It is the nightmare scenario of moving abroad: You open a box in your new home and find your grandmother’s antique mirror shattered.
Let’s be honest about the realities of international logistics. When you ship household goods from Dubai to London, Toronto, or Sydney, your container goes on a wild ride. It is lifted by massive port cranes, stacked high on a cargo ship, rocked by ocean swells for weeks, and then hauled by trucks on the other side.
Despite the best packing in the world, the sea is unpredictable. Accidents can happen. But a broken item doesn’t have to mean a financial loss—if you understand how marine cargo insurance actually works.
At Chevron Sea Shipping, we believe in complete transparency. Here is the plain-English guide to protecting your cargo, and the hidden traps that catch out unsuspecting expats.
1. The Big Myth: “The Mover Will Just Pay for It.”
Many people assume that if a mover breaks an item, the moving company writes a check to replace it.
- The Reality: By international maritime law, a shipping company’s liability is strictly limited—often to a tiny fraction of the item’s actual value (calculated by weight, not worth).
- The Solution: To get the full replacement value of a damaged item, you must purchase dedicated Marine Transit Insurance through a third-party underwriter, which we arrange for you before the ship sails.
2. Total Loss vs. All-Risk Insurance
When you look at a moving quote, pay close attention to the type of insurance offered. There are two main tiers:
- Total Loss (The Basic Cover): This only pays out if the entire shipment is lost. For example, if the ship sinks, the container falls overboard, or the truck catches fire. If the container arrives but your TV is smashed inside, Total Loss insurance will pay you absolutely nothing.
- All-Risk Insurance (The Gold Standard): This covers individual items against physical loss or damage during transit. If a dining chair is scratched or a vase is broken, you can file a claim for that specific item. This is the only type of insurance we recommend for household moves.
3. The “Owner-Packed” Trap (Why DIY Voids Your Policy)
This is the most common reason insurance claims are denied.
- To save money, many clients pack their own boxes and seal them. In the shipping industry, these are labeled PBO (Packed By Owner).
- The Trap: If you pack a box yourself, the insurance underwriter has no proof that the item wasn’t already broken before you put it in the box. Therefore, All-Risk insurance policies generally will not cover any breakages inside PBO boxes.
- The Chevron Advantage: When our professional crew packs your home, we create a detailed, condition-checked inventory. Because we guarantee the packing quality, the insurance company will honor your “All-Risk” coverage.
4. How to Declare Your Values
To get insured, you must fill out a valuation form.
- Do not guess. You must declare the item’s replacement value at your destination, not what you paid for it five years ago in Dubai.
- If you undervalue your entire shipment to save a few dirhams on the insurance premium, the underwriter will apply the “Rule of Average” and reduce your payout proportionately if you make a claim.
5. What to Do if You Spot Damage on Delivery Day
If your goods arrive damaged, you must act immediately:
- Note it on the paperwork: Do not sign the delivery receipt stating “received in good condition.” Write clearly on the driver’s paperwork that items are damaged.
- Take photos: Photograph the broken item, but more importantly, photograph the damaged box it came in. The insurance company needs to see proof of impact.
- Keep the item: Do not throw it away until the claim is settled. The underwriter may send an assessor to inspect it.
- Notify us within 7 days: Most policies have a strict time limit for filing a claim after delivery.
Ship with Confidence
Moving is stressful enough without worrying about what-ifs. By choosing professional packing and securing the right “All-Risk” insurance, you guarantee that even if the ocean gets rough, your finances are safe.
Have questions about insuring your upcoming move? Talk to our relocation experts today.
- 📞 Direct Line / WhatsApp: +971 54 400 6210
- 📧 Email: [email protected]