IUMI - a brief history
Early days
The roots of IUMI, in its present form, can be traced to the later part of the 19th century, a time of continuous increase in the volume of international trade and consumption and of constantly improving communications. The transition from sail to steam was already under way, leading to a greater need for marine insurance, especially cargo insurance, both ocean and inland.
Until the mid-19th century, most marine insurance was placed in local markets. The developments in international trade and shipping, however, gave rise to more international transactions. New markets were emerging and there was a demand for uniformity in insurance cover, not least by banks and clients.
IUMI is born
In the wake of such rapid changes, a great number of marine insurance companies were formed, all endeavouring to secure a share of the market. This led to fierce competition and to the chaotic use of a variety of rules and policy conditions, many of which lacked conformity and substance. The recession that followed in 1870 hit these companies in the midst of a cut-throat fight for business and drove many of them into liquidation. It was then that the need for international cooperation was fully recognised by the traditional markets, mainly in the UK and Continental Europe and it was German Underwriters who took the initiative on 8th January 1874 by forming the "Internationaler Transport - Versicherungs - Verband" in Berlin. This later became the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI). The purpose of this initiative was to create an association “where the members could discuss business matters of common interest with the purpose of agreeing upon principles concerning the management of marine insurance business”.
At the same time further initiatives were taken to improve the classification of ships and to influence the work done by Classification Societies; to compile regulations with regard to customs practices and insurance conditions; and to express opinion on legal matters, such as uniform rules for Bills of Lading etc. IUMI also tried to establish advisory rates for certain commodities such as cotton, grain, wood, wool, tobacco etc. However, these efforts failed as any understandings and/or agreements on rates would have been against laws that existed in some member states.
An extended reach
The name “International Union of Marine Insurance” was unanimously agreed upon in order to clearly manifest IUMI’s character as an association of representatives from different countries. The founders strongly emphasised the objective of being international and, from the outset, they were at pains to keep membership open to companies from all countries. For that reason and so as not to impede “progress towards universality” in any way, the question of IUMI’s base was also left open. Berlin was chosen for the first year only.
The composition of the IUMI committee was intended to reflect the organisation’s international character by including delegates form a wide variety of countries.
By World War I, individual companies from 22 countries had enrolled as members. In 1926 British and French companies also joined.
A period of standstill
The outbreak of the first World War interrupted the process of building IUMI. The last activity before the war had been the 40th annual general meeting at Baden-Baden in September 1913. Despite its name and many years of successful efforts to establish contacts abroad, these mostly came to a standstill because IUMI was widely regarded as a German institution. That was suggested by the location of its head office in Germany, a German management and its numerous German member companies.
During the first World War, the Union suffered from the isolation of Germany and was confronted with a choice between providing its services on a modest scale to those bodies and companies with whom a link was still feasible, and suspending all its activities until further notice. In order to avoid wholly forfeiting what had been achieved and so as to be able to continue after the war, it was decided to maintain activities.
With hostilities precluding any practical possibility for exercising influence on current business by framing tariffs and conditions or in participating in loss adjustment, the secretariat used the period of standstill to address more closely the theoretical fundamentals of marine insurance. The risk of war and the repercussions of state control on goods transport and the insurance thereof were initially at the top of the agenda, later mainly currency problems of very different kinds. Much work was also done in preparing marine insurance statistics which proved to be of substantial importance in the post war period. Members were kept informed of these surveys as far as possible.
Re-starting IUMI
A new start after 1918 was no simple matter, since with the exception of a few states in Central Europe and Scandinavia virtually all nations of importance for marine insurance had been at war with Germany. It was thanks to the efforts of Arthur Duncker, president, and Dr Paul Brüders, general secretary, that IUMI resumed its international activities in the interest of both German and non-German marine insurance companies after a standstill of nearly seven years.
Further interruption
At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, membership of IUMI comprised 203 member companies from 24 countries. The IUMI journal ceased publication with its issue for August / September 1939. General secretary Hans Hoppenstedt was on active service from the start of hostilities and went missing as a Korvettenkapitän (Commander) in 1942. Of the original 14 members of the secretariat, only two survived the war. The Union’s office in Berlin was totally destroyed, together with all files and documents.
Renewal and restructuring
Based in Switzerland, which had remained neutral, IUMI president Carl Briner took the initiative on reviving the Union as early as 1946. Its reactivation was linked to a complete restructuring which represented the most decisive turning point in the organisation’s entire history. Whereas until the Second World War the Union had been a cooperation between marine insurance companies, after the end of the war it became a worldwide umbrella organisation of marine insurance associations. For the first time the goal pursued ever since its foundation in 1874, namely of bringing the entire marine insurance community under one roof, had been achieved.
IUMI is the oldest association in the insurance industry to be active across national boundaries. IUMI has developed from an association of insurers in Central Europe to a worldwide union of national associations in marine insurance. The institution enjoys a high reputation internationally and has played a decisive role in shaping the pattern of marine insurance.
A fresh start at the Waterkant in Hamburg
In January 2012 Secretary General Fritz Stabinger announced his decision to step down. President Ole Wikborg and members of the Executive Committee began work to identify and appoint a new Secretary General shortly afterwards. With the incoming Secretary General Lars Lange, the IUMI Secretariat moved from Zurich to Hamburg. And with that move, IUMI returned to its original roots in Germany.
Former Presidents
1874-1885 Gustav Hartmann (Germany)*
1885-1892 Friedrich Buschius (Germany)*
1892-1900 Theodor Lange (Germany)*
1900-1912 Peter Reusch (Germany)*
1912-1923 Arthur Duncker (Germany)
1923-1937 Axel Rinman (Sweden)
1937-1954 Carl Briner (Switzerland)
1954-1958 H.J. Quirino da Fonseca (Portugal)
1958-1962 L. Rostock - Jensen (Denmark)
1962-1966 H. Ph. Rogaar (Netherlands)
1966-1970 Hans Chr. Bugge (Norway)
1970-1974 Alwin Kunzler (Switzerland)
1974-1978 Ake Thorstensson (Sweden)
1978-1982 Walter Rostock (Germany)
1982-1985 Enrico Orlando (Italy)
1985-1988 Anton W. Kamp (Netherlands)
1988-1991 Maurice F.L. Jaques (Canada)
1991-1994 Bo Wahllof (Sweden)
1994-1997 Nicholas Adamantiadis (Greece)
1997-2000 Georg Mehl (Germany)
2000-2003 Richard D. DeSimone (USA)
2003-2006 Patrick de la Morinerie (France)
2006-2010 Deirdre Littlefield (USA)
2010-2014 Ole Wikborg (Norway)
2014-2018 Dieter Berg (Germany)
2018-2022 Richard Turner (UK)
2022-present Frédéric Denèfle (France)
* Founding members
Former Secretaries General
1875 - 1910 Rudolf Ulrich
1911 - 1921 Dr. Paul Brüders
1921 - 1933 Margareta Frenzi
1934 - 1935 Theodor Freiherr von Ritter
1935 - 1942 Hans Hoppenstedt
1952 - 1985 Dr. Peter Alther
1985 - 1992 Emanuel Burckhardt
1992 - 1997 Dr. Alexander von Ziegler
1997 - 2002 Stefan Peller
2002 - 2012 Fritz Stabinger
2013 - present Lars Lange
