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When Budd first began acting as a P&I correspondent at the request of the first P&I Clubs in 1855, the world of shipping was very different. Vessels were powered by steam and sail, communications depended largely on letters and telegraph, and international maritime trade was still developing into the global industry we know today.

Yet, despite the enormous changes in shipping, insurance and technology over the past 170 years, one fundamental aspect of the P&I correspondent’s role has remained unchanged:

being there when a shipowner or P&I Club needs someone on the ground.

The work of the correspondent has evolved considerably since 1855. What was once primarily a local role, centered on personal relationships and practical assistance in port, has developed into a sophisticated service requiring specialist knowledge, international coordination and the ability to respond immediately to increasingly complex situations.

From local representative to trusted adviser

In the nineteenth century, a correspondent’s work was closely connected to the practical business of the port.

A correspondent would typically have strong knowledge of local shipping operations and relationships with ship agents, harbor authorities, customs officials, surveyors, lawyers and other local stakeholders. When an incident occurred, the correspondent’s ability to reach the vessel, speak to the relevant authorities and understand what was happening locally was often more important than anything else.

Communication was, of course, considerably slower than it is today. Information might take hours or days to reach an owner or insurer. The correspondent therefore had considerable responsibility for assessing the situation locally, taking appropriate practical steps and reporting back accurately.

The essential qualities were local knowledge, sound judgement and trust.

Those qualities remain at the heart of the role today.

The changing nature of maritime claims

As ships became larger, faster and more technologically advanced, the range and complexity of liabilities faced by shipowners increased.

Collisions, cargo claims, personal injury and pollution incidents remained central to P&I work, but new challenges emerged. Environmental regulation became increasingly stringent, ports became more heavily regulated, and the financial consequences of an incident could become substantial.

The correspondent’s role consequently expanded.

A correspondent might now be called upon to attend a serious casualty, coordinate surveyors and lawyers, assist with the detention or release of a vessel, deal with local authorities, investigate pollution allegations, arrange medical assistance or repatriation for crew, and help manage potentially substantial security demands.

The correspondent increasingly became the local extension of the P&I Club, combining practical assistance with an understanding of the wider legal and insurance implications of an incident.

From telegraph to real-time communication

Perhaps no change has transformed the correspondent’s work more than communications.

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, correspondence was necessarily deliberate and relatively infrequent. The arrival of the telephone, telex, fax and eventually email progressively accelerated the exchange of information.

Today, a shipowner, a Club or a correspondent may receive a report of an incident within minutes of it occurring.

Photographs, videos, documents and statements can be transmitted immediately from a vessel thousands of miles from the shipowner or P&I Club. A correspondent can communicate simultaneously with the Club, owner, master, lawyers, surveyors and authorities in different countries.

This has changed expectations as much as technology has changed.

The correspondent is no longer simply expected to report what has happened. He is expected to respond immediately, understand the implications and help determine what should happen next.

The correspondent in a more regulated world

Modern shipping operates within an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

Port and customs requirements have become more sophisticated, environmental legislation has expanded significantly, and international sanctions and other financial restrictions can have direct consequences for maritime operations.

As a result, local knowledge has acquired an additional dimension.

A correspondent must understand not only how a port operates in practice, but also how local regulations are applied, how authorities are likely to react, and which issues may require specialist legal or Club involvement.

This can be particularly important when a vessel is detained, security is demanded, cargo is seized or an investigation is opened by local authorities.

The correspondent’s ability to maintain constructive relationships with authorities can sometimes make a significant difference to the way an incident develops.

The human side of the role

Despite the increasing importance of technology and regulation, much of a correspondent’s work remains fundamentally hum an.

A serious casualty can involve injured crew, fatalities, pollution, damaged cargo or a vessel that is unable to continue her voyage. For those involved, the situation is rarely just an insurance matter.

Correspondents may therefore find themselves assisting families following a crew fatality, arranging medical treatment or repatriation, supporting a master facing an investigation, or helping a shipowner navigate unfamiliar administrative and legal procedures.

These situations require more than technical knowledge. They require judgement, discretion and an understanding of the human consequences of a maritime incident.

From individual correspondent to international network

Another major change has been the internationalization of the industry.

The correspondent of the past could rely heavily on personal knowledge of his own port and its community. Today, a vessel may call at ports on several continents within a single voyage, and an incident may involve parties, insurers, lawyers and authorities from numerous jurisdictions.

This has made international networks increasingly important.

A modern correspondent must be able to combine local presence with international coordination. The value lies not simply in knowing who to call locally, but in being able to bring together the right people and resources quickly, wherever an incident occurs.

Technology has changed the tools — not the fundamentals

Artificial intelligence, electronic reporting, satellite communications, digital documentation and increasingly advanced vessel-tracking systems are transforming the way maritime incidents are managed.

Information can now be gathered and shared almost instantaneously. Documents can be reviewed remotely; meetings can take place across continents or online and specialists can be brought into an incident without necessarily travelling to the location.

But technology cannot replace local presence.

When a vessel is detained in a port, when an injured crew member needs assistance, when authorities require immediate engagement or when negotiations need to take place face-to-face, nothing replaces having someone on the ground who knows the local area and can act for the Club and its members.

What has not changed since 1855

Looking back from 2026, it is remarkable how much the role has changed — and equally remarkable how much it has stayed the same.

In 1855, the correspondent’s value came from being local, knowledgeable, connected and trusted.

Those qualities remain essential today.

Nowadays, what really has changed is everything surrounding the job. Today, local connections are not enough on their own. The modern correspondent must combine local relationships with knowledge of international maritime law, P&I procedures, regulatory requirements and increasingly complex commercial and geopolitical considerations. They must be capable of working as part of a global team while understanding the particularities of the jurisdiction in which they operate.

The technology may have changed from letters and telegrams to smartphones and instant communications. Ships have grown enormously in size and sophistication. The regulatory framework has expanded beyond recognition.

But when something goes wrong in a port, the fundamental question remains the same:

Who can we trust on the ground to help?

That is the question the P&I correspondent has been answering since the nineteenth century — and it remains at the heart of the profession today.

Information provided by BUDD Marseille (general.marseillle@budd-pni.com)