With 4600 vessels entered, totalling some 87 million gross tons, GARD is the second largest P&I club in the world. All types of vessels are represented: Large tankers, cruise vessels, container vessels, LNG and LPG carriers, ferries, oil rigs, FPSO's, etc. The customer list -- the "membership" -- is truly global: Major shipowners and industrial shipping companies from Europe, Asia, North- and South America are long-standing members of the Club.

The main strategic goal of GARD is to provide protection, financial stability and premium predictability for it's Members. As of the commencement of the 1997 insurance year, total funds exceeded USD 600 million, including a contingency reserve in excess of USD 200 million -- all at market value.

Typical liabilities covered by the club are claims from damage to or shortage of cargo carried on board, injuries or illness in respect of passengers or crew, collisions with quays, piers or other vessels and, perhaps the financially most severe contingency Ñ pollution of the environment by oil or other products carried by the vessel. To protect the insured when such accidents have occurred, GARD is represented in all major seaports of the world with a tight network of agents, correspondents and claims experts.