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Marine Cargo & Inland Transit Insurance

Shipping products? You're liable until they arrive safely

Damaged in transit, lost shipments, theft from warehouses, customs delays, if you’re moving goods domestically or internationally, you’re exposed to losses at every step. Marine Cargo Insurance protects your products from the warehouse to the customer.

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What could go wrong

(and why you need this)

Your products aren’t safe just because they’re with a freight company. Carriers have limited liability, usually $100-$200 per item, regardless of actual value. Container lost at sea? Freight damaged in transit? Warehouse fire? You’re liable to your customers for delivery, and the carrier won’t cover your losses. One lost shipment can wipe out months of profit.

Scenario 1

The shipping container lost at sea

You’ve imported $85,000* worth of stock from China. The container ship encounters rough weather. Your container is lost overboard. Standard carrier liability: $2,000* maximum. You’ve lost $83,000* and have no stock for the next 8 weeks of trading.

What Marine Cargo covers

Full replacement value of lost goods ($85,000), emergency airfreight costs for replacement stock, and lost profit during the stock-out period.

Scenario 2

The damaged freight

Your courier drops pallets of your products during delivery. Half your shipment ($22,000* worth) is destroyed.

The courier’s liability limit is $100 per item. They offer you $800*. You need to replace everything, and your customer is threatening to cancel their contract.

What Inland Transit covers

Full value of damaged goods, costs to sort and inspect remaining stock, replacement manufacturing or purchase costs, and costs to fulfil customer orders on time.

Scenario 3

The warehouse fire

Your products are in a third-party warehouse awaiting distribution. The warehouse catches fire, and your entire inventory ($120,000*) is destroyed.

The warehouse’s insurance only covers their building, not your stock. You’ve just lost 6 months of inventory investment.

What Marine Cargo covers

Full stock value, costs to rebuild or purchase replacement inventory, storage costs while sorting out claims, and emergency costs to fulfil existing orders.

Scenario 4

The theft in transit

You’re transporting high-value electronics interstate. The truck is hijacked at a rest stop. $65,000* worth of products gone.

A police report was filed, but nothing was recovered. You’re contractually obligated to deliver to customers or refund them.

What Inland Transit covers

Stolen goods value, investigation costs, costs to fulfill customer commitments, and security upgrades if required by insurer.

What this actually covers

Marine Cargo & Inland Transit Insurance

Marine Cargo & Inland Transit Insurance covers goods being moved:

Marine cargo (ocean freight):

  • Imports from overseas suppliers
  • Exports to international customers
  • Sea freight and containerised goods
  • Port-to-port or door-to-door cover
  • General cargo, refrigerated, or specialised
  • Full Container Load (FCL) or Less than Container Load (LCL)

Inland transit (domestic):

  • Road transport (trucks, vans, couriers)
  • Rail freight
  • Air freight within Australia
  • Interstate and intrastate movements
  • First and last mile delivery

Storage and warehousing:

  • Temporary storage during transit
  • Third-party warehouses and distribution centres
  • Customs bonded warehouses
  • Storage before or after shipment

Specific covers:

  • Physical loss or damage during transit
  • Theft and pilferage
  • Fire, flood, and storm damage
  • Vehicle accidents and rollovers
  • Improper handling or loading
  • Contamination or spoilage
  • Customs rejection or delays

What's typically not covered

  • General Average (maritime law obligation to contribute if cargo jettisoned)
  • Sue and labour costs (emergency expenses to minimise loss)
  • Debris removal and salvage
  • Duty and taxes paid on lost goods

What's typically not covered

  • Inherent vice (goods prone to damage anyway)
  • Inadequate packaging
  • Normal leakage or shrinkage
  • Delay in delivery (time losses)
  • Market value changes
  • War and strikes (unless extended)

When you need this

By founder stage

Start smart

Pre-launch to first year

You need this immediately when you:

  • Import products or materials from overseas
  • Export to international customers
  • Ship products interstate to customers
  • Store inventory in third-party warehouses
  • Use freight companies or couriers regularly
  • Transport high-value goods

Single shipment vs annual:
One-off shipment? Buy voyage cover. Regular shipments? Annual open cover is more cost-effective and easier to manage.

Typical coverage

Goods value at full replacement cost, warehouse to final destination, All Risks cover.

Scale strong

Growing and hiring

Your cover needs to increase when:

  • Shipment values regularly exceed $100k
  • You’re shipping weekly or daily
  • You’re expanding to new international markets
  • You’re using multiple freight providers
  • You’re holding more inventory in warehouses
  • Your products are higher value or more fragile

Annual open cover

Declare monthly shipments, single premium, and automatic coverage for all movements up to the limit per conveyance.

Stay protected

Established and optimising

Review your cover annually or when:

  • Update maximum shipment values
  • Add new trade routes or countries
  • Review packaging and handling standards
  • Update warehouse locations
  • Check policy limits match inventory levels
  • Review claims history and loss patterns

Typical coverage

This is where things get custom, and you need to talk to the team at Pocket to evaluate your specific needs.

Common questions

Founders actually ask

Doesn't the freight company insure my goods?

Freight companies have limited liability—usually $100-$200 per item or per kg, not the actual value. If your $50k shipment is damaged, you may receive only $500 from the carrier. You need your own cargo insurance.