Cargo insurance provides coverage against physical damage or loss of goods during shipping, whether by land, sea or air. Because of the many dangers inherent in shipping, most individuals and businesses choose to insure their goods while they are in transit. However, many different types of cargo insurance are available, and it is important that you know exactly what you want before taking the insurance, or you may not be covered for every eventuality.
Is Cargo Insurance Necessary?
Cargo insurance is necessary because of various laws that limit the liability of carriers. For example, the Hague/COGSA Act limits the liability of shipowners to $500 per unit, and also relieves shipowners of all liability in the event of one of 17 events occurring. These include war, acts of God, strikes, riots, acts of the pilot or crew and attempts to save life at sea. For air carriers, the Warsaw Convention limits liability to $9.07 per pound for international shipments and just $0.50 per pound for domestic shipments. To recover his full loss, a shipper must insure his cargo.
Tailored Solutions
There are different solutions for different cargoes. Marsh has a variety of solutions to address specific risk issues. Some of our Leading Product offerings are detailed below. For commodity specific solutions tailored to your industry, see our Related Products and Solutions pages, or look for solutions under our Industry specific pages.
