What is Marine Insurance?

Through its partnership with Proteus Marine Insurance NZ, Zurich offers marine insurance solutions for companies who are looking to protect themselves from their international and domestic marine exposures in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. The two key areas of cover are:

 

Marine cargo

Marine cargo insurance covers the risks of loss or damage to goods and merchandise while in transit by any method of transport – sea, rail, road or air - and while in storage anywhere in the world between the points of origin and final destination. More on marine cargo.

 

Marine liability

Marine liability provides solutions for companies with exposures in the marine and international shipping industry. This includes protection and indemnity, pollution, charter liability, port authorities, ship repairers and terminal operators. More on marine liability.

The focus of this Insights portal is marine cargo and logistics.

 

Why marine insurance?

Most marine cargo shipments arrive at their destinations without an issue, and it’s easy to think that insurance is a discretionary cost in the logistical process. However, time and time again we hear in the news that the unexpected does indeed happen. If a vessel is lost at sea and your cargo can’t be salvaged, insurance cover will help protect you from financial and commercial loss.

Marine insurance is complex and needs to navigate legal principles from a number of legislative areas - domestic and international law to begin with, but also maritime law. Marine insurance experts stay abreast of these areas and know the intricacies of marine commerce and its many clauses, helping clients to risk manage their shipments and to have peace of mind in their daily operations.

A marine cargo policy is usually an annual policy tailored to suit the shipper’s needs. They range from basic protection against loss of goods through to more comprehensive policies which protect against loss of sales and provide for goods to be shipped as replacements. Marine insurance can also be taken out on a shipment-by-shipment basis.

Marine insurance covers the process of moving cargo by sea, road, rail and air, as well as any storage the goods may require in between. A broad range of businesses have used marine insurance.

• Manufacturers - importing raw materials and distributing finished goods
• Wholesalers - importing stock and distributing sales
• Primary producers - exporting products like beef, lamb, fish and cotton etc.
• Retailers - importing stock and moving sales, purchases and stock transfers
• Repairers - importing spare parts and sending customers' goods.