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As marine insurance professionals, we operate in an increasingly complex environment where traditional underwriting approaches leave us exposed.
THE CHALLENGE WE FACE
THE FORCED LABOUR CRISIS
35,000-100,000 fishermen disappear at sea annually—many victims of trafficking and forced labour aboard fishing vessels. For insurers, this creates:
Legal liability for vessels operating with trafficked workers
Reputational damage from association with human rights abuses
Regulatory exposure under emerging forced labour legislation (U.S. FISH Act, EU supply chain laws)
Claims complications when crew welfare issues escalate to incidents
Public scrutiny about our role in enabling these operations
VESSEL OPACITY & IUU FISHING
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing represents 20-30% of global catch worth $10-23 billion annually. This means:
Vessels routinely disable AIS and operate "dark" in restricted waters
Fishing in marine protected areas or territorial waters without authorisation
Increased collision risk, enforcement actions, and vessel seizures
Impossible to verify actual operational areas for accurate underwriting
Growing public awareness exposing insurers to criticism
ESG COMPLIANCE PRESSURE
Lloyd's and other major insurers have acknowledged that ESG performance is critical to attracting investment capital.
However:
Investors demand documented ESG compliance—unverified claims create reputational and legal exposure
Marine insurance portfolios lack verifiable data on crew welfare and sustainable practices
Competitors who demonstrate ESG leadership gain significant advantage in capital markets
Without substantiated proof, ESG commitments become hollow marketing—exposing firms to greenwashing accusations
HOW THE EARTH PLATFORM ADDRESSES THESE CHALLENGES
A mandate-based approach that costs insurers nothing while generating valuable transparency and ESG credentials.
ZERO COST TO INSURER
Vessel operators pay for smartphone/tablet and app subscription as part of operational compliance.
ENHANCED TRANSPARENCY
Insurers gain verifiable vessel location data, crew welfare metrics, and incident reporting.
ESG DIFFERENTIATION
Demonstrate industry leadership and provide investors with documented compliance data.
MARKET LEADERSHIP
First-movers shape industry standards before regulation mandates action.
THE MANDATE MODEL
Marine insurers require EARTH Platform deployment as a condition of coverage for fishing vessel fleets—similar to requiring AIS, safety equipment, or crew certifications. The cost is borne by vessel operators as part of their compliance obligations.
WHAT WE GAIN AS AN INDUSTRY
DOCUMENTED COMPLIANCE
Verifiable vessel compliance with territorial restrictions and crew welfare standards creates defensible positions for coverage decisions and claims management.
Example: When a vessel enters a marine protected area, administrators receive immediate alerts. We can contact the vessel to correct course (preventing a violation) or document the breach for coverage adjustments.
BETTER UNDERWRITING DATA
Historical vessel location data shows actual operational areas—not claimed fishing zones. Crew welfare metrics indicate vessel safety culture. Incident patterns reveal high-risk operators vs. compliant vessels.
Example: Two vessels both claim to fish exclusively in regional waters. Earth Platform data shows Vessel A operates exactly as claimed, while Vessel B regularly strays into riskier international waters. Premium structure can reflect actual risk.
SUBSTANTIATED ESG CLAIMS
Verifiable data on crew welfare compliance for investor ESG reporting—not aspirational statements. Documented commitment to maritime human rights. Evidence of proactive measures to prevent forced labour.
Example: When presenting to ESG-focused investors or responding to RFPs requiring sustainability commitments, we provide compliance reports showing: X vessels monitored, Y crew welfare check-ins completed, Z% compliance with territorial restrictions.
REGULATORY READINESS
Proactive compliance with U.S. FISH Act and emerging EU supply chain regulations means infrastructure already in place when forced labour transparency becomes mandatory—no scramble costs when regulations suddenly require compliance data.
Example: When the U.S. FISH Act or similar EU legislation requires documented verification of seafood supply chain labour practices, early adopters are already 2-3 years ahead—with systems, data, and relationships in place.
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
First-mover advantage as maritime human rights becomes a competitive differentiator. Positive positioning for industry-leading transparency initiatives. Influence over emerging industry standards and best practices.
Example: The first major insurer to mandate the EARTH Platform for fishing fleets positions itself as the industry leader in maritime accountability—generating positive recognition and investor interest.
WHAT WE GAIN AS AN INDUSTRY
Phase 1:
Pilot Programme
Phase 1:
Pilot Programme
• Select 5-10 vessels from a cooperative fleet operator
• 30-day platform customization and crew onboarding
• 90-day operational period collecting baseline data
• Evaluation of transparency insights and ESG reporting value
Phase 2:
Expanded Deployment
Phase 2:
Expanded Deployment
• Add Earth Platform requirement to policy terms for specific fleets
• Roll out to additional vessels as policies renew
• Develop premium adjustment framework based on compliance data
• Begin using data for underwriting and ESG reporting
Phase 3:
Industry Standard
Phase 3:
Industry Standard
• Mandate Earth Platform for all fishing vessel coverage
• Collaborate with other insurers to create industry-wide standard
• Work with regulators to align platform with emerging legislation
• Establish position as industry leader in maritime transparency
WHY ACT NOW
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