“Is there a lack of awareness of the risks associated with outdoor activity?”
The absence of an insurance offer adapted to polar operators linked to France is felt by professionals in the sector who responded to a survey by the Chaire Enjeux Polaires.
Avalanches, bears and icebergs are as beautiful as they are dangerous. And just as sensitive to human activity as they are vulnerable. While working on risk prevention in the Arctic, researchers from the Chaire Enjeux Polaires (Chair in Polar Issues) at the Université de Bretagne Occidentale looked into the question of insurance cover for polar operators linked to France.
According to their socio-economic survey, 22% of respondents have no insurance to cover their Arctic activities. It’s a striking figure today, as a new season is about to open in the Far North.
“I often heard about problems of access to suitable provision,” Anne Choquet, a teacher and legal researcher, tells Polar Journal AG. “We wanted to check whether the perception of this inadequacy was real and shared.”
Although Anne Choquet and Anna Lannuzel, co-authors of this pre-study, are inviting more types of players to respond to the questionnaire, the majority of respondents to the preliminary study are self-employed or very small businesses. This profile could correspond to the subcontractors tour operators use to manage their excursions.
There are two distinct types of activity in the Arctic: land-based logistics and sea-based logistics.
“On land, companies that employ self-employed people require third-party liability insurance,” Eric Bayard, mountain guide and president of the Polar Guides Bureau, tells Polar Journal AG. “For example, I have taken out insurance for my mountain and polar activities. It costs between 600 and 1,000 euros a year, which isn’t much when you know the risks involved.”
Cruising is not subject to the same regulations as on land. “I have the feeling that employers aren’t as demanding,” explains the guide.
The guide’s role is to minimize risks in the field by controlling the environment in which he or she progresses, both for nature and for people. “When I saw the result, I immediately said to myself, ‘but isn’t there an ignorance of the risks associated with outdoor activity?’ If you’re not prepared to deal with a glitch in this type of environment, you’re risking a lot,” remarks the director of the polar guides’ office.
Bears have been known to attack a group of tourists, and other eventualities can occur on snow, ice and pack ice. In the event of an accident, who is responsible? “Does the insurance cover it? What is the guide’s responsibility? In this kind of environment, you walk on sight”, says Eric Bayard.
According to the study, the majority of people are covered for accidents and injuries, repatriation, third-party liability and emergency medical care, as well as property loss and damage and death benefits.
Only a minority have disability cover, and are covered for environmental damage, salary continuation, legal assistance and vehicle damage. The majority of respondents agree that the offer is poorly adapted.
“Those involved in polar tourism may not be aware of the difficulties guides face in accessing insurance cover,” says Anne Choquet. “According to another survey we conducted, we estimate that there are 110 polar guides in France. It’s important to be able to talk to insurers and reinsurers to improve the offer. That’s what we’re proposing with the Chaire Enjeux Polaires.”
It’s common for customers to take out holiday cancellation insurance, but are they properly covered for polar contingencies? Sixteen percent of respondents feel that this is not necessary and do not cover their customers.
Respondents also included managers of ships of opportunity, who sail for a variety of reasons. Often operating small vessels, they sometimes supervise scientific work, and could face the same questions for this other activity.
Link to the first results of the study : Choquet, A., Lannuzel, A., 2024, Prévention des risques liés aux activités dans les régions polaires: la place des assurances – Premiers résultats d’une étude préliminaire. HAL.Science.
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