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Intermediate Storage in Marine Insurance: What You Need to Know

Posted on 20 Aug, 2024
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Intermediate storage in the marine insurance policy is vital in safeguarding your cargo while in transit. Intermediate storage ensures goods and shipments are protected from any damage during storage.Marine insurance generally covers the storage process of the goods from the moment they leave the origin point till they reach their final destination. However, when the goods are placed in the intermediate storage, they are no longer considered "in transit", and hence, they may not be considered in the original policy. That's where you need to understand intermediate storage insurance, which covers any loss or damage to the goods while they are stored.  

It is important to understand the application and salient features of intermediate storage in marine insurance. You can protect your goods from unwanted circumstances where you have to bear financial loss or get a delayed delivery

Marine insurance

Intermediate Storage in Marine Insurance

The temporary storage of the goods during the logistic process is known as intermediate storage in marine insurance. It is generally helpful if there is any delay in the transportation or when cargo is to be shipped consolidated or unconsolidated. The coverage of intermediate storage in the marine insurance policy can vary depending on the needs of the logistic chains, and it can range from a few days to months. Some factors that affect intermediate storage include the location of the storage facility, type of goods, and mode of transportation.

Role of Intermediate Storage in Marine Insurance

Intermediate storage in marine insurance plays an important role in protecting the goods and shipments in a logistic chain. This helps the exporters and importers to enable a smooth transfer of goods via different transportation modes. It ensures that the goods are transported safely without any damage and also enables the consolidation and deconsolidation of goods, reducing the cost of transport. While being shipped, there's a high risk of damage, theft, and misplacement of the goods, and here, the intermediate storage in marine insurance policy plays a vital role. 

 

Port Congestion: The port may be congested while cargo is shipped. Here, the intermediate storage provides temporary protection to the goods until they get room to be shifted to the next transport mode.

Transportation Mode: The goods are usually shifted and switched between various modes of transport while they complete their journey. During the transitions, the goods are often transferred to rail yards, terminals, ports, etc.

Clearance of Customs: Sometimes, the delivery of the goods is delayed due to customs inspections. The intermediate storage in marine insurance helps temporarily hold the storage while the formalities are completed, ensuring a smooth flow.

Inclusions in Intermediate Storage in Marine Insurance

The marine insurance policy covers several factors to protect your goods and cargo. You can cover the damages of intermediate storage in marine insurance. The inclusions in intermediate storage in marine insurance include

Inland Transit: The intermediate storage in marine insurance protects the goods while they are transported from the port to a transitional/temporary storage facility.  

Warehousing: It covers goods kept in the storage facility or warehouse. 

Loading and Unloading: When the goods are damaged while loading and unloading, the intermediate storage in marine insurance protects them at various stages of the transportation process. 

Customs Duty: While the goods go through customs clearance, the intermediate storage in marine insurance covers these charges. 

Packing Coverage: This covers the damage to the goods that happened during the packing and repacking of the cargo.

Transhipment: When the goods are transported from one mode of transportation to another, the marine insurance policy protects the transhipment of goods. 

Exclusions in Intermediate Storage in Marine Insurance

While there are several benefits of intermediate storage in marine insurance, it also comes with certain exclusions, such as

 

War and Strikes: Any losses caused due to civil war or strikes are exempt from coverage.

Nuclear Risks: Any damages caused by nuclear risks or events will not be covered in the marine insurance policy.

Insufficient Packing: If any losses occur due to insufficient or inadequate packing of the goods, they will not be covered by the insurance policy.

Illegal Goods: Damage to cargo comprising illegal/prohibited goods is not covered.

 

Conclusion

One may find the features of the marine insurance policy a bit complex. However, to protect your goods from any loss or damage and to have financial coverage one must avail of the intermediate storage benefits in a marine insurance policy. One can avoid the risks of transportation, packaging, and misplacement of the goods in transit. Remember that some policies offer coverage for 30, 60, or 90 days; others may provide coverage for a longer tenure, like 6 months or 1 year. Carefully go through the terms and conditions of your policy to clarify the exclusions, inclusions, and limitations to avoid nasty surprises when you need to make a claim.

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This contains only an indication of the cover offered. For complete details on risk factors, terms, conditions, coverages and exclusions, please read the sales brochure carefully before concluding a sale.ICICI trade logo displayed above belongs to ICICI Bank and is used by ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd. under license and Lombard logo belongs to ICICI Lombard GIC Ltd. ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited, ICICI Lombard House, 414, Veer Savarkar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai – 400025. . IRDA Reg.No.115. Toll Free 1800 2666. Fax No – 022 61961323. CIN (L67200MH2000PLC129408). customersupport@iciclombard.com. www.icicilombard.com. (Marine Insurance,4016 , ICIHLGP21381V052021)