1. Why should I purchase ocean cargo insurance?
The simple answer is to reduce your exposure to financial loss. If you're an exporter who has not been paid for the goods at the time of shipment, or an importer who has paid for all or part of the goods prior to receiving them, you run the risk of suffering a financial loss if the goods are lost or damaged during transit.
Additionally, you may be required to post a bond and/or cash deposit in order to obtain release of your cargo following a general average even though there was no loss or damage to your goods. By purchasing insurance, your insurance company assumes the responsibility and can usually expedite the release of your cargo.
Lastly, your sales contract may obligate you to provide ocean cargo insurance to protect the buyer's interest or their bank's interest. This is especially true when selling goods CIP or CIF. Failure to do so can not only subject you to financial loss if there is loss or damage to the goods, but non-compliance with the terms of your contract with the buyer can lead to loss of sales and legal problems.
2. What is general average and why would I incur costs if my goods are not damaged?
General Average is an internationally accepted principle of equity dating back to ancient times. Essentially, if one or more interests involved in a maritime adventure voluntarily sacrifices all or part of their goods to save all interests from an impending peril or loss, the interests saved will reimburse the interest suffering the loss so that each shares the loss equally. A classic example used to illustrate this principle is that of a vessel which runs aground in a storm and is threatened with loss of the entire vessel and its cargo unless the vessel can be refloated. Efforts to refloat the vessel--such as the jettison of cargo to lighten the vessel; or expenses paid to a salvor to pull the vessel off the grounding point--would be shared by the vessel and all cargo interests.
3. I understand the need for insurance, but why can't I just rely on: the carrier to reimburse me for loss or damage to my goods and not incur the additional costs of insurance, the buyer's or seller's insurance, or self-insurance?
One, the carrier would not be responsible for your portion of general average. Secondly, the carrier is only responsible for loss or damage when it is due to their own negligence while the goods are in their care, custody or control, plus carriers are exempt from certain causes of loss or damage (up to 17 under certain international conventions). And lastly, the monetary liability of carriers is often very limited.
Relying on the buyer's or seller's insurance may be a viable option, but you must be satisfied that the insurance has in fact been effected and that the insuring terms, valuation, and limits provided by each's insurer on each shipment are adequate to meet your needs. Arranging your own insurance once under an Open Policy to fit your specific requirements for all your shipments would be much more simple and cost effective.Self-insurance may also be a viable option provided adequate funding is reserved to cover catastrophic losses and that you possess the resources and expertise to pursue recoveries from parties responsible for loss or damage, mitigate loss or damage worldwide when it does occur, expedite the release of cargo following a general average or other mishap during transit, investigate causes of loss and recommend changes in packaging, shipping and/or handling practices-all services provided by insurance companies when you purchase an ocean cargo insurance policy.
d) The insurance provided by my freight forwarder?
Letting your freight forwarder arrange your ocean cargo insurance may in fact be to your best advantage. This is especially true when you have infrequent shipments and want to avoid minimum premiums usually required by insurance companies for issuing open policies, or when providing insurance on individual shipments as they occur. Some important considerations are: the financial strength of the insurance company with which the forwarder places the insurance; the claim and loss control services available; the adequacy of coverage to fit your specific needs; and that the cost is based upon your cargo's exposure to loss and not the loss experience of all shippers insured by your forwarder's insurer.
4. How do I select an ocean cargo insurer?
Your insurance agent or broker is usually the best source of information to help you choose among the many insurers offering ocean cargo insurance. Trade organizations or people you know involved in importing or exporting are also excellent sources. Important considerations in selecting an insurer are:
a) The company's financial health and claims paying ability. Firms such as A.M. Best, Moody's and Standard & Poor's provide ratings of insurance companies;
b) The company's reputation for fair and prompt settlement of claims and their aggressive pursuit of subrogation;
c) A full range of loss control and risk management capabilities;
d) A full range of automatic coverages to meet your basic requirements and the knowledge and expertise to recognize and craft specific coverages for your unique needs, all at a reasonable cost to you;
e) Worldwide underwriting, claims, subrogation and loss control capabilities; and
f) A willingness to listen and positively respond to your concerns.
5. Where does Chubb rank in terms of ocean cargo written premium in the United States? Worldwide?
There are no published records in the United States of ocean cargo premium by individual companies. While premium size may be an indication of the quality of a company and the quality of the customers it attracts, it should not be the sole criteria in selecting an insurer. The items mentioned in the answer to the question "How do I select an ocean cargo insurer?" should be the principal considerations.
6. How do I obtain ocean cargo insurance?
Once you determine you may be responsible for insuring shipments, or decide that you want to arrange your own insurance you should first discuss your needs with your existing insurance agent or broker. They will assist you in identifying your exposure to loss, compile specifications to be presented to insurance companies for a quotation and help you to evaluate the insurer best suited to your specific needs.
If you will only be responsible for insuring a few shipments annually, you may want to place your insurance through the freight forwarder handling your shipments. Again, your insurance agent or broker can assist you in making that decision.
7. Must I place insurance through an insurance agent or broker?
Most states in the United States, and most other countries, require insurance to be placed through properly licensed agents or brokers. Regulations aside, it makes sense to take advantage of the experience and knowledge of these insurance professionals.
8. Do I need to purchase insurance only when I'm responsible for providing insurance?
Responsible infers a legal obligation and if in fact you have agreed with your buyer or seller to provide insurance, you should do so. Responsible, however, also means protecting your firm from exposure to financial loss. Therefore, even though you may not have a legal obligation to your buyer or seller to effect insurance on shipments to or from them, you may have a financial responsibility to your own firm to do so.
9. Don't terms of sale dictate who is responsible for providing insurance? For example, I sell FOB vessel. Isn't the buyer responsible for insurance during the voyage?
No, the buyer is not responsible for providing insurance under FOB vessel terms. In fact the buyer is not responsible for providing insurance under any of the 13 recognized INCOTERMS. Only two INCOTERMS (CIP and CIF) stipulate an obligation to provide insurance and that obligation is placed upon the seller.
10. What are INCOTERMS?
INCOTERMS are a set of internationally recognized trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce which define certain of the obligations and responsibilities of the seller and buyer to each other on goods moving in international trade.
11. What affect do INCOTERMS have on my decision to purchase ocean cargo insurance?
If you sell goods on either CIP or CIF terms, you are obligated to provide insurance for the benefit of your buyer.
Additionally, all of the INCOTERMS assign the responsibility for loss or damage to the goods during transit to either the seller, the buyer or both for a portion or all of the transit. If you are responsible for loss or damage to the goods and have a financial interest in them, you would want to purchase insurance.
Ocean cargo insurers use INCOTERMS to determine the extent of your insurable interest in each shipment. In general, the portion of transit during which you are responsible for loss or damage to the goods represents the extent of your insurable interest. Basic ocean cargo insurance policies are designed to insure only those shipments on which you bear the responsibility for loss or damage during the "main carriage" portion of international transit and only while your responsibility for loss or damage exists.. Essentially, "main carriage" is the period of time starting from when the goods are delivered in the country of shipment to the carrier who is responsible for delivery of the goods at a place of destination and continuing until the goods are actually delivered to that place.
Therefore, the terms of sale you agree upon with your buyer or seller dictates when you are responsible for loss or damage. You would only need to purchase ocean cargo insurance if you are responsible for loss or damage during the "main carriage" phase of transit; or if you have agreed to provide ocean cargo insurance under CIP or CIF terms or other provision of the contract of sale.
12. If I am not selling of CIP or CIF terms, and am not responsible for loss
1. Why should I purchase ocean cargo insurance?
The simple answer is to reduce your exposure to financial loss. If you're an exporter who has not been paid for the goods at the time of shipment, or an importer who has paid for all or part of the goods prior to receiving them, you run the risk of suffering a financial loss if the goods are lost or damaged during transit.
Additionally, you may be required to post a bond and/or cash deposit in order to obtain release of your cargo following a general average even though there was no loss or damage to your goods. By purchasing insurance, your insurance company assumes the responsibility and can usually expedite the release of your cargo.
Lastly, your sales contract may obligate you to provide ocean cargo insurance to protect the buyer's interest or their bank's interest. This is especially true when selling goods CIP or CIF. Failure to do so can not only subject you to financial loss if there is loss or damage to the goods, but non-compliance with the terms of your contract with the buyer can lead to loss of sales and legal problems.
2. What is general average and why would I incur costs if my goods are not damaged?
General Average is an internationally accepted principle of equity dating back to ancient times. Essentially, if one or more interests involved in a maritime adventure voluntarily sacrifices all or part of their goods to save all interests from an impending peril or loss, the interests saved will reimburse the interest suffering the loss so that each shares the loss equally. A classic example used to illustrate this principle is that of a vessel which runs aground in a storm and is threatened with loss of the entire vessel and its cargo unless the vessel can be refloated. Efforts to refloat the vessel--such as the jettison of cargo to lighten the vessel; or expenses paid to a salvor to pull the vessel off the grounding point--would be shared by the vessel and all cargo interests.
3. I understand the need for insurance, but why can't I just rely on: the carrier to reimburse me for loss or damage to my goods and not incur the additional costs of insurance, the buyer's or seller's insurance, or self-insurance?
One, the carrier would not be responsible for your portion of general average. Secondly, the carrier is only responsible for loss or damage when it is due to their own negligence while the goods are in their care, custody or control, plus carriers are exempt from certain causes of loss or damage (up to 17 under certain international conventions). And lastly, the monetary liability of carriers is often very limited.
Relying on the buyer's or seller's insurance may be a viable option, but you must be satisfied that the insurance has in fact been effected and that the insuring terms, valuation, and limits provided by each's insurer on each shipment are adequate to meet your needs. Arranging your own insurance once under an Open Policy to fit your specific requirements for all your shipments would be much more simple and cost effective.Self-insurance may also be a viable option provided adequate funding is reserved to cover catastrophic losses and that you possess the resources and expertise to pursue recoveries from parties responsible for loss or damage, mitigate loss or damage worldwide when it does occur, expedite the release of cargo following a general average or other mishap during transit, investigate causes of loss and recommend changes in packaging, shipping and/or handling practices-all services provided by insurance companies when you purchase an ocean cargo insurance policy.
d) The insurance provided by my freight forwarder?
Letting your freight forwarder arrange your ocean cargo insurance may in fact be to your best advantage. This is especially true when you have infrequent shipments and want to avoid minimum premiums usually required by insurance companies for issuing open policies, or when providing insurance on individual shipments as they occur. Some important considerations are: the financial strength of the insurance company with which the forwarder places the insurance; the claim and loss control services available; the adequacy of coverage to fit your specific needs; and that the cost is based upon your cargo's exposure to loss and not the loss experience of all shippers insured by your forwarder's insurer.
4. How do I select an ocean cargo insurer?
Your insurance agent or broker is usually the best source of information to help you choose among the many insurers offering ocean cargo insurance. Trade organizations or people you know involved in importing or exporting are also excellent sources. Important considerations in selecting an insurer are:
a) The company's financial health and claims paying ability. Firms such as A.M. Best, Moody's and Standard & Poor's provide ratings of insurance companies;
b) The company's reputation for fair and prompt settlement of claims and their aggressive pursuit of subrogation;
c) A full range of loss control and risk management capabilities;
d) A full range of automatic coverages to meet your basic requirements and the knowledge and expertise to recognize and craft specific coverages for your unique needs, all at a reasonable cost to you;
e) Worldwide underwriting, claims, subrogation and loss control capabilities; and
f) A willingness to listen and positively respond to your concerns.
5. Where does Chubb rank in terms of ocean cargo written premium in the United States? Worldwide?
There are no published records in the United States of ocean cargo premium by individual companies. While premium size may be an indication of the quality of a company and the quality of the customers it attracts, it should not be the sole criteria in selecting an insurer. The items mentioned in the answer to the question "How do I select an ocean cargo insurer?" should be the principal considerations.
6. How do I obtain ocean cargo insurance?
Once you determine you may be responsible for insuring shipments, or decide that you want to arrange your own insurance you should first discuss your needs with your existing insurance agent or broker. They will assist you in identifying your exposure to loss, compile specifications to be presented to insurance companies for a quotation and help you to evaluate the insurer best suited to your specific needs.
If you will only be responsible for insuring a few shipments annually, you may want to place your insurance through the freight forwarder handling your shipments. Again, your insurance agent or broker can assist you in making that decision.
7. Must I place insurance through an insurance agent or broker?
Most states in the United States, and most other countries, require insurance to be placed through properly licensed agents or brokers. Regulations aside, it makes sense to take advantage of the experience and knowledge of these insurance professionals.
8. Do I need to purchase insurance only when I'm responsible for providing insurance?
Responsible infers a legal obligation and if in fact you have agreed with your buyer or seller to provide insurance, you should do so. Responsible, however, also means protecting your firm from exposure to financial loss. Therefore, even though you may not have a legal obligation to your buyer or seller to effect insurance on shipments to or from them, you may have a financial responsibility to your own firm to do so.
9. Don't terms of sale dictate who is responsible for providing insurance? For example, I sell FOB vessel. Isn't the buyer responsible for insurance during the voyage?
No, the buyer is not responsible for providing insurance under FOB vessel terms. In fact the buyer is not responsible for providing insurance under any of the 13 recognized INCOTERMS. Only two INCOTERMS (CIP and CIF) stipulate an obligation to provide insurance and that obligation is placed upon the seller.
10. What are INCOTERMS?
INCOTERMS are a set of internationally recognized trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce which define certain of the obligations and responsibilities of the seller and buyer to each other on goods moving in international trade.
11. What affect do INCOTERMS have on my decision to purchase ocean cargo insurance?
If you sell goods on either CIP or CIF terms, you are obligated to provide insurance for the benefit of your buyer.
Additionally, all of the INCOTERMS assign the responsibility for loss or damage to the goods during transit to either the seller, the buyer or both for a portion or all of the transit. If you are responsible for loss or damage to the goods and have a financial interest in them, you would want to purchase insurance.
Ocean cargo insurers use INCOTERMS to determine the extent of your insurable interest in each shipment. In general, the portion of transit during which you are responsible for loss or damage to the goods represents the extent of your insurable interest. Basic ocean cargo insurance policies are designed to insure only those shipments on which you bear the responsibility for loss or damage during the "main carriage" portion of international transit and only while your responsibility for loss or damage exists.. Essentially, "main carriage" is the period of time starting from when the goods are delivered in the country of shipment to the carrier who is responsible for delivery of the goods at a place of destination and continuing until the goods are actually delivered to that place.
Therefore, the terms of sale you agree upon with your buyer or seller dictates when you are responsible for loss or damage. You would only need to purchase ocean cargo insurance if you are responsible for loss or damage during the "main carriage" phase of transit; or if you have agreed to provide ocean cargo insurance under CIP or CIF terms or other provision of the contract of sale.
12. If I am not selling of CIP or CIF terms, and am not responsible for loss
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1. Why should I purchase ocean cargo insurance?
The simple answer is to reduce your exposure to financial loss. If you're an exporter who has not been paid for the goods at the time of shipment, or an importer who has paid for all or part of the goods prior to receiving them, you run the risk of suffering a financial loss if the goods are lost or damaged during transit.
Additionally, you may be required to post a bond and/or cash deposit in order to obtain release of your cargo following a general average even though there was no loss or damage to your goods. By purchasing insurance, your insurance company assumes the responsibility and can usually expedite the release of your cargo.
Lastly, your sales contract may obligate you to provide ocean cargo insurance to protect the buyer's interest or their bank's interest. This is especially true when selling goods CIP or CIF. Failure to do so can not only subject you to financial loss if there is loss or damage to the goods, but non-compliance with the terms of your contract with the buyer can lead to loss of sales and legal problems.
2. What is general average and why would I incur costs if my goods are not damaged?
General Average is an internationally accepted principle of equity dating back to ancient times. Essentially, if one or more interests involved in a maritime adventure voluntarily sacrifices all or part of their goods to save all interests from an impending peril or loss, the interests saved will reimburse the interest suffering the loss so that each shares the loss equally. A classic example used to illustrate this principle is that of a vessel which runs aground in a storm and is threatened with loss of the entire vessel and its cargo unless the vessel can be refloated. Efforts to refloat the vessel--such as the jettison of cargo to lighten the vessel; or expenses paid to a salvor to pull the vessel off the grounding point--would be shared by the vessel and all cargo interests.
3. I understand the need for insurance, but why can't I just rely on: the carrier to reimburse me for loss or damage to my goods and not incur the additional costs of insurance, the buyer's or seller's insurance, or self-insurance?
One, the carrier would not be responsible for your portion of general average. Secondly, the carrier is only responsible for loss or damage when it is due to their own negligence while the goods are in their care, custody or control, plus carriers are exempt from certain causes of loss or damage (up to 17 under certain international conventions). And lastly, the monetary liability of carriers is often very limited.
Relying on the buyer's or seller's insurance may be a viable option, but you must be satisfied that the insurance has in fact been effected and that the insuring terms, valuation, and limits provided by each's insurer on each shipment are adequate to meet your needs. Arranging your own insurance once under an Open Policy to fit your specific requirements for all your shipments would be much more simple and cost effective.Self-insurance may also be a viable option provided adequate funding is reserved to cover catastrophic losses and that you possess the resources and expertise to pursue recoveries from parties responsible for loss or damage, mitigate loss or damage worldwide when it does occur, expedite the release of cargo following a general average or other mishap during transit, investigate causes of loss and recommend changes in packaging, shipping and/or handling practices-all services provided by insurance companies when you purchase an ocean cargo insurance policy.
d) The insurance provided by my freight forwarder?
Letting your freight forwarder arrange your ocean cargo insurance may in fact be to your best advantage. This is especially true when you have infrequent shipments and want to avoid minimum premiums usually required by insurance companies for issuing open policies, or when providing insurance on individual shipments as they occur. Some important considerations are: the financial strength of the insurance company with which the forwarder places the insurance; the claim and loss control services available; the adequacy of coverage to fit your specific needs; and that the cost is based upon your cargo's exposure to loss and not the loss experience of all shippers insured by your forwarder's insurer.
4. How do I select an ocean cargo insurer?
Your insurance agent or broker is usually the best source of information to help you choose among the many insurers offering ocean cargo insurance. Trade organizations or people you know involved in importing or exporting are also excellent sources. Important considerations in selecting an insurer are:
a) The company's financial health and claims paying ability. Firms such as A.M. Best, Moody's and Standard & Poor's provide ratings of insurance companies;
b) The company's reputation for fair and prompt settlement of claims and their aggressive pursuit of subrogation;
c) A full range of loss control and risk management capabilities;
d) A full range of automatic coverages to meet your basic requirements and the knowledge and expertise to recognize and craft specific coverages for your unique needs, all at a reasonable cost to you;
e) Worldwide underwriting, claims, subrogation and loss control capabilities; and
f) A willingness to listen and positively respond to your concerns.
5. Where does Chubb rank in terms of ocean cargo written premium in the United States? Worldwide?
There are no published records in the United States of ocean cargo premium by individual companies. While premium size may be an indication of the quality of a company and the quality of the customers it attracts, it should not be the sole criteria in selecting an insurer. The items mentioned in the answer to the question "How do I select an ocean cargo insurer?" should be the principal considerations.
6. How do I obtain ocean cargo insurance?
Once you determine you may be responsible for insuring shipments, or decide that you want to arrange your own insurance you should first discuss your needs with your existing insurance agent or broker. They will assist you in identifying your exposure to loss, compile specifications to be presented to insurance companies for a quotation and help you to evaluate the insurer best suited to your specific needs.
If you will only be responsible for insuring a few shipments annually, you may want to place your insurance through the freight forwarder handling your shipments. Again, your insurance agent or broker can assist you in making that decision.
7. Must I place insurance through an insurance agent or broker?
Most states in the United States, and most other countries, require insurance to be placed through properly licensed agents or brokers. Regulations aside, it makes sense to take advantage of the experience and knowledge of these insurance professionals.
8. Do I need to purchase insurance only when I'm responsible for providing insurance?
Responsible infers a legal obligation and if in fact you have agreed with your buyer or seller to provide insurance, you should do so. Responsible, however, also means protecting your firm from exposure to financial loss. Therefore, even though you may not have a legal obligation to your buyer or seller to effect insurance on shipments to or from them, you may have a financial responsibility to your own firm to do so.
9. Don't terms of sale dictate who is responsible for providing insurance? For example, I sell FOB vessel. Isn't the buyer responsible for insurance during the voyage?
No, the buyer is not responsible for providing insurance under FOB vessel terms. In fact the buyer is not responsible for providing insurance under any of the 13 recognized INCOTERMS. Only two INCOTERMS (CIP and CIF) stipulate an obligation to provide insurance and that obligation is placed upon the seller.
10. What are INCOTERMS?
INCOTERMS are a set of internationally recognized trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce which define certain of the obligations and responsibilities of the seller and buyer to each other on goods moving in international trade.
11. What affect do INCOTERMS have on my decision to purchase ocean cargo insurance?
If you sell goods on either CIP or CIF terms, you are obligated to provide insurance for the benefit of your buyer.
Additionally, all of the INCOTERMS assign the responsibility for loss or damage to the goods during transit to either the seller, the buyer or both for a portion or all of the transit. If you are responsible for loss or damage to the goods and have a financial interest in them, you would want to purchase insurance.
Ocean cargo insurers use INCOTERMS to determine the extent of your insurable interest in each shipment. In general, the portion of transit during which you are responsible for loss or damage to the goods represents the extent of your insurable interest. Basic ocean cargo insurance policies are designed to insure only those shipments on which you bear the responsibility for loss or damage during the "main carriage" portion of international transit and only while your responsibility for loss or damage exists.. Essentially, "main carriage" is the period of time starting from when the goods are delivered in the country of shipment to the carrier who is responsible for delivery of the goods at a place of destination and continuing until the goods are actually delivered to that place.
Therefore, the terms of sale you agree upon with your buyer or seller dictates when you are responsible for loss or damage. You would only need to purchase ocean cargo insurance if you are responsible for loss or damage during the "main carriage" phase of transit; or if you have agreed to provide ocean cargo insurance under CIP or CIF terms or other provision of the contract of sale.
12. If I am not selling of CIP or CIF terms, and am not responsible for loss
การแปล กรุณารอสักครู่..
