A battle for the insurance business of many top Greek shipowners has flared up following the departure of the head of PL Ferrari’s Piraeus office.

Vittorio De Gaspari and PL Ferrari parted company this week, in a move that has sparked a wave of speculation in the close-knit Greek marine insurance market.

PL Ferrari is a top Genoa-headquartered protection-and-indemnity (P&I) broker, with a strong position among Mediterranean owners.