Cargo insurance, written into the booking.
All-risk marine cargo cover on ocean, air, rail, and road shipments. Placed with established underwriters. Claims coordinated by the same coordinator who booked the freight.
Carrier liability doesn't cover what you think it does.
Under the Hague-Visby rules, ocean carrier liability caps at 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kg, whichever is higher. That is roughly USD 900 per package at current rates. Air is capped at 26 SDR per kg under the Montreal Convention, roughly USD 35. Either way, if your $200,000 container of consumer electronics gets dropped, the carrier owes you a fraction.
Cargo insurance closes that gap. We can arrange cover through a licensed insurance intermediary when we book your ocean, air, or road freight. Arranged alongside your booking. One premium, added to the rate.
Coverage types
Typical premiums
| Mode | Cargo type | Typical premium |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean FCL | General merchandise | 0.25%–0.45% of CIF |
| Ocean LCL | General merchandise | 0.40%–0.65% of CIF |
| Air freight | Electronics, high-value | 0.20%–0.40% of CIF |
| Cross-border truck | General merchandise | 0.18%–0.30% of CIF |
| Project / breakbulk | Heavy industrial | 0.50%–1.20% of CIF |
CIF = invoice value + freight + 10% (industry convention). Minimum premiums apply.
What's typically excluded
- Inherent vice (cargo that damages itself. E.g., temperature-sensitive without proper packaging)
- Insufficient packing (cargo not packed for normal transit stresses)
- Delay in itself (consequential loss, lost sale)
- Wilful misconduct of the assured
Claims
If something goes wrong, call us first. Before you sign for the damaged cargo, before anything else. Here's the drill:
- Note damage on the delivery receipt. Do not sign clean
- Photograph cargo, packaging, container seal
- Email us within 3 business days. We file the surveyor and start the claim
- Straightforward claims typically settle in 30 to 60 days, per industry norms
Frequently asked: Cargo insurance
Isn't insurance included in CIF?
Only minimum cover (ICC C) for the seller's benefit, not the buyer's. We almost always recommend upgrading to all-risk (ICC A) named to you, the buyer.
What's a deductible?
Most marine policies carry no deductible on total loss. Partial-loss deductibles vary by commodity and policy.
Can I declare a value higher than invoice?
Yes. You can insure replacement cost or even profit (declared value). Sensible if the cargo has appreciated or includes profit margin.
Cover your next shipment.
Add insurance when you request a quote. One line in the booking, one premium on the invoice.
Get a quote with insurance