But more than that, Hopkins's father was the author of A Handbook of Average and A Manual of Marine Insurance, both standard reference books for negotiating, averaging, and adjusting the liabilities to insurance underwriters of cargo losses and shipwrecks, so Hopkins grew up in a world wet with marine accidents and was especially attentive to them.

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In 1958, China abolished all insurance, except cover for cargo and aviation: anything more was deemed unnecessary.

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Part of an international row over Russia arming Syria, the ship was forced to turn back after a British company withdrew its insurance coverage due to the nature of the cargo.

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"It can be said that, gee, if a plane crashes and that plane had to carry 10 percent more cargo because a company was increasing their stock to avoid a potential year-2000 crisis, (the insurance companies) can say that was a factor in the crash" and therefore refuse to pay.

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