Norwegian Hull Club (NHC) is the lead hull and machinery underwriter covering a Grimaldi Group ship that sank off the coast of France in the Bay of Biscay today. The incident is expected to generate total claims in excess of $50m.

Compatriot Gard is also among the list of hull insurers that will be paying out on the loss which was initiated by a fire in a deck container on 56,642-gt Grande America (built 1997).