Shipping overseas is generally considered a safe and reliable method to transport goods. It is estimated that out of the 226 million containers shipped each year, just 10,000 are lost at sea. While that is a small amount compared to the overall volume, no one wants to find themselves facing a large bill.
Not only can containers fall off ships due to adverse weather, containers can also be mishandled at the port causing significant damage to the cargo inside. Containers can be dropped, they can be knocked over, and some can even catch fire due to dangerous goods being shipped.
Here's what happened at a port overseas during a container trans-shipment, where the container is taken from one vessel and placed on another.
A dock worker mistakenly tipped over a container when moving it, causing half a dozen containers to tumble. The containers fells from up top and crushed the containers on the bottom.
The container you see here sustained most of the damage. It also had classic cars inside destined for Europe. Without optional cargo damage protection, carriers were liable up to only $500 in liability.
Due to current maritime laws, ocean carriers hold minimal responsibility for your cargo while it's in their care. According to Carriage of Goods at Sea Act, the liability from ocean carriers and freight forwarders is limited to only $500 per shipment.
