Marine insurers are facing a massive accumulation of risk off the coast of the Bahamas as cruiseships valued at more than $17bn are temporarily laid up with hurricane season fast approaching.

According to VesselsValue, there are 52 cruise vessels currently located in the Northern Atlantic hurricane zone around the Bahamas and South Florida.

Although it is not unusual for there to be heavy cruise traffic in the region, many of the ships are in temporary lay-up.