Inchmaree Clause

Category: legal

A marine insurance provision that covers losses caused by latent defects in the hull/machinery or crew negligence.

Named after a famous 1887 legal case involving the steamer *Inchmaree*, this clause expands standard hull coverage. It ensures that if an engineer accidentally blows up a boiler or a hidden defect in a shaft causes it to snap, the resulting damage is covered despite not being a traditional "peril of the sea."

Common Examples

• The shipowner relied on the Inchmaree clause to cover the engine room damage caused by a crew member’s improper valve alignment.
• Without an Inchmaree clause, damage stemming from internal mechanical negligence or a latent manufacturing defect is often excluded from standard marine contracts.