Marine Cargo: Single Transit vs Open Cover — Which One Do You Need?

Marine cargo insurance in India covers goods in transit by road, rail, sea or air — against accident, theft, and handling damage. Despite the name, most inland transit by truck falls under 'marine' policies.

Single transit policies

A single transit policy covers one specific movement: this consignment, from this place to that place, on these dates. It suits businesses that ship occasionally — a machine delivery, a one-off export order, materials for a single project.

Open covers

An open cover is a standing annual arrangement: every despatch you make is automatically covered up to an agreed limit per vehicle or consignment, and you declare despatches periodically. For anyone shipping regularly, it removes the risk of a despatch leaving uninsured because nobody bought a policy that day, and the per-trip cost is typically lower.

The decision rule

• Shipping a few times a year → single transit
• Shipping weekly or more → open cover
• Stock moves between your own locations too → ask about Stock Throughput, which covers transit plus storage seamlessly

What decides your claim

Cargo claims hinge on documents: the invoice, packing list, lorry receipt or bill of lading, the carrier's damage remark, and photographs. Note visible damage on the delivery receipt before accepting the consignment — that single habit decides more marine claims than any clause in the policy.