Grounded Vessel Rena Reminder on Importance of Marine Insurance

The container ship, Rena, ran onto the Astrolabe Reef off the coast of Tauranga in New Zealand on October 5, 2011. The vessel, although wedged solidly on the reef, has begun to break in half as swells up to 15 feet have widened a crack in the ship's hull.

It is estimated that 200 containers were lost overboard at the initial grounding. Recovery operations continue today as salvage workers pull containers from the deck and through a hole in the ship's side. So far 372 containers have been lifted off the ship, leaving 898 still onboard and a further 98 lost overboard during storms. Containers are still at risk to fall into the ocean as the vessel's condition continues to deteriorate.

Situations like this that lead to a General Average claim are more common than many importers realize. On average, an importer or exporter will experience a General Average claim every eight years. General Average losses, for an uninsured company, can quickly reach into the tens of thousands as everyone with freight on board shares the loss.

Let Liberty take the worry out of your international transactions. Contact our office today for more information about marine insurance coverage through Roanoke Insurance.  For just cents on the dollar, let Liberty provide you with peace of mind that your product is covered from factory to your door.