It was recently announced that DUAL Europe had opened a new marine writing hub in Hamburg – and it’s just the latest step in serious growth plans for the firm.
Speaking on why Hamburg was the next step in DUAL Europe’s expansion, Olaf Jonda (pictured left), CEO of DUAL Europe, said: “Hamburg is one of Europe's leading maritime centres and so was a natural and strategic location for our new marine team.
“With this move, we are not just significantly enhancing our accessibility to brokers and clients in Germany, but also reinforcing our commitment to the wider European maritime market. This new team significantly enhances our ability to offer tailored solutions and swift response times, ensuring that we remain a partner of choice for brokers across Europe."
Hamburg joins Rotterdam and Genoa in DUAL Europe’s network of marine offices across Europe.
The decision to establish these three hubs was driven by the desire to create a robust network that strengthens the firm’s regional presence.
Andrea Cupido (pictured right), chairman of DUAL Marine Europe, explained: "Our marine hubs in Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Genoa are strategically positioned to create a robust network that serves brokers and clients efficiently across Europe. Each hub brings unique strengths and local expertise, which we leverage to offer a comprehensive marine insurance offering in Europe…”
Cupido emphasised the benefits of their collaborative approach: “The close collaboration between these teams ensures that our brokers and their clients benefit from a seamless service experience, regardless of their location. This integrated approach also allows us to meet the diverse needs of the maritime sector and deliver customised value to our clients."
This expansion of the marine division marks only the beginning of DUAL Europe’s ambitious growth plans: "DUAL is now one of the biggest marine insurers in Europe, but we’re not stopping there,” Cupido said. “Our ambitious growth plans include geographic expansion, as well as deepening our product lines to meet the evolving needs of our clients in this complex market.”
As the company grows, it is adapting to the challenges in the marine market.
"After almost five years, the last 12 months have seen a progressive softening in the market due to extra capacity, which is not unusual in the Hull sector,” Cupido said. “In this environment, a very technical and experienced approach to underwriting becomes even more critical.
"The marine insurance sector has unique challenges, which also present significant opportunities for growth and innovation for companies with the right level of experience and agility,” added Jonda. “The increasing complexity of global trade and the evolving regulatory landscape require an approach that is both fast-thinking and forward-thinking.”
Looking forward, Jonda believes that DUAL’s increased size will allow it to better support clients. “DUAL’s scale allows us to invest appropriately in technology, enabling us to enhance our product offerings, better analyse and manage risks, and ultimately provide our clients with better solutions,” he said.
According to Cupido, the focus going forward is improving on operations. “The quality of our service, both in underwriting and claims management, will remain our focus in an increasingly competitive market,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for us, especially in our existing areas of excellence such as blue and brown water hull and builders’ risk.”
