Recently, the largest container shipping company in the world, Maersk Line, lost 75 containers from one of its sea faring vessels during a particularly troublesome storm near the East Coast of the United States. This event seems like a one-in- a-million chance – but in reality, it happens more often than you’d think. The World Shipping Council approximates that ocean shipping vessels lose about 1,400 containers at sea annually.
It doesn’t stop there either. Besides the possibility of losing containers to the sea, poor securing of containers on vessels could result in expensive and often irreplaceable cargo damage. Shuffling and shifting caused by open space, moisture from poor sealing and locking, or even theft can cause even more destruction to your precious cargo, not to mention your wallet. So, what can you do to protect yourself – and your cargo – against the hazards presented by Mother Nature and the open ocean as you ship your containers overseas?
We suggest that you consider picking up ocean freight insurance before you do any overseas shipping. Being protected from risk is priceless, and ocean freight insurance will let you have peace of mind while sending off your cargo, just in case anything negative ends up happening to your containers or one of the vessels carrying them.
When you are ready to insure yourself against risk, make sure you check out a quote for your freight. Your rate will take into account several different factors ranging from the distance your vessel will be traveling, the container sizes and the service type you are securing. Rates may change depending on the commodity you are shipping and whether your cargo falls under certain categories (perishable, flammable, or hazardous, for example).
Being cautious and ready for anything is a major key to being successful in the shipping industry, and purchasing insurance is a surefire way to protect yourself from direct financial losses and limitations. We should never undervalue the importance of ocean freight insurance. Consult with your logistics provider or freight service provider to see which ocean freight plan is perfect for you.