Insurers' goodwill questioned

Insurers' goodwill questioned

I am a policy holder acting for three insured parties, PT Coca
Cola Bottling Indonesia, PT Jasprim Dinamika Global and PT Bakrie
Building Indonesia, in a matter of marine cargo insurance by PT
Asuransi Purna Artanugraha (Aspan), Jakarta. I also act for Tjin
Taju Liang and TB Tunas Baru in the same insurance matter by PT
Asuransi Puri Asih.

The cargo was shipped aboard a barge, Ekadaya-1, pulled by a
tugboat, Triguna Nusantara, from Jakarta's Sunda Kelapa port to
Pangkal Balam on July 15, 2004. The barge and tugboat had to
return to Sunda Kelapa on July 16 because Triguna's main engine
broke down. After being repaired, both vessels departed again on
July 22 with a sailing license from the Sunda Kelapa port
administrator.

However, on July 24, Ekadaya-1 sank in waters south of Bangka
Island, causing the loss of the entire cargo due to adverse
weather conditions. With this accident, I suffered financial loss
totaling Rp 1,477,450,000, comprising Rp 700 million to be
covered by Aspan and Rp 777.45 million to be covered by Puri
Asih.

On Nov. 8, Aspan rejected my claim for reasons that the vessel
was unseaworthy, while in fact both Triguna and Ekadaya-1 were
certified as seaworthy. I sent my note of objection to Aspan's
rejection on Jan. 25, 2005 and presented facts about the
accident. On March 3, Aspan replied and still rejected my claim
for the same reason.

Puri Asih answered my letter only on March 15 by asking for
further clarification. On March 23 I again responded to Aspan and
make clarifications as requested by Puri Asih. Aspan persisted
with its rejection with similar reasons while Puri Asih has made
no reply.

I wonder why Aspan turned down my claim without examining the
facts and responding to the recommendation for an underwater
survey of the cargo and Ekadaya-1, even without the support of
adjuster's opinion.

Nonetheless, I maintain my goodwill by continuing my marine
cargo coverage with Aspan and paying a monthly average premium of
Rp 15 million. I feel disappointed and would like to see Aspan's
reciprocal response to my goodwill. I have the same attitude to
Puri Asih. I wonder if they just want to get premiums without
considering their business relations with the insured.

FRANKY SETIAWAN, Jakarta