At CSM you can discover new products, suppliers, service and technologies all focusing on the needs of the international cruise industry.  This is a great event to network with peers and keep abreast of industry and market trends.  Attendees will experience unparalleled educational opportunities with inspiring keynotes, informative round-table discussions, thought-provoking educational conferences and a comprehensive exhibition floor filled with new and innovative products and services.

MHG’s booth is located in the Ship Services and Hotel Operations section, booth #1893.  Please join us for a glass of wine during our opening reception on Wednesday, March 14^th from 2pm-5pm.  Avoid the $100 fee and register as our guest for complimentary tickets to the Exhibition Hall. Make sure to stop by our booth to say hello.

MHG Insurance Brokers offers a full line of individual and group insurance benefits for all nationalities, suited to fit most budgets. These plans include yacht crew insurance, full-time and short-term private international medical insurance, US life and health insurance, disability income protection, life insurance, financial services, and property and liability insurance.   For more information, contact MHG at 877-278-7400 today.

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Show goers will have the opportunity to sharpen up existing sailing skills and learn new ones by participating in one or more of the hands on learning events.  There is something for everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned sailors.  There is even a Sailing simulator that recreates the actual movement of a boat under sail.

Saturday night is the Cruisers Party; a great night of free pizza, beer and soft drinks with fellow sailors starting at 6pm with not additional ticket required.  This year the Latitudes and Attitudes Party features a live concert by the Eric Stone Band.  This concert will take place at the Miamarina at Bayside.

The Water Discover Sailing Center is your one stop resource for sailing information and advice.  The will help you get started in the sailing world with a crew of experts to help out find a boat to fit your lifestyle and budget.

MHG Insurance Brokers specializes in insurance plans designed specifically to meet the needs of marine officers, crew and contractors, expatriates, and US residents. With our extensive market relationships, we are able to offer sound, independent advice as to which insurance and financial services providers and products are best suited to address the needs of individuals and employers.   MHG offers a full line of individual and group insurance benefits for all nationalities, suited to fit most budgets. These plans include full-time and short-term private international medical insurance, US life and health insurance, disability income protection, life insurance, financial services, and property and liability insurance.  Contact MHG today at 877-278-7400.

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A ban that has been developing since July now prohibits all Iranian oil into the European Union and prohibits European insurers from working with any ship carrying Iranian oil anywhere in the world, according to Reuters.

London is the world leader in marine insurance, controlling 17% of the market.  This ban obviously won’t stop those ship-owners involved in the trade from switching to insurance elsewhere but the process will cause quite the loss in premiums and migration to other markets. Ultimately, and the reason for this agreement between the Iranian sanctions and EU, is to put pressure of the Tehran’s for the disputed nuclear program by shutting off the country’s main source of foreign income.

In the midst of this situation, came the biggest marine insurance claims in history due to the Costa Concordia shipwreck earlier this month off the coast of Italy. Insurance claims from the wreck are now estimated to be up to $1 billion.Analysts positively claim, though, that they see China and India picking up the slack as the new emerging force behind marine insurance and most international ship-owners carrying on with their business, still continuing a decent return on investment.

MHG Insurance Brokers provide insurance plans designed specifically to meet the needs of marine officers, crew and contractors, expatriates, and US residents. MHG also offers yacht crew insurance, international medical insurance, disability insurance ,long term care, life insurance and business insurance. Our staff applies years of industry knowledge to find the best plan for each individual client, and is always a phone call or email away to answer any questions. For more information, contact MHG today.

Oil trade ban between Europe and Iran taking toll on Ship Insurance is a post from: MHG Blog

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It is an issue nobody wants to think about. The question presides too many, what are the affects? Studies show that within the next 50 years, sea levels from North Palm Beach to Miami will rise up to about 9 inches or 3 feet. The 3-foot scenario could pose a huge problem, especially to all of the expensive real estate along the Florida Intercoastal and canals waterways.

More issues for South Florida arise about drinking water, water pumps, which areas will get saturated and where will stormwater go?  Predications and concerns about an underwater city may sound a bit dire but it is definitely an idea building strategist and south Florida city officials are taking into account to protect people, homes and all other valuables precious to the area.

Losses and changes from natural disasters, or anything unexpected for that matter, are never something we want to think about. MHG Insurance Brokers takes into account the valuables that are cared about most by South Florida from property insurance, business insurance to US life and Medical Insurance. Our staff applies years of industry knowledge to find the best plan for each individual client, and is always a phone call or email away to answer any questions. For more information, contact MHG today.

The Rising Question about Global Warming and South Florida is a post from: MHG Blog

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Family Affair

Make Valentine’s Day a family affair and have your children help you prepare red Jello with cinnamon hearts mixed in, mashed potatoes colored with pink food coloring, heart-shaped cookies and any other creative ways to present your Valentine’s Day meal.

The Gift of Time

Give a hand-made coupon for some work you can do to free-up some time for your spouse or parent. For example, a coupon good for cleaning Dad’s garage or weeks worth of dishes for your wife. How about a coupon for your best friend – you can walk her dog or babysit one evening.

Less Fortunate

Visit your local hospital or nursing home to pass out small Valentine surprises to the residents. They will enjoy the care and attention from something so unexpected.

Long Distance

Call that close Aunt that had to move away for her job or that best friend that is oversea for 6 months to let them know you miss them and are thinking of them this Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day can definitely seem a little silly for some people but at times it is the little things that make somebodies’ month. Make this year’s holiday count by making it an investment for those you love. MHG Insurance Brokers offers Life Insurance that is designed with loved ones in mind and plays an important role with your overall financial plan. In the event of your death, beneficiaries can be comforted knowing that they have time to re-adjust their standard of living, can pay off debts or other expenses or provide for their children’s education.

You Know What is Romantic? Taking Care of Your Family is a post from: MHG Blog

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According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, about 7 million students will finish their degrees in another country by 2020. So I do not even want to know how many are going to Cancun this year for Spring Break. Regardless, student travel and temporary living overseas is becoming extremely common these days. Therefore, the old “week long backpacking-trip in Europe” is becoming more of the “see you in a few months Mom and Dad…”

Whether it is for a week or a few months, before sending your kids off overseas this upcoming year, make sure you are covering them from all corners. MHG Insurance Brokers offers multiple Single and Multi-trip Insurance options that might be necessary when sending a student abroad this year. This kind of insurance benefits individuals traveling outside their Home country from 5 days to a maximum of one year. Multiple options for Travel Medical Insurance might be necessary for those long vacations as well as in case absolutely anything happening. Options for travel medical insurance can include temporary medical insurance while traveling anywhere outside their home country.

These independent ventures for students are going to be one of the most incredible experiences of their lives. But it may also be one of the most stressful for the parents. You might not be able to watch them as closely as before but you can insure them with something for a safe, smart trip abroad and a peace of mind. MHG Insurance Brokers offers a variety of comprehensive medical insurance plans to meet the needs of each unique client. Whether you are looking for crew insurance, individual health insurance plans, family health insurance plans or group health insurance plans, the experts at MHG have the resources to help you choose the ideal policy for your unique requirements. Contact us today to learn more.

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Espirito Santo Investment Bank released a report expecting the insured losses from the Carnival Corporation cruise ship disaster estimated to be between $500 million and $1 billion. That would make the disaster the largest marine loss in history. This number is up from the first estimate released which estimated losses around $513 million. The new estimate takes into consideration the liability losses as well as those stemming from the potential cleanup and environmental costs associated with the disaster. To understand where the Costa Concordia losses in context of past accidents, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker crash which included $500 million in pollution losses.

With losses reaching at least $500 million, the claims will be spread across 10 or so different writers so no one insurance company should see more than 10% of the losses. The lead insurers for the ship are XL Group, Assicurazioni Generali and RSA Insurance Group plc. The risk is expected to be relatively fragmented considering most marine policies are written by syndicates of different companies and protection and indemnity clubs. The London-based Standard Club confirmed it is the lead protection and indemnity insure for the stricken ship.

The liability side of the insurance can be a little more complicated due to the amount of individuals who file claims, if the captain is found guilty, etc. The removal of the wreckage is estimated to cost about $10 million. Considering the small percentage of passengers who were injured or deceased due to the accident, the human cost will be relatively low. Liability claims get tied up in litigation and take longer to be paid. A delay will also be made when determining if the ship’s captain Fancesco Schettino will face criminal charges. He is facing charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship; if found guilty, he could be held financially accountable for the disaster.

While the losses are likely to be absorbed by the market, it is unclear if the disaster will be enough to change the current prices in the marine insurance market. Unlike a hurricane or serious storm where you see prices go up the next day, this would be a much slower process. The marine insurance industry is still absorbing costs of the damage caused by the flooding in Thailand and the earthquakes in Japan. Considering the industry is still feeling the strain from these past disasters, the Costa Concordia incident could put pressure to increase prices.

MHG Insurance Brokers provide insurance plans designed specifically to meet the needs of marine officers, crew and contractors, expatriates, and US residents. MHG also offers yacht crew insurance, international medical insurance, disability insurance ,long term care, life insurance and business insurance. Our staff applies years of industry knowledge to find the best plan for each individual client, and is always a phone call or email away to answer any questions. For more information, contact MHG today.

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“Audits should be welcomed as a collaborative opportunity for all parties in discussing a situation, and in leading to improvements in the safety and efficiency of the work, as well as improving the business position of the company,” says Hugh Williams, Chief Executive of IMCA.  “Marine contractors undertake many more internal audits than the number of external audits, although there are many of these too performed on them by clients and statutory bodies.”

“Our members are involved at three different levels. Contractor members perform in-house audits themselves and contract external consultants to assist. Corresponding members perform audits on contractors, either using their own staff or external consultants – of course, contractors take a similar stance when auditing subcontractors. Then there are external consultants who are often IMCA ‘supplier members’ who supply services – consultancy – which is often to carry out an audit/inspection.”

IMCA has published various audit-related documents that have feedback obtained over the past 30 years for the purpose of understanding the purpose of auditing, the beneficiaries, and carrying out audits. The IMCA firmly believes that standardizing the audit format, and the widespread use of a common format, improves the audit process and ultimately the safety and efficiency of the industry.

One of the most important steps to business improvement is making sure you are informed and up to date on any new developments in regards to audits and insurance. MHG Insurance Brokers provide insurance plans designed specifically to meet the needs of marine officers, crew and contractors, expatriates, and US residents. MHG also offers yacht crew insurance, international medical insurance, disability insurance ,long term care, life insurance and business insurance. Our staff applies years of industry knowledge to find the best plan for each individual client, and is always a phone call or email away to answer any questions. For more information, contact MHG today.

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Held at 15^th Street Fisheries in Fort Lauderdale, this year’s party featured signature cocktails, tasty hors d’oeuvres and much more. Guests mingled on the outside patio overlooking the intracoastal before dining on a fantastic four-course meal. Employees and guests indulged in crab cakes, fish and steak before ending their meal on a sweet note with bread pudding and key lime pie.

MHG would like to take this opportunity to extend a big thank you to our “cruise director”, Shannon, for the evening’s entertainment. Partygoers participated in fun games like “name the jelly bean flavor,” “guess what’s in the stocking,” “name that Christmas song” and “de-code the Christmas song title,” engaging with one another and making lasting memories. Everyone put forth their best effort, but they were no match for team Mark and Melissa, who won both the “name that Christmas song” and “de-code the Christmas song title” games. Beate and her mom scored the highest number correct for the stocking game, and Janine and her husband tied with Crystol and Andrew for the jelly bean contest. Another big thanks to our dear Tracie for organizing the event for us!

As we approach the end of another year, we wish our families, friends, colleagues and business associates a joy-filled holiday season; cheers to a great year! For more pictures of the event, “Like” the MHG Insurance Brokers Facebook page.If you’re traveling for the holidays, contact MHG to learn more about travel insurance, and if you’re considering investing in health insurance for the new year, talk to your ‘friends with benefits’ today!

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First, you should know your enemy. According to the American Psychological Association, lack of money and the pressure of gift-giving are the most significant contributors to holiday stress (61 percent and 42 percent, respectively). These are followed closely by lack of time (34 percent) and good ol’ credit card debt (23 percent). Roughly 20 percent of us are worried that holiday stress will negatively affect our health, and over one-third of us will turn to food or alcohol to cope. On the bright side, nearly half of us attempt to use exercise and/or spiritual activities to relieve stress.

These statistics suggest that we are aware of the situation, so why is it still such a problem? More than likely, it’s because as these issues build, we allow them to paralyze us, causing us to be reactive instead of proactive. News features and blogs like this one are another contributing factor. Most of them advise us to spend less than we earn, to squeeze in some exercise, or to spend some time by ourselves, or any number of activities that if we could do, we wouldn’t be stressed out in the first place. Essentially adding to our already skyrocketing stress levels! So let’s press the reset button and come up with some new ways to take the edge off the holiday season.

Weather the storm with confidence. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. If you’re reading this, you’ve been able to survive every holiday season until now, so no matter how tough things may seem, you will get through it. No matter how tired, broke or busy you are, or how many undesirable family members are descending on your abode, you’re going to survive. Come January 1^st, you’ll be back into your regular routine.

Embrace the morning. Ever notice that no matter how you felt when you were falling asleep, you wake up feeling calm and relaxed? This feeling only lasts a few seconds, but you can force yourself to control and hang onto it to the point where it permeates your entire day. Many use yoga or meditation to combat stress, but just trying to squeeze it into an already overbooked schedule will create a maddening catch-22. Make a conscious effort to hold onto this feeling.

Make sleep a priority. It’s easy to spend the evening trying to fit in things you’ve forgotten to do. While it’s great to be organized and efficient, you want to be relaxed before hitting the sack. Schedule a time if you must, but be sure to choose a time to stop working and spend some time de-stressing before going to sleep.

With these tips, you’ll be able to tackle holiday stress with relative ease this season. Above all else, it’s important to remember what the season is supposed to be about. Embrace family and friends instead of focusing solely on showering them with gifts you can’t afford.

Holiday stress can take a big toll on your health, from the effects stress has on your body to the behaviors (like drinking) that it encourages to help relieve it. If you are experiencing any negative health problems as a result of holiday stress, it might be time to visit your doctor. Since the holidays are already a financial stressor, be sure to secure a quality health insurance plan to pay for some or all of your expenses. MHG Insurance Brokers offers a variety of comprehensive medical insurance plans to meet the needs of each unique client. Whether you are looking for crew insurance, individual health insurance plans, family health insurance plans or group health insurance plans, the experts at MHG have the resources to help you choose the ideal policy for your unique requirements. Contact us today to learn more.

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