The containership – ONE Apus –  suffered a massive container stack this month, en route to Long Beach from Japan, which is an example of the kind of issue exporters and importers should ensure they are covered for.

The carrier has confirmed that 1,816 boxes were lost in a Pacific storm from the 14,000 TEU ship, which is believed to be the biggest single loss overboard. To put that into some perspective, it is estimated that around 1,400 containers are lost overboard every year.

The incident serves as an opportunity for us to remind everybody to make sure they have the correct insurance cover in place for their international movements.

Many companies assume that carriers are responsible for damages and loss, which is not the case at all. Since as far back as the Age of Sail, traders have needed to arrange the correct insurance for products moving internationally and today it is no different.

There are also many businesses that import or export, that assume they have the right cover in place because they are a very reputable company, and sometimes this is not the case.

Our suggestion is to use the One Apus as an example, speak to your insurers and ask if you have cover for this type of incident and would you have been paid out for any losses, hopefully you are.

If you are in doubt, then please speak to one of the Westbound team, we can arrange cargo insurance on a shipment by shipment basis if instructed to do so in writing.

  

At Westbound Logistics we pride ourselves in offering personalised and tailored logistics solutions. To find out more please call 01375 800800​ or email info@westboundglobal.com.