Why International Shipping Insurance is Necessary

Accidents are a part of life, but when an accident occurs are you prepared?  Parents know to always bring extra diapers and drivers on the road make sure they're protected with car insurance.  The same is true for international shipping, you should always try to be as prepared as possible when the inexplicable happens. While K International Transport always strives to provide the best international shipping services possible, there are certain things beyond our control.  But, just like those extra diapers, there are ways to make the accidents of life more tolerable.  We hate to scare you, but in international shipping several things can happen, a vessel could sink, a car carrier could get into an accident, a container could fall off a ship. For example, in October of 2011 the container ship MV Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef in New Zealand.  The ship had over 1,300 containers aboard.  Although not common, we always recommend our customers purchase some form of international shipping and cargo insurance.

The MV Rena ran aground near the coast of New Zealand in late 2011.  Don't let international shipping accidents catch you off-guard.  Read on to learn more about the benefits of cargo insurance.

What does international shipping insurance cover?  It all depends on what type of insurance you decide to choose.  Here are the two types of insurance available for customers shipping their cargo overseas in container, ro/ro or by air:

• Total Loss (FPA- Free of Particular Average)
• All Risk

Total loss (FPA) insurance covers partial or total losses due to certain catastrophic perils, for example the sinking of a vessel such as what occurred to the MV Rena.

Don't get taken out to sea if your container is lost during international shipping.  We recommend our customers at the very least purchase "Total Loss (FPA)" cargo insurance. 

All risk insurance covers against the risk of physical loss or damage from any external cause.  All risk has all the same coverage as total loss but also includes coverage for damage.  


Always check with your international shipping company the terms and conditions of the international cargo insurance policy.  When shipping to certain destinations you should also ask if your cargo insurance policy covers against the risk of wars, strikes, riots or civil commotions.


When shipping internationally it is better to be safe than sorry.  As one of the top international shipping companies in the United States, K International always recommends that our customers at least consider Total Loss (FPA) Insurance.  In the game of life, anything is possible, and you should try to be prepared!  For more information on our international shipping insurance or to receive international shipping quotes contact us at: inquiries@kinternational.com.  We can also be reached by phone at 212-267-6400 or Skype: kinternationalny.  Don't forget to also ask us to quote for international shipping cargo insurance!

International Container Shipping - What is the size of a Shipping Container?

If you are shipping multiple vehicles, moving overseas, or shipping a large amount of any cargo, it may be best to use international container shipping. 

A container of a smaller size fits this car, but what if you are shipping more than one vehicle?

Containerized transport is the world standard for efficient international ocean freight. Large vessels can be loaded with stacks of containers, maximizing the carrying capacity of the vessels, while also enabling easy compartmentalization of different cargo. This also makes it much less difficult to load and unload the vessel at ports by using cranes.


There are a few different types of containers. The types used most often are as follows:

	20' STANDARD
Inside Length	19' 4''	5.89 m
Inside Width	7' 8''	2.33 m
Inside Height	7' 10''	2.38 m
Door Width	7' 8''	2.33 m
Door Height	7' 6''	2.28 m
Capacity	1,172 cubic feet	33.18 cubic meters
Tare Weight	4, 916 lbs	2, 229 kgs
Maximum Cargo	47, 999* lbs	21, 727* kgs
	40' STANDARD
Inside Length	39' 5''	12.01 m
Inside Width	7' 8''	2.33 m
Inside Height	7' 10''	2.38 m
Door Width	7' 8''	2.33 m
Door Height	7' 6''	2.28 m
Capacity	2, 390 cubic feet	67.67 cubic meters
Tare Weight	8, 160 lbs	3, 701 kgs
Maximum Cargo	59, 040* lbs	26, 780* kgs
	40' HIGH CUBE
Inside Length	39' 5''	12.01 m
Inside Width	7' 8''	2.33 m
Inside Height	8' 10''	2.69 m
Door Width	7' 8''	2.33 m
Door Height	8' 5''	2.56 m
Capacity	2, 694 cubic feet	76.28 cubic meters
Tare Weight	8, 750 lbs	9, 968 kgs
Maximum Cargo	58, 450* lbs	26, 512* kgs

*Legal weight and weight maximum for steamship line may be lower than this number


There are a few other types of containers (e.g. refrigerated, open-top, 45'), but the above cover the lion's share of international container shipping.


The better idea we get of the size of what you are shipping, the better we will be able to accurately quote you. Other companies may give you what appears to be a fantastic quote, but will continue adding fees as the shipment continues. K International Transport gets it right from the start, so when you can budget accurately.


Contact us today to receive international shipping rates, we can be reached by phone at 212-267-6400, email: inquiries@kinternational.com and Skype:kinternationalny