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Maritime Claims-Americas, Inc. ("MCA") was established in 1997 to provide competent, coordinated and cost-effective claims handling services to the marine industry in Latin America. It offers a dramatically increased level of service over that which has previously been available in the region. Initially operating in the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Belize, MCA has expanded its claims handling services throughout Central and South America, and Mexico.
MCA's goal is to prevent small problems from becoming large ones, and to contain large ones in a manner that minimizes overall liability exposure. Our local correspondents provide rapid response when an incident occurs, accurately report the circumstances, undertake containment activity in order to minimize overall exposure, and seek a prompt and cost-effective resolution of claims. This requires individuals on the local level with the necessary "know how" to immediately investigate an incident - large or small - keeping the client fully informed from the outset of a problem's potential magnitude. In addition, our local correspondents have developed personal relationships with decision-makers in their respective countries, so that matters involving local port authorities, customs authorities, environmental agencies and police can be promptly resolved. Finally, our local correspondents are alert for developments germane to potential liability exposures of our clients. Thus, legal and regulatory changes, trends and developments are monitored and reported to clients on a timely basis. Our correspondents give clients an opportunity to react proactively to conditions in their respective countries. We understand the need for modernization of laws throughout Latin America involving vessel seizures and the acceptability of P&I Club letters of undertaking as a form of security. We believe that our understanding of current legislation and our high level of contacts can be utilized to promote legislative change to the benefit of interests of P&I Clubs, other marine insurers and shipping clients.
Central America and Mexico have undergone extensive economic and social development, which has included a significant increase in maritime commerce. This trend is projected to continue over the next decade; and as shipping traffic to the region has increased, "P&I Clubs", marine insurers and other shipowner insureds are faced with more frequent and potentially more serious claims. Recognizing these increased risks, Maritime Claims-Americas, Inc. ("MCA") offers its' clients a coordinated organization of non-lawyer correspondents throughout Central America and in Mexico, providing competent and cost-effective marine claims handling services.
In Central America, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua all have experienced extensive political and social evolution. These countries and their neighbors in Honduras, Costa Rica and Belize are all positioned for significant economic expansion in coming years, with increasing maritime trade. MCA has developed an organization consisting of local non-lawyer correspondents covering all of the key ports in these six countries.
To the north, Mexico also has experienced significant economic expansion on a grand scale. Over the last decade, maritime cargo handled by Mexican ports has increased at the rate of about 18% per year, and by 1999, had grown to about 240 million tons. Mexican ports now provide services to more than 7 million ship passengers per year, and the offshore oil industry continues to play a vital role in the growth of the economy of Mexico. The result has been a substantial increase in all types of maritime traffic, the expansion of existing ports and the construction of significant new port facilities. In order to serve the numerous port areas of Mexico which are located in different regions along its nearly 7,000 miles of coast line, MCA has developed an organization consisting of local non-lawyer correspondents residing in each of these regions.
For more information on MCA, please visit our website.
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