QBE employees hit the decks for North Sea Tall Ships race

Four employees from QBE’s business will be enduring the North Sea journey as crew members aboard the ships during the race by taking part in watch rota, hoisting sails, climbing the mast, and navigating the vessel, along with cleaning the decks and cooking in the galley.

Tom Banks, Credit Hire Claims Specialist at QBE European Operations, who will be a crew member for all three legs of the race, set sail today with Natalie Doswell, BI Analyst, who will be participating in the first leg, to Esbjerg, Denmark aboard the ‘Christian Radich’.

Charlotte Kirkby, Underwriting Assistant, will be participating in the second leg, to Stavanger, Norway, while Liam Glynn, Underwriting Assistant, will be taking over as crew member on the last leg, arriving in Harlingen, Netherlands on 3 August.  The second and third legs will take place aboard the ‘Statsraad Lehmkuhl’.

The race takes place across routes between cities that have been significant to the history of the shipping industry. For those participating, it is a great chance for employees under 25 years old to take part in the sailing adventure as Tall Ships trainees.

Tim Pembroke, Director of Marine at QBE European Operations, said: “The Tall Ships Races present an excellent opportunity for our young colleagues to take part in a once in a lifetime adventure that will see them truly immersed in life on the high seas.  Our participants will build teamwork, risk management and endurance skills throughout their journey. At QBE European Operations, we are thrilled to once again be taking part in this event and we wish our colleagues well.”

QBE Insurance is a partner of the Harlingen Sail Foundation, the organisers of the last leg of the race. The annual event, held by Sail Training International, is aimed at young people (16-25 years old) and takes place in European waters over the summer months. 

<ends>

For further information contact:
Alexis Burris, Media Relations Adviser, QBE, +44 (0)20 3465 3921, Alexis.Burris@uk.qbe.com

About QBE

QBE European Operations is part of QBE Insurance Group, one of the world's leading international insurers and reinsurers and Standard & Poor’s A+ rated. Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, QBE’s gross written premium for the year ended 31 December 2017, was US$14.1 billion.

As a business insurance specialist, QBE European Operations offers a range of insurance products from the standard suite of property, casualty and motor to the specialist financial lines, marine and energy. All are tailored to the individual needs of our small, medium and large client base.

We understand the crucial role that effective risk management plays in all organisations and work hard to understand our clients’ businesses so that we offer insurance solutions that meet their needs – from complex programmes to simpler e-trading solutions – and support them in minimising their risk exposures. Our expert risk management and rehabilitation practitioners focus on helping clients improve their risk management so that they may benefit from a reduction in claims frequency and costs.