Specialty Insurance

Marine / Cargo Insurance

Covers goods in international and domestic transit by sea, air, or road: import, export, and inland movement on Institute Cargo Clauses.

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Sea, air, road & railSingle + open coverImports + exportsBank letter-compliant
Marine / Cargo Insurance
Bank-Letter
Compliant Cover
Open Cover
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Marine cargo insurance covers physical loss or damage to goods while they move by sea, air, road, or rail, written on the Institute Cargo Clauses (ICC A, B, or C). In Kenya it is essential for importers clearing containers through Mombasa, exporters shipping tea, coffee, and horticulture, and manufacturers moving raw materials and finished goods. Banks financing letter-of-credit imports usually require marine cover before releasing shipping documents. Cover can be arranged per single voyage for a one-off shipment or as an annual open cover for regular trade, with war and strikes protection and General Average contributions built in. Specialty marine rates are quoted case by case, so Vike connects you directly with our marine underwriting team.

  • Institute Cargo Clauses A (all risks), B (named perils), or C (major casualties)
  • War and strikes cover available as a clause extension
  • General Average contributions and salvage charges included
  • Container or break-bulk, single-voyage or annual (open) cover
  • Bank letter-of-credit compliant for Mombasa import clearance

Marine cargo insurance covers goods being moved internationally and domestically: predominantly by sea, but also by air, road, and rail. The wording is built on the Institute Cargo Clauses (ICC A, B, and C), an internationally standardised framework that determines what perils are covered. Cargo insurance is distinct from the carrier's own liability, which is severely limited by international convention, for any meaningful import or export value, the cargo owner needs their own cover.

Vike places marine cargo for Kenyan importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and manufacturers, including container imports through Mombasa, air cargo through JKIA, and inland movements onward to upcountry and across the EAC. We arrange annual open covers for regular trade, single-voyage policies for one-off high-value shipments, and stock-through-put cover for businesses with warehousing as part of their supply chain.

What It Covers

  • Loss or damage to cargo during international and domestic transit

  • Cover under Institute Cargo Clauses A (all risks), B (named perils), or C (major casualties only)

  • Marine, air, road, and rail transit segments

  • Loading and unloading at ports, airports, and warehouses

  • General Average and salvage charges

  • War and strikes risks (subject to specific clauses)

  • Pre- and post-shipment storage at agreed locations

  • Concealed damage discovered after delivery (within the policy's reporting window)

Who It's For

  • Importers receiving cargo through Mombasa, Naivasha, or JKIA

  • Exporters shipping out of Kenya: tea, coffee, horticulture, manufactured goods

  • Freight forwarders and clearing agents arranging cover on behalf of clients

  • Manufacturers importing raw materials and exporting finished goods

  • Retailers and wholesalers receiving regular containerised stock

Types We Cover

Each profile is rated and underwritten differently. Talk to us so we can match your specific situation.

Single Voyage / Single Shipment

One-off cover for a specific consignment. Useful for occasional importers, project cargo, and high-value single shipments. Premium based on shipment value, route, and commodity.

Annual Open Cover

Standing policy that automatically covers each shipment as declared. Best for regular importers and exporters. Premium adjusts annually based on declared turnover.

Stock Through-put

Single policy covering cargo from origin through transit, port handling, warehousing, and onward delivery. Removes gaps between separate transit and storage policies. Recommended for manufacturers with imported raw materials.

Specie / High Value Cargo

Specialised cover for precious metals, gemstones, currency, fine art, and other high-value items. Different rating, security requirements, and limits, typically arranged through Lloyd's of London.

Project Cargo

Bespoke cover for capital equipment imports for major projects: power plants, factories, infrastructure. Includes inland transit, on-site storage during installation, and testing/commissioning.

Real-World Scenarios

Container partially damaged on a Mombasa import

Forty units of electronic equipment damaged by salt water during transit. Surveyor's report establishes value of damaged goods at USD 24,000. The policy settles the loss less the agreed excess, and the insurer pursues recovery from the carrier under subrogated rights.

Air cargo lost in transit through Dubai

A pharmaceutical shipment is misrouted and reported lost. Marine cargo policy (covering air shipments under the same wording) pays the invoice value plus 10% (the standard 'CIF+10%') to the importer, well above what the airline's liability convention would have paid.

Export consignment held up by a port strike

Coffee shipment delayed at Mombasa port due to strike action. The war and strikes clause extension covers loss attributable to the delay (deterioration of goods, missed contract penalties under specific wording). General Cargo cover alone would not have responded.

Optional Benefits & Add-ons

War and strikes risks (Institute War Clauses)

Storage and through-put extension

Domestic inland transit after sea/air arrival

Brand protection / disposal of damaged goods

Survey and salvage costs

Refrigerated cargo / temperature-controlled wording

Availability varies by underwriter. Our advisors will confirm what is available on your chosen policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between ICC A, B, and C?
ICC A is broadest: 'all risks' subject only to specific exclusions. ICC B covers a defined list of named perils. ICC C is the narrowest. Major casualty events only (sinking, fire, collision). For commercial cargo, ICC A is now the market default and the only sensible choice for most importers.
Does my supplier's CIF cover protect me?
Only sometimes, and rarely well. Supplier-arranged cover often (a) has the supplier as the named insured, complicating claims, (b) is on ICC C or B wording, and (c) lacks domestic transit cover after arrival. We strongly recommend buyer-arranged Open Cover or single-voyage cover for any meaningful import.
How much cover should I take?
Standard practice is CIF value plus 10% (Cost, Insurance, Freight + 10% margin for incidental costs). For high-margin or business-critical cargo, higher uplifts (15–25%) are common. We confirm at placement.
What is General Average?
A maritime law principle: if cargo is sacrificed or expenses incurred to save the rest of the ship and cargo (e.g. containers jettisoned in a storm), all cargo owners share the cost proportionally. Without marine cargo insurance, an importer might face a General Average call running into thousands of dollars on a routine shipment.
Are claims handled by Vike or the insurer?
Vike acts as the importer's advocate throughout the claim, engaging surveyors, preparing documentation, and chasing settlement. Pure insurer-direct claims are slower; brokered claims typically resolve faster and at fairer values.
Do Kenyan banks require marine insurance for letter-of-credit imports through Mombasa?
Usually, yes. When a bank finances an import under a letter of credit, it treats the cargo as security and will typically require a marine certificate in the bank's favour before releasing shipping documents for Mombasa clearance. Buyer-arranged marine cover on ICC A wording, assigned to the bank, satisfies this and keeps claims control with the importer rather than the overseas supplier.
Does marine cargo insurance cover war and strikes?
Standard Institute Cargo Clauses exclude war and strikes, but both can be added back as clause extensions (the Institute War Clauses and Institute Strikes Clauses). For cargo transiting higher-risk regions or ports exposed to industrial action, these extensions are strongly recommended and are quoted alongside the main cover.
What is General Average and why does it matter for my import?
General Average is a maritime law principle: when cargo is sacrificed or extraordinary expense is incurred to save the whole voyage (for example containers jettisoned in a storm, or salvage after a grounding), every cargo owner shares the cost in proportion to their consignment value. Without marine cover, an importer can face a General Average contribution demand, plus a security bond, before the carrier will release goods, even when their own cargo arrived undamaged. A marine policy responds to that contribution.
Should I take an annual open cover or a single-voyage policy?
A single-voyage policy suits an occasional importer or a one-off high-value shipment. An annual open cover suits regular traders: it automatically covers each shipment as it is declared, so no consignment moves uninsured, and the premium adjusts against declared turnover. Regular importers clearing through Mombasa generally find an open cover cheaper and lower-admin than buying voyage by voyage.
How fast can Vike arrange a marine certificate for Mombasa clearance?
For clients on an annual open cover, a marine certificate for a declared shipment is typically issued the same day, since the cover is already in place. For a first single-voyage placement we need the invoice, packing list, bill of lading or airway bill, and voyage details, and usually turn the certificate around quickly once those are complete. Share your shipment documents on WhatsApp and our marine team will advise the exact turnaround.

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