TT Club warns ports against 'knee-jerk' responses to ships in distress

(Posted on 07/06/26)

TT Club, the leading global transport and logistics insurer, highlights the critical complexities ports face when responding to ships in distress. Far from a simple "yes or no" decision, granting a place of refuge requires a structured, risk-led approach rather than an immediate, reactive response.

When a ship experiences fire, structural damage, or cargo instability, ports face severe pressure. While a common misconception is that acknowledging a casualty automatically means accepting it, a knee-jerk refusal can inadvertently escalate the situation by pushing the hazard offshore into less controlled environments. The fundamental question for port authorities must not be whether to accept the ship, but where the associated risk can be best managed.

A spectrum of options

"Refuge" does not automatically mean bringing a ship alongside a berth - which can introduce severe exposures to local infrastructure and communities. Instead, it should be viewed as a spectrum of options, including anchorage, sheltered waters, or a managed offshore position.

The operational realities of these incidents often clash with common expectations:

• Extended duration: A ship granted refuge is rarely a short-term visitor. Ports must prepare for long-duration events lasting weeks or months, impacting berth availability and commercial operations.
• Space constraints: Landside space - rather than quay length - is often the real bottleneck. Significant areas are required for damaged cargo, waste streams, and quarantine zones.
• Cargo hazards: Seemingly benign cargo can become highly volatile when wet or heated, heavily dictating personnel safety and handling methodologies.

The critical challenge of fire

Shipboard fires remain one of the most unpredictable and dangerous scenarios. Accepting a ship with a fire onboard risks transferring a high-heat, toxic hazard into a populated, infrastructure-dense environment. It is important to engage early with local fire and rescue services to rehearse access, water supply, and air monitoring before an incident occurs.

Harry Palmer, Risk Assessment Manager at TT Club explained “Places of refuge are rare, high-stakes events that demand decisive leadership. Effective coastal and port response is not a simple yes or no. Success depends on thorough preparedness - having clear decision-making frameworks and established relationships so that under pressure, authorities are executing a proven plan rather than improvising. Ultimately, refuge is not about where the ship wants to go, it is about where the risk can be best managed”.

Proportionate decision-making is driven by preparedness, not luck. Ports that successfully navigate these crises rely on robust risk-assessment frameworks, pre-identified refuge options, and regular scenario exercises. This operational discipline enables ports to say no when a risk is unacceptable, or yes with the appropriate controls to manage the event safely over time.

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