What is marine insurance?
Marine insurance covers loss of or damage to ships, cargo, terminals and any other property moved or held between the point of origin and the final destination. It is one of the oldest forms of insurance, and it remains the backbone of international trade.
A single shipment can pass through trucks, cranes, warehouses and vessels before it arrives, and a carrier's liability at each stage is usually limited by law to a fraction of the goods' value. Marine cover fills that gap, so a storm, a stranding or a dropped container doesn't become your loss.
Types of marine cover we arrange
- 01
Cargo insurance
Loss of or damage to goods carried by sea, including the road, rail or air legs that connect to the voyage.
- 02
Hull & machinery
Physical damage to the vessel itself — its hull, engines, machinery and onboard equipment.
- 03
Freight insurance
Protects the freight income a shipowner or charterer stands to lose if cargo is lost or damaged and freight isn't paid.
- 04
Marine liability
Third-party claims for injury or property damage caused by your vessel, or by your operations at a port or terminal.
- 05
Protection & indemnity (P&I)
Shipowner liabilities such as collision, pollution, wreck removal and injury to crew or passengers.
Whether you import a single container a year or operate a fleet, marine insurance turns the uncertainty of the sea into a cost you can plan for — and gives buyers, sellers and banks the confidence to trade.
Who it’s for
- Importers & exporters
- Shipowners & charterers
- Commodity traders
- Freight forwarders
- Manufacturers shipping overseas
Typically not covered
- Ordinary leakage, loss in weight or wear and tear
- Insufficient or unsuitable packing
- Delay, even when caused by an insured peril
- Inherent vice — goods that deteriorate by their nature
Exact terms vary by insurer. Your broker will walk you through every exclusion before you buy.