Cargo Claims Procedures

The following steps will take you through the requirements of filing and proving a cargo claim.

In order to preserve your rights of action against any delivering carrier as required by the insurance covering your shipment, you must:

1. Preserve all packaging, damaged goods and seals. Take photos.

2. Document the condition of the goods upon delivery on the delivery receipt in respect to all loss or damage existing at the time you take delivery.

3. File a claim against all carriers involved in the shipment including steamship lines, airlines and trucking companies. A sample letter is provided in Word format and in pdf format.

4. Ask carrier to inspect damage in support of your insurance claim.

5. Promptly notify the insurance company or foreign surveying agent. Export shipments insured by an original certificate in most cases should be handled locally by contacting an authorized surveying/settling agent in that country. Please refer to your certificate for instructions. For other shipments, complete and submit a First Report of Loss in Word format and in pdf format.

For a list of foreign claims agents, click here. 

6. Gather and submit the following documents to support your claim:

• Copies of all ocean, air and inland bills of lading covering the entire shipment, including paid freight bills.
• Certified copy of shipper's commercial invoice covering the entire shipment insured.
• Copy of packing list.
• Duty consumption entry report bearing entry number; also executed Customs form No. 5931 (only required on non-deliveries and shortages).
• Copies of all delivery receipts with proper exceptions in respect of loss or damage noted thereon, as well as any other exceptions or bad order slips and carrier inspection reports which may substantiate loss or damage.
• With regard to non-delivery claims; written confirmation by the carriers involved attesting to their inability to make delivery.
• Copies of written claims against carriers or others, with their reply when available
• Statement of claim. This letter should describe the circumstances of the claim, an itemized description of the lost or damaged goods and cost of repair or replacement with repair bills and/or replacement invoices attached.
• Any correspondence or other reports or information relevant to the transit, loss, damage or coverage.
• Original of survey report if it has not been sent directly to the insurance company.
• Original and duplicate of certificate of  insurance or special cargo policy if issued, property endorsed by the payee. In case of import shipments not covered by a certificate of insurance or special cargo policy, identify the declaration or monthly report under which the shipment has been declared to the insurance company.

Print a checklist of all the documents you'll need to support your claim (Microsoft® Word format).  

The above information will typically be sufficient, but circumstances may require additional information or special action. In order to fully protect your rights, always act promptly and prudently to preserve and safeguard your shipment.