IUA Circular 048/26
IUMI Major Claims Database – Data Request
Date: 13 May 2026
Interest Groups: IUA member contacts, Marine & Energy, Joint Marine Claims Committee (JMCC), Marine Technical Committee.
Subject: IUMI Major Claims Database - request for hull and cargo claims data
IUA Contact: Chris Jones, Chief Executive (020 7617 5447 / 07843 512745)
Download the Data Request Template
Introduction to the IUMI Major Claims Database
As part of its continuing efforts to develop market statistics to the international marine insurance market, the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) has for a number of years produced a large loss database for hull and cargo risks, to allow analysis of major losses in respect of loss severity, frequency, location and cause.
This initiative commenced in 2017 for cargo risks and has steadily grown in the volume and granularity of data provided.
Data is provided by the national association members of IUMI (of which IUA is one) via their own member company submissions. Twenty-eight IUMI national associations currently provide data to IUMI. The anonymised results are reviewed by the IUMI Facts & Figures Committee and presented to the annual conference (this year in Rotterdam, see IUMI Conference 2026).
Benefits
There are a number of important benefits for insurers in contributing to this initiative, including an increased insight into causalities (claims source, geographical location) and time trends (severity, frequency) on a global, rather than localised or regional, basis and also in enabling members to develop better risk management and increase predictive models.
Request for Data
Available via the download button above is the data request template, which includes instructions for completion. I would note the following:
•For the 2026 collection IUMI have made further improvements to the template. In particular, the way events are recorded has been simplified and half-automized, which should make it easier to identify and log claims. Better identification of events will also help IUMI detect potential duplicates more effectively.
•The most reliable way to avoid duplication remains the use of unique vessel identifiers such as the IMO number, where IUMI would welcome further improvements in data completeness.
•Submissions are onlyrequired where the insurer in question is the lead or only insurer on the placement. Where the insurer of a relevant loss is a following market, a submission is not required.
•The threshold for claims data remains $250,000 for hull and cargo (100% of gross loss figure).We recognise that this is quite low for London market placements but for the wider IUMI membership, it is appropriate.
•Whilst 10 years data is sought, if you are not able to provide this then part submissions are also accepted.
Deadline for Completion
Members are kindly asked you to consider providing the requisite data and complete the form and return it by Friday, 31 July 2026. This can be done via the IUA (to [email protected] or [email protected]) or directly to IUMI via:
Veith Huesmann (IUMI Chief Analyst)
Phone 49 40 2000 747-17
Mobile 49 160 386 46 32
[email protected]
If you have any questions on the major claims database, data submission process or on IUMI more widely, please contact me via the details noted above.