Marine cargo insurance

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

The majority of cargo shipping from the USA overseas arrives at destinations without damage and loss.

However, international shippers should be aware that in case cargo is damaged or lost during international transportation from the U.S., the liabilities of ocean freight carriers involved in the transportation are limited by up to $500 per customary shipping unit and cannot exceed $1500 per entire shipment.

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

You may want to consider insuring your cargo to get additional protection during international transportation from the U.S. abroad. With our shipping instructions, you have all the data to insure your internationally transporting goods with any marine insurance provider. Otherwise, you may ask us to obtain an insurance certificate on your behalf in your online quote and booking request.

Insurance certificate with AMID Logistics. The list of restricted countries.

Insurance is optional. With our online freight calculator, when quoting-booking, our customers can request us to obtain an insurance certificate in the name of the consignee (the cargo recipient) unless the destination country is not currently restricted from the coverage list.

Please note that if an insurance certificate is requested, then by default, it is to the name of the consignee provided in your online booking request and your ocean freight bill of ladings after that. If you need it to another name listed in your booking request, please request that in advance in a separate email.

Suppose you request us to 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 cargo of value up to $10,000 -- 2% @ value declared*
• Commercial cargo of value $10,001 to $25,000 -- 1.5% @ value declared
• Commercial cargo of value $25,001 to $50,000 -- 1.3% @ value declared
• Commercial cargo of value $50,001 to $100,000 -- 1.1% @ value declared
• Commercial cargo of value above $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 shipping goods is less than $1,000, we must request to insure such a shipment for $1,000 anyway.

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

All policies are always subject to deductibles. Deductibles for commercial cargo typically vary from $500 to $1000. Deductibles for household goods and personal effects shipments typically are $1000. Check your insurance certificate regarding the deductible.

Please note that upon your online booking, we will request to insure your cargo NOT on the value declared at the time of booking but on the value stated in your Commercial Invoice or Valued Packing list.

Suppose you've requested us to obtain a marine cargo insurance certificate for your international cargo transportation from the USA at the time of booking. In that case, an insurance premium will be added to your shipping cost on our invoice. Your marine cargo insurance certificate will be attached to the invoice in PDF. Read the certificate before paying the invoice.

INSURANCE CANCELATION: You can request us to cancel your insurance certificate before paying our final invoice. The insurance cancelation processing fee of $25 will apply.

'All risk' and 'Total loss' coverages

The 'All risk' insurance policy in shipping cargo from the USA covers any possible loss or damage that occurred to your shipment during the cargo transportation: fire, water damage, theft, partial loss, breakage, etc. It is the most encompassing coverage available in the international cargo transportation industry.

The 'Total loss' only applies in cases of complete losses. That means you can get an insurance 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, insurance certificates obtained on shippers' 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 the countries that are currently restricted from coverage*:

*Subject to change. Must be verified by the insurance 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

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

Please remember that AMID Logistics is a U.S. freight forwarder, not a marine insurance provider. We keep several accounts with maritime insurance providers, and upon customers' requests, we obtain insurance certificates on the customers' 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:

• If an insurance certificate has been obtained via our account with a marine insurance provider, then the claim will be processed by the marine insurance company's claim settling agent in the country of destination. Complete contact information of the claim settling agents should be available on insurance certificates issued to our customers. The contact information of the maritime insurance provider in the USA should also be on the insurance certificate.
   
• If an international sea freight shipment supported by us has been insured by a third-party marine insurance provider (not via our account), then, in case of an insurance claim, please direct the insurance claim to the insurance provider that you have chosen.
   
• If an international sea freight shipment is not insured, then direct your claim to the party that released your cargo 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 ON INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING MARINE CARGO INSURANCE COVERAGE (For reference only):

All risks of physical loss or damage in the international shipping industry are subject to Institute Cargo Clauses (A) CL252, and/or Institute War Clauses (Cargo) CL255, and/or Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo) CL256, and/or Institute Radioactive Exclusion Clause CL370 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. Automobile shipments have insured all-risk, excluding loss or damage to any preexisting damages as well as existing scratches, marring, denting, and chipping, are excluded from coverage. Preloading condition reports are required on all auto-shipments. Deductible 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 for pre-existing damages such as all scratches, marring, denting, and chipping, which are excluded. Itemized inventory before shipments is required. Owner-packed goods are insured for total loss only.

The following commodities are excluded under the insurance providers program and 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 absolutely excluded. It must be absolutely clear from the condition reports that the alleged transit-related damage occurred during transit. If the repair of Automobiles, boats, and/or yachts is done before a survey report is taken by a licensed surveyor, coverage is invalidated. Household goods shipments that are professionally packed are insured all-risk, excluding any and all losses for preexisting damages such as all scratches, marring, denting, and chipping, which are excluded. Household goods are covered on an ACV Basis, and proof of valuation, such as invoices, and bills of sales, is required to substantiate a claim absolutely. There is no coverage for the storage of household goods shipments, and coverage is strictly on a door-to-door basis. 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. Insurance ceases once delivery occurs at either the warehouse or residence.

Also, in the international sea freight shipping industry, the following are excluded from coverages:

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 these items or leave them on the premises during your move. Damage to items in cartons packed by the owner (PBO) or to prepackaged items preventing visual inspection of the condition. Items received and/or transported directly in packaging from manufacturer or retailer. Damage by mold, moth, vermin, or mildew. Pairs and sets: you will only be able to 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, 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. Household Goods are not covered on a total replacement basis.