Marine cargo insurance for shipping goods from the USA by sea.

'All risk' and 'Total loss' | Restricted countries | Claim procedures

The majority of cargo in international shipping by sea arrives without damage and loss.

However, shippers should be aware that if a load is damaged or lost during international shipping, the liability of sea freight carriers is limited to up to $500 per customary shipping unit. They cannot exceed $1500 per entire shipment.

In the context of global cargo transportation by sea, a customary shipping unit can be a box, a pallet, or even an entire sea freight container, depending on how it is listed on the master ocean freight bill of lading.

You may want to consider insuring your load to get additional protection during international shipping. With our instructions, you have all the necessary data to insure your goods with any marine insurance provider. Otherwise, you may request that we obtain an insurance certificate on your behalf during the online quote and booking process.

An insurance certificate with AMID Logistics. The list of restricted countries.

Insurance is optional. With our online freight calculator, when quoting and booking, our customers can request that we obtain an insurance certificate in the name of the consignee (the recipient at the destination), unless the destination country is not currently listed as restricted.

Please note that if an insurance certificate is requested, it will be assigned to the consignee's name provided in your online booking request and your ocean freight bill of lading by default. If you need the certificate for a different name, please request it in advance via a separate email.

Suppose you request that we obtain a marine cargo insurance certificate on your behalf. In that case, the fee varies depending on the value declared in your shipment's commercial invoice or valued packing list:

• Commercial commodities of worth up to $10,000 -- 2% @ value declared*
• Commercial commodities of worth $10,001 to $25,000 -- 1.5% @ value declared
• Commercial commodities of worth $25,001 to $50,000 -- 1.3% @ value declared
• Commercial commodities of worth $50,001 to $100,000 -- 1.1% @ value declared
• For commercial commodities worth more than $100,001, please request a quote in a separate email in advance.
• Household goods or personal belongings: $3 per $100 (3%) @ regardless of the value declared*

*The minimum insured value is $1,000. If the value of internationally shipping goods is less than $1,000, we must request to insure such a shipment for $1,000 anyway.

The minimum charge is $75 per certificate, regardless of the declared value.

All policies are always subject to deductibles. Deductibles for commercial commodities typically range from $500 to $1000. For shipping overseas personal belongings, the deductible is typically $1,000. Check your coverage regarding the deductible.

Please note that upon your online booking, we will request insurance for your load, based on the value stated in your Commercial Invoice or Valued Packing List, not the value declared at the time of booking.

Suppose you requested that we obtain coverage for your international shipping from the USA at the time of booking. In that case, the coverage cost will be added to your shipping cost on our invoice. Your certificate will be attached to the invoice in PDF form. Read the certificate before paying the invoice.

A POLICY CANCELATION: You can request that we cancel your policy before paying our final invoice. A cancellation processing fee of $25 will be applied.

'All risk' and 'Total loss' coverages in ocean freight.

The 'All risk' policy for sea freight from the U.S. covers any possible loss or damage that may occur to a shipment during transportation, including fire, water damage, theft, partial loss, breakage, and other similar incidents. It is the most encompassing coverage available in the global cargo transportation industry.

The 'Total loss' policy only applies to complete losses. That means you can get a premium only if your entire shipment is lost or destroyed. It does not cover partial loss or damage.

Unless stated in your insurance certificate, by default, coverages obtained on the shipper's behalf are under the 'All risk' policy. However, THE 'ALL RISK' POLICY APPLIES TO SHIP PROFESSIONALLY PACKED GOODS ONLY. I.e., 'All risk' policies apply to goods shipping from the USA in the original manufacturers' packaging or professionally packed by certified parties that can provide proof of the professional packing. Certain conditions* may apply. IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND!: NOT PROFESSIONALLY PACKED GOODS TURN AN 'ALL RISK' POLICY INTO A 'TOTAL LOSS' POLICY.

The list of countries that are currently not covered*:

*Subject to change. Must be verified by the policy provider at the time of obtaining a certificate.

CAMEROON
CUBA
ECUADOR
GUINEA
GUINEA BISSAU
HAITI
IRAN
KENYA
LEBANON
MALI
MAURITANIA
NIGERIA
NORTH KOREA
OMAN
PAKISTAN
SOMALIA
SYRIA
TANZANIA
TUNISIA
UGANDA
YEMEN

Procedures in cases of damage or loss in LCL sea freight shipping.

If you are considering filing a claim, determine whether your shipment is under 'All risk' or 'Total loss' coverage. Then look at the deductible.

Please remember that AMID Logistics is a U.S. freight forwarder, not a marine insurance provider. We maintain several accounts with maritime insurance providers, and upon customers' requests, we obtain coverages on their behalf.

IN CASE OF AN INSURANCE CLAIM, PLEASE DO NOT DIRECT THE CLAIM TO AMID LOGISTICS. AMID Logistics is NOT responsible for cargo damages, losses, etc.

In the event of an insurance claim, please direct the claim to:

• If a certificate has been obtained via our account with a marine insurance provider, the claim will be processed by the marine provider's claim settling agent in the country of destination. Complete contact information of the claim settling agents should be available on the certificates issued to the customer. The provider's contact information in the United States should also be included on the certificate.
   
• If a sea freight shipment supported by us has been insured by a third-party marine insurance provider (not via our account), then, in case of a claim, please direct the claim to the insurance provider that you have chosen.
   
• If a sea freight shipment is not insured, then direct your claim to the party that released your load at the destination. They should provide a standard form to file a damaged cargo claim. See the limitation of liabilities of common carriers above. 

TYPICAL CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO A COVERAGE (For reference only):

All risks of physical loss or damage in the global cargo transportation industry are subject to Institute Cargo Clauses (A) CL252, and/or Institute War Clauses CL255, and/or Institute Strikes Clauses CL256, and/or Institute Radioactive Exclusion Clause CL370, and/or Institute Cyber Attack Exclusion Clause CL 380. Institute Classification Clause 1.1.82. Institute Replacement Clause CL372. Excluding electrical and mechanical derangement unless caused by a peril insured against it. Automobile shipments are insured for all risks, excluding loss or damage to any pre-existing damage, scratches, marring, denting, and chipping, which are specifically excluded from coverage. Preloading condition reports are required for all auto-shipments, with a deductible of USD 500. Radios are excluded. Coverage for autos is port-to-port. Household Goods shipments that are professionally packed are insured all-risk, excluding any losses due to pre-existing damages, such as scratches, marring, denting, and chipping, which are specifically excluded. Itemized inventory before shipments is required. Owner-packed goods are insured for total loss only.

The following commodities are excluded from the international shipping policy providers' program. They cannot be insured: antiques, collectibles, banknotes, cellular telephones, computer chips and memory modules, dangerous goods ( red label), hazardous materials, fine art, heirlooms, flammables and explosives, fruits and vegetables, jewelry, laptops and other portable computers, LCD plasma TVs and monitors, live animals, nuclear fuel, precious metals, precious stones, securities, stocks and bonds, tobacco products, valuable papers, manuscripts, glass, products shipped by barge.

All pre-existing damages and conditions are excluded. It must be clear from the condition reports that the alleged transit-related damage occurred during transit. Coverage is invalidated if Automobiles, boats, and/or yachts are repaired before a licensed surveyor takes a survey report. Household goods shipments that are professionally packed are insured all-risk, excluding any losses due to preexisting damages, such as scratches, marring, denting, and chipping, which are specifically excluded. International shipping of personal belongings is covered on an actual cash value (ACV) Basis, and proof of valuation, such as invoices and bills of sale, is required to substantiate a claim absolutely. There is no coverage for storing household goods shipments, and coverage is strictly door-to-door. Exceptions must be noted on the destination truckers' delivery receipt at the time of delivery. Itemized inventory before shipments is required. Owner-packed goods are insured for total loss only. Policies cease once delivery is made to either the warehouse or the residence.

Also, in the global sea freight transportation, the following are excluded from coverage:

The repainting of cars. Jewelry, currency, valuable/negotiable papers, and items of intrinsic value of any kind are NOT covered for any reason. Please do not pack or leave these items on the premises during your move. Damage to items in cartons packed by the owner (PBO) or to prepackaged items prevents visual inspection of the condition. Items received and/or transported directly in packaging from the manufacturer or retailer. Damage by mold, moth, vermin, or mildew. Pairs and sets: You can only claim reimbursement for the item damaged, not the entire set. Damage to electrical equipment, unless there are external signs of mishandling. Damage due to riots, war, terrorism, acts of God, or governments. Musical Instruments are excluded—a loss in the market or appraised value. Damage to electrical equipment, unless there are external signs of mishandling, excluding any types of breakables and or computers/electronics /cell phones, glass shipments without the prior agreement of underwriters, fine arts, antiques, and heirlooms are not covered unless an appraisal is submitted before the issuance of insurance. Household Goods shipments are insured on an actual cost-value basis with less depreciation. International shipping of Household goods is not covered on a total replacement basis.

In global cargo transportation by sea, comprehensive insurance increases international shipping costs, but it minimizes financial exposure. Well-insured freight provides peace of mind throughout the entire logistics process.