Cargo Protected.
Claims Handled.
Cargo insurance arranged by the same team managing your freight. One point of contact for coverage, documentation, and claim support, whether your goods move by ocean, air, or truck.
- All Modes Covered
- Per-Shipment or Open Cover
- 35+ Years Experience
- Coverage Options
Coverage for Every Shipment Type
From high-value tech cargo to standard retail containers, Kesco arranges the right coverage alongside your freight.
- All-Risk Coverage
Broadest Available Coverage
Covers loss or damage from any external cause not specifically excluded. The standard choice for high-value goods, sensitive cargo, and ocean shipments where carrier liability is limited.
- Loss and damage from any external cause
- General average contributions covered
- Available for ocean, air, and domestic moves
- Named Perils
Coverage for Specific Listed Risks
Covers only the specific perils listed in the policy. Lower premium than all-risk, appropriate when full coverage is not required for the cargo type or trade lane.
- Fire, theft, vessel sinking, and other listed perils
- Lower premium for standard-risk commodities
- Kesco advises on appropriate perils for your cargo
- Open Cover
Coverage Across Your Entire Program
An open cargo policy covers all shipments automatically up to a declared value, eliminating the need to arrange coverage per shipment. Better for importers with consistent freight volumes.
- Automatic coverage on all qualifying shipments
- Monthly declaration and reporting
- Certificate issuance for each shipment
- Why Arrange Through Kesco
One Team.
Freight and Coverage.
When the same team manages your freight and your insurance, claim support is faster and documentation gaps are less likely.
Complete Shipment Documentation
Kesco already holds the bill of lading, packing list, and commercial invoice for every shipment we manage. When a claim arises, the required documentation is already in our system.
Single Point of Contact for Claims
When cargo is damaged or lost, you call Kesco, not a separate insurer. We coordinate the survey, documentation, and claim submission on your behalf.
Arranged Per Shipment or Under Open Cover
Coverage can be arranged on a per-shipment basis for occasional needs, or under an open policy for importers with consistent freight volumes.
- Related Services
Insurance Fits Within the Full Customs Picture
Kesco covers your freight and your trade compliance obligations under one team.
- Customs Services
Customs Brokerage
Licensed customs clearance across all US ports, including ISF filing, formal entries, and Type 86 de minimis filings.
- Customs Services
Duty Drawback
Recover up to 99% of duties paid on goods that are subsequently exported or destroyed under CBP supervision.
- Overview
Customs & Financial Services
See all four services together: brokerage, drawback, classification, and cargo insurance under one licensed team.
- FAQ
Cargo Insurance Questions
What cargo insurance covers, when it applies, and how Kesco arranges it alongside your freight.
Cargo insurance, also called marine cargo insurance or freight insurance, covers physical loss or damage to goods in transit. It applies from the point of origin through final destination and is separate from carrier liability. Most cargo insurance policies are structured as all-risk or named-perils coverage and can be arranged per shipment or under an open cargo policy that covers all shipments automatically.
Carrier liability under international conventions such as the Hague-Visby Rules and the Montreal Convention is limited to low per-kilogram maximums that typically represent a small fraction of the actual cargo value. For most commercial shipments, carrier liability alone does not provide adequate coverage. Cargo insurance provides actual value coverage rather than the limited liability carriers are contractually obligated to.
All-risk coverage covers loss or damage from any external cause not specifically excluded by the policy. Common exclusions include inherent vice (natural deterioration of the goods), improper packing by the shipper, and war. It covers theft, vessel damage, water damage, pilferage, and general average contributions among other causes of loss.
For shipments Kesco manages, coverage can be arranged at the time of booking. You declare the cargo value, select the coverage type, and Kesco issues a certificate of insurance. For importers with consistent freight volumes, Kesco can arrange an open cargo policy that covers all shipments automatically with monthly reporting.
Add Coverage to Your Next Shipment
Tell us about your cargo and we’ll arrange the right coverage alongside your freight.