According to new research from Cranfield University’s Sustainable Manufacturing Systems Centre, the sole focus on vehicle tailpipe emissions as a measure of environmental impact in the car manufacturing industry has led to serious unintentional costs. In order to cut CO₂ emissions and fuel use, the automotive industry has been encouraged to use lightweight aluminum in the manufacture of vehicles. Cranfield’s study raises concerns that this method results in a far higher cost to the environment than the savings achieved through reduced tailpipe emissions. The study, a ‘cradle to grave’ investigation of the total energy and CO₂ emissions impact of passenger vehicle engine production, focused on the most representative engine in use globally –  a 1.6 litre four-cylinder engine. Aluminum models were compared with the more traditional cast iron engines. Despite the lighter weight of aluminum, the production of each aluminium cylinder block consumes 1.8 to 3.7 times more energy than the production of cast iron. What’s more, over 70% of global aluminum production is based on fossil fuels. The result? An energy-intensive production phase which generates more than 10 kilogram of CO₂ per kilogram of aluminum. A typical aluminium-engined car would need to be driven between around 115,000 miles and 348,000 miles before there were any environmental benefits from the lower fuel use involved. Research lead and head of Sustainable Manufacturing at Cranfield University, Professor Mark Jolly, said: “Current legislation takes such a narrow view of what makes a car environmentally-friendly that it has caused more damage than good. “Legislation encourages engineers to use low-density materials, forcing them to swim in dirty water. It’s critical that governments and consumers start to look at the whole life-cycle involved in manufacturing vehicles, not one indicator, with more holistic policies that actually reduce CO₂ emissions rather than just presenting the image of doing so.” He continues to explain that consumers may be misled, thinking they are making a sustainable choice when presented information is based solely on emissions. “There are also major implications for the electric vehicle market – seen to be the future in terms of environmentally friendly transport. But, again, taking the life-cycle into account you have to highlight the potential horrendous impacts of manufacturing the batteries.”

Protection policy claims added up to £3.6 billion in 2015 and helped more than 130,000 families. Over the last ten years the percentage of successful claims has actually gone up too, with the number of approved claims increasing by 30% between 2013 and 2015.

The majority of insurance companies now publish their pay-out rates too, so you can see the odds before you take out a policy. What can consumers do to up their chances and make sure they’re not left out of pocket?

Non-disclosure

When it comes to insurers refusing to pay out, it’s the usual suspects that are to blame: non-disclosure, not abiding by the T&Cs, and negligence. Of these, non-disclosure is cited as the most common culprit. Non-disclosure is when a customer has failed to give an insurer all the information it needs. This can be when they take out the policy, or if something has changed over the duration of the policy that was relevant, but the policyholder chose not to declare. It has to be relatively significant – something that would have meant changes to the terms of your policy, i.e. increased the premiums or meant that cover would be denied altogether. Despite this, it often happens when a customer isn’t aware they need to provide the information, for example, if they are diagnosed with a health condition, but don’t realise they need to declare it on an existing policy.

How to up your chances

How can you increase the chance that your claim will be approved? – Don’t just opt for the cheapest policy, as it’s important to ensure that you get adequate cover, too. – Always read the small print – read the documentation to check what’s covered. – Keep receipts – these could help you when you come to claim. Photographs can also go a long way to help prove that you own an item if you’re burgled, for example.

When you come to make a claim…

With insurance companies, there’s no such thing as a white lie, so make sure that you don’t try to squeeze more from your policy than you deserve, as you could end up empty-handed. Dishonesty is cited by Moneywise as the most common reason car insurance claims are rejected.

1.Speed is of the essence

Make your claim quickly while the details are still fresh in your mind. In many contracts, you’ll find there’s a stipulated time window within which you must claim. In addition, if an item is stolen, then you need to report this to the police within 24 hours or your claim will likely be rejected.

2.Create a case

If you’re making a claim then it can help to put together information for your insurer that backs up your claim. This could include photographs of the damage, for example, or records you’ve been keeping in relation to the claim.

3.Follow the rules

It’s likely that your insurer has a preferred way of doing things. With emergency home repairs, for example, it’s likely that you will need to call the insurer before you call a tradesperson. Some insurers will even require that you use a specific tradesperson from an approved list.

4.Follow up

Keep track of all the paperwork and phone calls so that you can refer to them later if needs be. Ask the insurer for a timescale and follow up with them if they take longer. What if your claim is rejected? If your claim is rejected, then you can approach the Financial Ombudsman to help you handle your complaint and independently asses your query.

If the Financial Ombudsman decides your claim was unfairly rejected then it has the power to get them to explain why, apologise and even potentially pay compensation or take appropriate action.

Don’t forget that insurers are the good guys. Although consumers have a negative opinion of insurers, often having your claim approved is as simple as reading through the paperwork and making sure you abide by the terms of your policy.

Though drills are usually overseen by experienced, qualified seamen, it is imperative that the correct training is given to supervisers on each system and the particular equipment in place aboard a vessel, explained Captain Velankar. Crew who are experienced aboard one ship may not necessarily be familiar with another setup. Maintenance is also key to reducing the chance of accident and injury. The poor maintenance of cables and equipment, whether as a knock-on result of untrained personal or caused by time restrictions and corner-cutting, should not be overlooked. Whether aboard a cruise ship, chartered yacht or freight vessel, it is imperative that safety measures are adhered to and the correct protection is in place, including specially designed marine insurance. Talk to Safeguard Insurance for more information on protecting your crew.

Safeguard At SMM Hamburg

Safeguard are attending the SMM Hamburg Exhibition 2016 and we love to see you there. The event takes place at the Hamburg Fair from 6th – 9th of September 2016 and we’ll be there in full force, eager to talk all thinks Marine with visitors and other attendees. The SMM is the leading international maritime trade fair and in addition to the fair itself there will also be four conferences and a Maritime Career Market, which will feature twice as many companies as it did just two years ago. As specialists in Marine Insurance, Safeguard is a regular attendee at the SMM Exhibition as we really enjoy and value this opportunity to talk to other marine businesses, existing clients and new ones in one of the largest marine-focused events around. If you’re attending the SMM Hamburg Exhibition we’d love to see you there. However, as we expect the event to be very busy, it’s important that you book an appointment with us to avoid disappointment. If you’d like to discuss your Marine Insurance needs with the experienced team at Safeguard, simply click the link below to get in touch and book your appointment today. We look forward to hearing from you.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT (link to sj@safeguardinsurance.co.uk)

The SMM Hamburg Exhibition marks the continuation of a very busy period for Safeguard. Previously this month we attended exclusive marine insurance training, which has enhanced our position as marine specialists. We are also now up and running on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn so simply click the social icons at the top of our website to follow us.