Looking at the news of the impending environmental disaster in the Bay of Plenty, we all think about the wildlife and the soiling of the beautiful environment. Being in shipping for so many years my mind turns to insurance. Luckily Ocean Sky didn’t have any containers on that vessel because we use a different service into New Zealand, but I can picture that some of those containers may contain someone’s most prized possession. Not only beds and tables and electrical goods, but photo albums and clothes all headed for the bottom of the ocean. When Ocean Sky International advise clients who are moving on transit insurance we are carful to distribute Product Disclosure Statements and Policy Wording and we try not to be too pushy with the sale of insurance because we do make a margin from the policy. However over all the years I have been in the business I have seen some perils at sea (well from my desk) and there is no way I would hand my worldly possessions over to an ocean liner without Marine Transit Insurance. The money does not help with the photographs and many of the sentimental things, but to have to face the rebuilding of your home without financial compensation is a daunting thing. Many people ask me whether in such a circumstance they could claim from the shipping line, and probably they would have a case. However they would need to engage a lawyer and effectively sue the shipping line for the losses. If you have your own Marine Transit Insurance policy, your insurance pays out and then the insurer will sue the line for the recovery of the funds. In short Ocean Sky International strongly recommends Marine Transit Insurance when you are shipping your goods overseas via shipping container.