Great news from Borneo for visiting yachts… North Borneo & East Coast Borneo and Southern Philippines are now considered completely safe and peaceful.
“These areas are now deemed as safe, based on the new JWC insurance underwriter’s committee issuance of the updated JWLA 022 bulletin as of Dec. 10, 2015 (superseding JWLA 021)”, announced Asia Pacific Superyachts Borneo GM, Alvin Teh.
North Borneo / East Coast Borneo and Southern Philippines area are no longer listed as dangerous water perils and special permission by insurance underwriters to operate a vessel in this area is no longer required.
Alvin Teh reports, “Vessels no longer need to seek special approval from insurance underwriters to enter, operate and stopover at any port listed in these areas. As well, they no longer must pay additional and costly premiums for this purpose. This news is also a strong statement in recognising these areas are considered safe and peaceful to visit and no longer pose a danger or are a high-risk area, as in the past”.
JWC Insurance is the widely recognised body regulating insurance underwriting ruling for vessels operating around the world. Prior to the positive changes from the underwriter’s committee of insurance underwriters, as many as 80% of APS potential clients thanked Alvin for his honesty but turned away from Borneo due to restrictions by the insurance underwriters.
The updated bulletin changes all of that and is well timed as cruising seasons starts soon, notes Alvin, adding: “North & East Coast Sabah Borneo coastline is now deleted from Joint War Committee (JWC) of high-risk perils area zoning in late December 2015 by the JWC committee review. Not it’s time to visit ‘paradise’ in a safe and peaceful ESSCOM Sabah security zone cruising heaven within the world coral triangle zone.”