The Swedish Club has marked the 25th anniversary of its Marine Insurance Course (MIC), celebrating a program that has brought together more than 1,000 maritime professionals to develop their marine insurance knowledge and share practical industry experience.

This year's course, held in Gothenburg, welcomed 38 participants representing 25 companies and 10 countries. Over the past 25 years, more than 900 people have attended the physical course, with a further approximately 100 participating in its online edition during the pandemic.

While the fundamentals of marine insurance remain at the heart of MIC, the course has continually evolved to reflect the changing risks confronting shipowners, operators and insurers. This year's program included War Risk Insurance for the first time, introduced in response to the increasingly complex geopolitical environment facing shipping.

Johan Kahlmeter, Chief Claims Officer at The Swedish Club, said: “Marine insurance continues to evolve and MIC has had to evolve with it. The core of the course remains the same, but we continually update the content and use recent cases to keep the discussions relevant and practical.

“One of the most important parts of MIC is the interaction. Participants don't just learn from the presenters; they learn from each other's experience. Having spoken to many alumni over the years, it is clear that the relationships and networks they build through MIC can be every bit as valuable as the insurance knowledge they take away.”

That emphasis on practical experience has been central to the course's longevity. Rather than approaching marine insurance solely as an academic subject, MIC uses real-life cases, workshops and discussion to translate technical concepts into practical lessons that participants can apply in their own organizations.

The format is also adapted to the participants attending each year, allowing discussions and workshops to reflect different levels of experience and areas of expertise. Participants range from professionals at the beginning of their careers to those moving from technical maritime roles into insurance, bringing different perspectives into the room.

Networking was repeatedly identified as one of the principal benefits of attending MIC. Those relationships often extend well beyond the course itself. During the anniversary interviews, Club colleagues recalled meeting MIC alumni at maritime events around the world and remaining in regular professional contact with participants many years after they first attended.

Lorraine M. Hager, Senior Loss Prevention Executive at The Swedish Club and facilitator of MIC, said: “Over the past 25 years, the maritime industry has become more complex, with emerging challenges ranging from digitalization and cyber risk to sustainability and human factors. MIC has evolved with the industry, providing a place for professionals to exchange experience, learn from real-life cases and strengthen the expertise needed to navigate today's marine insurance risks.