In case of loss or damage to goods (falling under this policy), the insured and/or their agent should immediately notify the marine insurance company (notice of loss) or the insurance agent mentioned in their policy and provide the insurance company or the agent the full details of the loss. An insured and his agent/agents have the responsibility to take reasonable measures to ensure that there is no loss or limited loss or damage to the goods by perils stipulated as per the policy and act as if the goods are uninsured. This is generally called the insurable interest in marine insurance. The insured and/or his agents must exercise and preserve all rights against bailees, carriers, and/or other third parties.
Read More: What is not covered Under Marine Insurance?
In terms of the condition of the goods/packages, the insured and/or agents need to respect and follow these below :
- A call for an insurance survey before delivery on the packages must do if the ship survey becomes time-barred
- Obtain an insurance survey by the Insurance Company if upon unpacking loss or damage to the goods. Even though on delivery the packages were in good condition.
- All packing materials along with their contents should keep intact by the insured and/or agents for proper inspection and assessment by the surveyors
When an insured finds missing packages or goods he or his agents should lodge a formal claim to the shipping company and also the bailees for the full value of the missing packages/goods and get a written acknowledgement for the missing packages/goods from them.
Case Study: 1
A tanker had loaded petroleum in UAE from a mother ship for export ashore. Upon testing of ‘first-foot samples, the flashpoint of the cargo showed some possible contamination with some residues of the previous cargo of petroleum. And found about 800 tonnes of contaminated cargo and so the buyer rejected the consignment.
Also, it was extremely difficult to dispose of the contaminated cargo. Here, though the company that owns the tanker, J.J Ship, had a marine cargo insurance policy, the insurer refused to settle the claim. The problem was with the tank cleaning, and J.J Ship had been unable to carry out the tank cleaning properly.
Just because J.J Ship has a marine insurance policy, it doesn’t mean that the company can act sloppily. In this case, the company loaded petroleum without paying attention to the tank cleaning which resulted in consignment contamination.
Case Study: 2
In 2010, T.J Fashion bagged a large contract for exporting fashion garments, including mens’, womens’, and kids’ apparel to some Western nations. Before dispatching the consignment, the packaging team of T.J Fashion scrutinized the packaging and later allowed to send the consignment. It took nearly ten days for the consignment to reach its destination.
However, at the time of unloading, the buyer found some boxes wet and damaged. Due to this, the buyer suffered a loss worth Rs 10 lakh and filed a case against T.J Fashion.
As T.J Fashion had a marine insurance policy, they approached the insurer. However, they got a major blow when the insurer refused to settle the claim. Though the packaging team of T.J Fashion had scrutinized the consignment, it acted carelessly and did not pay heed to the poor quality of the boxes. As a result, the boxes were not able to withstand the weather conditions which resulted in damage.
In this case, T.J Fashion had certainly bought a marine insurance policy. However, the company acted recklessly and did not take proper care before dispatching the consignment.
Just because the company has a marine insurance policy, it doesn’t give them the right to act hastily. The marine insurance policyholder must take necessary steps to curtail losses and should act like the goods are not insured.
About The Author
Simran
MBA Insurance and Risk
With extensive experience in the insurance industry, Simran is a seasoned writer specializing in articles on marine insurance for SecureNow. Drawing from 5 years of expertise in the field, she possesses a comprehensive understanding of the complexities and nuances of marine insurance policies. Her articles offer valuable insights into various aspects of marine insurance, including cargo protection, hull insurance, and liability coverage for marine-related risks. Renowned for their insightful analysis and informative content, Simran is committed to providing readers with actionable information that helps them navigate the intricacies of marine insurance with confidence.
