gross costs.
Expected annual out-of-pocket with P&I
USD 0
Deductibles plus uncovered portions (expected value).
Net expected benefit after annual P&I cost
USD 0
Expected savings minus your annual P&I cost estimate.
Table Summary
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