Transporting rare, valuable and high value cargo demands more than just standard shipping procedures; it requires a heightened level of vigilance and specialised strategies to ensure the safe delivery of these valuable goods, the Britannia Club highlights.
High-value cargo encompasses goods such as precious stones, jewelry, fine wines and spirits, artwork, gourmet foods, electronics, and more. When transporting such valuable items, independent freight forwarders must mitigate all risks of loss, damage, and theft. The biggest threat associated with moving high-value cargo is theft.
The Club’s cargo rule (19.17.8.5) governs the transport of rare and valuable goods. According to this rule, there will be no compensation for loss or damage to the specified items unless the carriage contract and security measures have been pre-approved by the manager
Below are some prudent steps shipowners should typically consider when carrying rare and valuable cargo:
- Issue carriage documents (i.e. Bill of Lading or Sea waybill) on a port-to-port basis only, with no responsibility for pre-carriage to the load port or on-carriage to destination from the discharge port. This would avoid the risk of cargo being stolen during a road leg
- Avoid issuing ad-valorem carriage documents
- Stow containers below deck with doors inaccessible or, if on deck, in an upper tier – although ideally not at the ships side
- Minimise the time cargo will be stowed in the load and the discharge port
- If road haulage is arranged, ensure prompt delivery of the container after discharge from the ship
- Store the container in a terminal with blocked and inaccessible doors, ideally in a tier above ground
- Verify with the relevant terminal that there is adequate and appropriate security arrangements in place
- If there is concern about theft or extended storage, hire a reputable security company to protect the container
- Minimise access to information about the arrangement of the carriage of rare and valuable cargo and ensure those with access avoid disclosing information unless necessary.
In addition, the Britannia Club emphasizes that the carriage of any goods should generally be regarded as a private matter. It is good practice to remind all crew members and employees to avoid discussing rare and valuable cargo in public forums or with external parties. Posting details about rare and valuable cargo on social media should be prohibited.
