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Cargo & Logistics

Your company’s product is your most valuable asset. Marsh’s specialist cargo and logistics team can help you identify its movement and storage risks, and determine and secure the appropriate levels of insurance protection and risk mitigation.

The cargo and logistics industry is undergoing a huge transformation. As a result of the pandemic, integration of the logistics and transportation industry has accelerated.

Digitization and customer expectations are driving existing industry stakeholders and new entrants to seek greater speed and control of end-to-end product delivery.

Our cargo and logistics team utilizes the latest technology and risk management strategies to develop insurance programs that cover the entire supply chain. Our aim is to provide you with greater risk understanding, visibility, and protection of your cargo shipments.

We continually innovate insurance programs with digital solutions, data and analytics, facilities, and risk management services. And through our integrated claims management services, we help you reduce costs and improve claims recoveries.

We serve businesses of all sizes from multinational owners of product to small parcel companies, as well as global logistics providers. We have the scale, scope, and market presence to help you manage and mitigate your risks across the supply chain.

Report

Marine, cargo, and logistics trends report 2023

The report that explores four seismic shifts affecting the maritime and logistics ecosystem, and the impacts on risk management.

Featured insights

Aerial of cargo container ship carrying container under big crane loading cargo import and export service transportation at sea port.

Podcast

10/29/2024

Risk in Context Podcast: Navigating complex port disruption risks

In this episode Marsh leaders discuss the multiple risks that ports and terminals tend to face and how these could impact already vulnerable supply chains. They also share actions that organizations should consider as they seek to build more resilient port operations.

ships; stack; logistic; loading; hong kong; harbor; developed; commerce; container; aerial view; background; boat; business; cargo; commercial; construction; containers; crane; delivery; dock; dubai; export; freight; global; import; industrial; industry; infrastructure; international; japan; logistics; port; sea; ship; shipment; shipping; singapore; storage; technology; terminal; top; trade; traffic; transport; transportation; truck; unloading; vehicle; vessel

Article

09/26/2024

Navigating the potential East and Gulf Coast ports strike: 3 actions for retailers and other businesses

A potential strike by dockworkers could bring 36 ports on the East and Gulf Costs to a halt on October 1, disrupting shipments ahead of the busiest season for retailers and dealing a blow to other industries, including manufacturing and automotive.

International container cargo ship in the ocean

Report

09/18/2024

P&I club update 2024

In this P&I market update, we present and analyze a number of relevant data points, providing a snapshot of where the P&I clubs stand at the moment and considerations regarding any premium increases in the coming year.

FAQs

Any party shipping goods, product, or commodities by any means of transportation.

Cargo insurance pricing is calculated based on a valuation of the goods being transported and the perceived risk. The valuation of cargo is customizable based on the desire of the cargo owner and how it calculates values. For example, the insured value of your goods can be determined by adding the commercial invoice value of the goods (how much you are receiving in payment from your customer) to the cost of freight transport, with an additional 10% charge to cover additional expenses. Alternative valuation options are replacement cost, agreed value, and selling price.

Logistics is the arrangement and/or transportation of goods in the global supply chain. The exact insurance coverage requirements must be tailored to the activities of each operation. However, as the principal activity for logistics providers is the care, custody, and control of the goods of others, a core insurance coverage is cargo legal liability.

Logistics insurance products offer protection to any party involved in the transport, storage, or arrangement of such activities. These include trucking companies, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, non-vessel owning common carriers (NVOCC), customs brokers, and freight brokers.

This can vary greatly depending on each activity, limits, losses, contractual liability, applicable conventions, domestic or international movement of goods, and size of operation. Gross freight receipts of mileage are always used for rating purposes in conjunction with all other relevant exposure information.

A “general average” is a loss arising from the voluntary sacrifice of any part of a ship or cargo, or an expenditure to safeguard a ship and the rest of the cargo. When the vessel owner declares a general average, the vessel owner and all the cargo interests will share the expenses associated with the loss on a pro-rata basis. These expenses are typically covered under your cargo insurance policy. Such losses can be significant and may require letters of guarantee to have the cargo released. A letter of guarantee would be issued by the insurance company and is an agreement to meet an insured’s liability for contribution.

Global leadership

Marcus Baker

Marcus Baker

Global Head of Marine, Cargo, & Logistics

  • United Kingdom

Placeholder Image

George Jones

Global Sales Leader, Marine, Cargo & Logistics Practice

  • United Kingdom

Mark Cracknell

Mark Cracknell

Global Head of P&I

  • United Kingdom

Matthew Yeshin

Matthew Yeshin

Global Digital Cargo Leader

  • Canada