A few months ago, Insurance Times reported on how insurer GoshawK had been exposed to the space shuttle disaster. A GoshawK marine underwriter had underwritten the cargo of the shuttle to the surprise of much of the Lloyd's market.

Backchat now knows why the risk looked so attractive to him. It is understood that Marsh was acting as broker for the cargo company and had sought out respected marine underwriters. Marsh was keen to get the risk classed as a marine cargo as the rates were so good. To oil the wheels, a special trip was laid on for the underwriters to Cape Kennedy. A jolly good time was had and Mr GoshawK was sold.

Whether he knew the cargo was leaving earth and heading for space, we'll probably never know. But Backchat will pay good money for the holiday snaps of that trip.

Topics