WHAT IS EXPORT & IMPORT CARGO MARINE INSURANCE

The term cargo insurance, popularly known as marine insurance, applies to all modes of transportation. The need for export (or import) cargo insurance often differs from exporter to exporter (or importer to importer) and from consignment to consignment. Unless the insurance is mandatory in a trade term, the exporter or the importer may opt not to insure the goods at his/her own risks.

Depending on the international commercial terms, either the seller (the exporter) or the buyer (the importer) is responsible for insuring the cargo. The seller is obligated to insure the cargo in the CIF and CIP terms. The seller may opt not to insure the cargo at his/her own risks in the DDU and DDP terms.

The trade terms DDU and DDP are often used in the turnkey projects where the amount at stake is large. In practice, the seller usually insures the cargo in the DDU and DDP terms.

Insurance Policy and Cover Note
Proof of insurance coverage is contained in a document known as policy or insurance policy. The format of insurance policy forms varies from insurer to insurer, but all essentially have the Institute Clauses and the same information as contained in the Insurance Application-Instructions (IAI).

The policy must be issued and signed by an insurance company or its agent. If more than one original is issued and is so indicated in the policy, all the originals must be presented to the bank, unless otherwise authorized in the letter of credit (L/C).

Unless authorized in the letter of credit (L/C), the cover note issued by broker, which is a temporary insurance coverage pending the later issuance of an insurance policy, is not acceptable.

Insurance Policy versus Insurance Certificate
The insurance policy, either a specific policy or an open policy, is issued once by the insurer. In the case of the exporter holding an open policy, he/she cannot send that sole policy to all the buyers and for all the shipments made over a period of time. Therefore, in lieu thereof an insurance certificate---certificate of insurance---is issued by the exporter to each shipment. The blank insurance certificates are supplied by the insurer pre-signed and bearing the open policy number of the exporter.

Unless otherwise stipulated in the letter of credit (L/C), the insurance certificate issued under the open policy is acceptable. If the L/C specifically calls for an insurance certificate, the insurance policy is accepted in lieu thereof. In practice, the insurance policy is often used.

Open Policy versus Specific Policy

Open Policy
The open policy---blanket policy or floating policy---is issued once by the insurer under contract to cover all shipments made by the exporter over a period of time (one year usually) subject to renewal, rather than to one shipment only. It is more often used by the large exporter.
In an open policy the exporter is required to periodically (monthly usually) declare every shipment made to any location, covering any type of goods, and using any means of conveyance, including multimodal transport and transhipment, in order that the insurer may calculate the insurance premiums and invoice them accordingly. The exporter completes the insurance declaration form supplied by the insurer and/or supplies the copy of the insurance certificates (see Insurance Policy versus Insurance Certificate above) to the insurer. An insurance declaration form typically contains the information in an Insurance Application-Instructions (IAI).

Specific Policy
The specific policy---voyage policy---is issued by the insurer to cover a particular shipment or one shipment only. The specific policy is often used in many countries. The exporter may use the Insurance Application-Instructions (IAI) or similar form to apply for a specific policy.

Advantages of an Open Policy
Over a Specific Policy

Time Saving and Convenience
In certain countries the insurance agent (broker) may hand-deliver the insurance policy to the exporter within 4-5 hours after the receipt of the Insurance Application-Instructions (IAI) or similar form. However, in some countries it is not uncommon that the policy is mailed to the exporter 2-3 days after the receipt of the Insurance Application-Instructions (IAI) or similar form. Considering that the national mail in some countries may take four (4) or more days to reach the addressee, the deadline to meet the L/C latest negotiation date may not be met. In an open policy the exporter may have the documentary proof of insurance coverage in a matter of minutes by simply completing and signing the blank insurance certificates supplied by the insurer.

Shipments Insured Automatically
Under the open policy the insurer most often does not know the shipments made by the exporter before the receipt of the insurance declaration form and/or copy of the insurance certificates, but such shipments are insured (please refer to the Utmost Good Faith for related information).