Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) will base its new marine, transport and logistics liability insurance practice at its recently opened Brisbane CBD office.

It has appointed Barton Phillips as Head of Transport and Logistics and Laetitia Roney as Manager of Transport and Logistics Liability Insurance.

Mr Phillips has 20 years’ marine insurance experience and was previously national manager for marine and transport liability insurance at Zurich Australia. He is also a former MD of Thomas Miller Australasia.

Ms Roney has worked in the marine insurance industry for 22 years. She was previously underwriting manager for marine and transport liability at Zurich Australia.

BHSI Australia Head of Marine Dimitry Zilberud says the company’s new marine, transport and logistics liability capabilities “enhance our already formidable inventory of marine lines and [will] enable customers and brokers to secure comprehensive, multi-line solutions with the financial strength of BHSI”.

BHSI is focusing its marine, transport and logistics liability capabilities on port and terminal operators, transport and logistics operators, rail operators, cargo handling facilities, charterer’s liability, stevedoring operators, warehouseman’s liability, marina operators and ship repairers.

The company’s Australasia President Chris Colahan says more appointments are expected in Brisbane, particularly in the areas of property, executive and professional and casualty insurance.

“The response to BHSI in Melbourne and Sydney has exceeded our expectations and we are very confident about our ability to be successful in Brisbane,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

He says the new Brisbane office complements BHSI’s presence in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland, and is likely to be the final addition to the Australasian operational network in the “short to medium term”.

“We don’t have any immediate plans to open further offices [in the region] but we will keep an open mind about the capabilities we need to have in place to meet our customers’ needs,” Mr Colahan said.

“We will always respond to those needs, including a broader geographic footprint if that’s what’s required.”