A BRIEF HISTORY OF

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CLUB
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HISTORY
Protection and Indemnity Clubs were first formed
by owners nearly 150 years ago to protect
themselves against liabilities that were not
covered by hull insurance
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HISTORY
The Shipowners Club is the second oldest mutual
P I Club. It was established in Topsham in
Devon on 13th December 1855 as the Shipowners
Mutual Protection Society, with the intention of
providing P I cover for UK vessels
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For the first 100 years the Club was managed by
John Holman Son, a management company formed by
John Bagwell Holman (born 1800), a Master Mariner
and ship owner. The company moved from Topsham
to London in 1863 to be closer to Lloyds and the
marine broking houses
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In 1866 following the loss of the Western Hope
off South Africa when owners were held for the
first time to be liable for cargo, the word
indemnity was added to the title of the Club and
cover extended to include cargo claims In 1870
John Holman Son established the West of England
Steamship Owners Protection Indemnity
Association for large steamship vessels, so
maintaining Shipowners separate roots as a Club
for smaller vessels
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In February 1977 at a time when the West of
England was responsible for the management of the
Shipowners Club, the Club moved to Luxembourg to
avoid the problems of spiralling tax,
devaluation, sterling and severe exchange control
mechanisms prevailing in the UK at that
time During the 1980s the Management Agreement
with the West of England terminated and the Club
moved to its own premises. In 1986 Shipowners
Protection Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary, was
established as Managers of the Club
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HISTORY
Today the Shipowners Club is a member of the
International Group of P I Clubs. Over the
years it has grown and now encompasses over
21,000 vessels, flying the flag of 150 different
States