International Cargo Insurance Conference

At Clark Woodward & Hungate, we believe that providing the highest standard of marine cargo surveying and loss adjusting means more than simply responding to claims. It means staying connected with the wider industry, understanding the challenges shaping global trade, and continually developing our knowledge.

That's why we're proud to attend the International Cargo Insurance Conference (ICIC) each year.

This year's conference in Birmingham brought together hundreds of professionals from across the international cargo insurance market, including insurers, brokers, surveyors, loss adjusters, lawyers and other specialists. As always, it proved to be an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss emerging risks and strengthen relationships with colleagues from around the world. Not just from here in the UK but from South Africa and USA through to Spain, Poland, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany to name just a few. ICIC has established itself as one of the industry's leading educational and networking events, welcoming delegates from more than 20 countries each year.

Representing Clark Woodward & Hungate this year was Jonathan Reed from our Manchester office. Alongside his role as a cargo surveyor, Jonathan also leads the company's marketing activities, making him perfectly placed to both learn from the conference and share the work CWH continues to deliver across the marine cargo sector.

Key themes from ICIC 2026

As international supply chains continue to evolve, especially during these rapidly changing times, so too do the risks faced by cargo owners and insurers. The conference agenda reflected this, with presentations and discussions covering a broad range of current issues including:

• The changing landscape of global marine insurance and the challenges facing insurers
• Maritime intelligence and the growing role of technology, AI and data in identifying and managing cargo risk
• Cargo theft trends and methods
• Port compliance, regulation and operational resilience
• Supply chain resilience and the impact of major transport infrastructure
• Market insights from leading figures across insurance, law, shipping and logistics

The calibre of speakers once again made for an engaging two days, with presentations from senior leaders across the insurance market, technical specialists, maritime experts and industry commentators. Equally valuable were the discussions that continued between sessions, where delegates shared practical experiences, explored emerging trends and debated how the industry can continue to adapt to an increasingly complex trading environment.

Why events like ICIC matter

For Clark Woodward & Hungate, attending conferences like ICIC isn't simply about being present - it's about ensuring we remain informed, connected and ready to support our clients with the latest industry knowledge.

Whether we're surveying damaged cargo, investigating complex losses or providing independent advice to insurers and cargo interests, our clients expect us to understand not only the claim in front of us, but the wider factors influencing today's global cargo market.

The insights gained at ICIC help us do exactly that.

Just as importantly, the conference provides an opportunity to catch up with longstanding industry contacts while building new relationships across the international cargo insurance community. Those conversations and connections are invaluable, helping to strengthen collaboration across the market and ensuring we continue to deliver the responsive, knowledgeable service our clients rely on.

A big thank you to the ICIC organisers, speakers and everyone who took the time to connect with Jonathan during the event. We look forward to continuing those conversations throughout the year - and to returning again next year.