Marine Insurance

It can be defined as: “Marine insurance business means business of effecting contracts of insurance upon vessels of any description, including cargoes, freights and other interests which may be legally insured in or relation to such vessels, cargoes and freights, gods, wares merchandise and property of whatsoever description insured for any transit by land or water or air or all the three. The same may include warehouse risks or similar risks in addition or as incidental to such transit and includes any other risks which are customarily included among the risks insured against in marine insurance policies”.

There are two distinct branches of marine insurance: :

Hull – i.e. Insurance of ships:
This pertains to insurance of ocean going steamers and other vessels. “Hull” refers to the body or frame of the ship. Hull insurance provides the cover for the hull and machinery as well as in respect of materials and outfit and stores and provisions for the officers and crew. In addition cover for liabilities is included. Hull policy consists of basic policy attached to INSTITUTE CLAUSES which are drafted by the Institute of London Underwriters, an association representing the marine insurance companies and Lloyd’s underwriters operating in London.

Cargo – i.e. Insurance of goods in transit.
This being cargo insurance, it provides cover for various transit perils in respect of goods and or merchandise in transit from one place to another by sea, air, road or registered post. Transit or Marine risks or perils are covered under Marine Insurance. Marine insurance plays a pivotal role in Import, Export and internal trade. Trade involves movement of goods from one place to another place. Goods while in transit are liable to be lost or damaged through one or other of various perils from the time it leaves the warehouse of the supplier till it is received at the final warehouse of the consignee. Goods while in transit are generally exposed to any one of the following perils leading to total loss or damage. The loss or damage suffered due to these perils is to be transferred to the Insurer in lieu of the premium, as these are included in the Marine cover.

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