There is a £25,000 limit of indemnity per claim, but IRPC excludes one of the biggest areas for disputes - major building works.

Unless you are obliged or required to buy a particular insurance, it is up to you to decide whether to buy it and what limit of indemnity (protection) is appropriate.

An insurmountable threshold amounts to favourable treatment for shipowners, to the detriment of victims when the damage suffered is greater than the limit of indemnity provided for by these very conventions.

"Lifetime cover in the original policy refers to the fact that the limits of indemnity were reset to their original values at renewal, but only if the insurer, NIG, was prepared to offer renewal; it does not guarantee cover for the life of any pet."