People often confuse marine cargo insurance and inland transit insurance. And the truth is, they are quite similar. There is a number of overlaps between the two insurances. Both are there for the protection of your goods during their transport. These covers include both man-made damage and natural disaster. And that’s not the end. More often than not, both marine cargo and inland transit insurances will also cover the loading and unloading of cargo. However, even though they can be similar, there are also many significant differences. In this article, we will cover the main differences of Marine Cargo vs. Inland Transit Insurance.

Marine Cargo vs. Inland Transit Insurance – Differences

There are three of the main differences of marine cargo vs. inland transit insurance. The first is, of crouse, their definitions. The others are the transportation methods they employ, and what exactly it is that they cover. So let’s take each of these differences apart.

By definition

By definition,  the inland transit insurance is the cover of the insured goods when being transported by land. On the other hand, the financial dictionary defines marine cargo insurance as an insurance that protects the buyer from the loss of the good, when that good is transferred by sea. Depending on the definition, the marine cargo insurance can also include the import and export of goods to or from a nation, as well as the freight transport within the borders.

By transportation

The methods of transportation can make a difference when deciding about marine cargo vs. inland transit insurance. Basically, the inland transit insurance usually doesn’t cover the transport of goods by sea or air. Basically, if you want to use air freight forwarders or sea freight forwarders, this will not be the way to go. However, if you are using trucks and trains, this can often be enough for you.

On the other hand, marine cargo insurance usually includes any means of transport. You need to be careful, though. Some insurances include inland policies in marine cargo insurance. When buying this type of insurance, make sure you understand what you are paying for. Informing yourself well about where your money goes can save you a lot of time, and the money itself.

As far as transporting goods within the country, like with domestic Japan movers, you can use both insurance policies. If you are, however, moving overseas, only marine cargo insurance will cover you.

By what they cover

The final difference in our marine cargo vs. inland transit insurance debate is probably the biggest one. It is about what exactly do each of these insurances cover. This is sometimes hard to define because a lot of companies offer varying degrees of insurance. This is why you need to make sure you understand what your insurance policy includes before buying it.

Inland transit insurance usually covers all risks of freight transport. A good thing about it is that you can often model it according to your own needs. It’s negotiable, and you can discuss changes to it with your insurer. You can get different scopes of insurance, such as basic and extended risk cover.

On the opposite end, there is the marine cargo. It covers the risks of theft, piracy, and damage. As we have mentioned, it applies to both loading and unloading of goods. Again, you can discuss with the insurance company about what other packages they offer, and how you can adjust the insurances policies.

Types of Covers of Marine Cargo vs. Inland Transit Insurance

Finally, let’s take a deep dive into the different times of covers provided by marine cargo vs. inland transit insurance. The covers here are the most common ones, but you should feel free to talk to your insurer about others as well.

Inland Transit insurance

The first type of cover is the Overnight vehicle’s cover. This is often necessary when you are transporting goods what will be staying in a vehicle overnight. Sometimes this cover is in the basic insurance packages, and sometimes it isn’t. This about the distance your goods will travel and whether they will need this.

Another one a good cargo forwarding company like Kokusai Express Japan can consider is the Multiple vehicles cover. You can get this if you need insurance for more than one vehicle. The type of cover depends on insurers, though. Some have it, others just don’t offer it.

On the other hand, if you are using your own vehicle, try the Cover for your own vehicle. It is pretty self-explanatory. Get it when you are transporting the goods yourself.

Finally, can use the services of a third party carrier. For this, you should look into the Carrier’s vehicle cover. The carriers are often unaware of what goods they are carrying, so this insurance might be the perfect fit for them.

Marine Cargo insurance

The first cover we take a look at for the marine cargo insurance is the Open cover. This cover includes the import and export of goods. It is usually valid for twelve months. In other words, if you are planning a long-term operation, this might be just the thing you are looking for.

The other one is the Duty insurance. If the goods get lost while on the way from the port to your warehouse, this will cover those costs.

Seller’s contingency policy is there to defend the seller of a good. Sometimes, a buyer gets an initial credit and takes the responsibility for goods during the transport. If, however, the buyer refuses to pay for the damaged goods, this policy will save the seller.

If your freight is undertaking a specific voyage, there is the appropriately named specific voyage cover. This cover is tailored to the buyer’s specific needs and tastes.

Conclusion

To conclude, there are many similarities and also differences. Hopefully, now you have a better grasp of marine cargo vs. inland transit insurance, and what those actually stand for. Again, different insurers will have different policies for each of these, and no one can possibly cover all of them. But keeping yourself informed will be very helpful, and can make or break a successful business or goods transport.