The cost of freight, demurrage and defence (FD&D) cover is set to remain unchanged despite a rising number of legal disputes producing an upturn in claims.

The two leading FD&D mutuals, the London-based UK Defence Club and Nordisk Skibsrederforening of Norway, are to seek no general increase in 2017 for the third year running.

Most of the International Group’s protection-and-indemnity (P&I) clubs also offer FD&D cover and they are also providing renewal on expiry terms for 2017, although there were rate rises in many cases in earlier years.

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