Marine, aviation and transport claims: surveyors and experts

A world of surveyors and international terms

Marine and aviation insurance have their own traditions. Damage is examined by surveyors, often appointed quickly at the port, airport or warehouse where the loss is discovered. Clauses, Incoterms, bills of lading and air waybills shape who bears the risk at each stage, and many policies follow standard market wordings used internationally.

Time is critical. Carriers' liability is usually subject to short notification periods and limitation rules, so reservations must be made promptly on delivery documents.

Claims covered in this section

The guides below follow the main transport exposures.

• Cargo and freight losses by sea, road, rail or air
• Hull and machinery damage to commercial vessels and other maritime losses
• Pleasure boats and yachts, including grounding, sinking and storm damage
• Aviation damage to aircraft, components and ground equipment
• Commercial trucks and vans used for transport operations

Who examines the loss

Cargo underwriters, hull insurers and carriers each tend to appoint their own surveyor. The owner of the goods or the vessel can instruct an independent surveyor to attend jointly, record the condition, take samples and challenge the cause or the extent of damage attributed by others. In aviation, technical assessment often depends on maintenance records and manufacturer documentation, which an independent expert can review.

Frequent sources of disagreement

Typical arguments concern whether damage happened before, during or after transit, inadequate packing, inherent vice of the goods, unseaworthiness, salvage value of damaged cargo, and the line between repairable damage and constructive total loss. For yachts and aircraft, the agreed value in the policy and the cost of specialist repairs are recurring issues.

Selecting the guide that applies

If the loss concerns goods, start with the cargo and freight page. Damage to a ship belongs to maritime loss, while leisure craft have their own yacht guide. Aircraft and airport equipment are covered by the aviation page, and road haulage vehicles by the commercial trucks guide. Each topic has a related page on how surveyors and independent experts charge.

Protecting your rights on delivery

Note visible damage on the delivery receipt, photograph packaging and seals, keep the goods and packaging available for survey, and notify both the carrier and your insurer in writing within the stated deadlines.

Several insurers, one shipment

A single container can involve the shipper's cargo policy, the carrier's liability cover, the freight forwarder's insurance and, for sea transport, general average contributions if the vessel faced a common danger. Each party protects its own position, which is why early, documented findings are so valuable. When general average is declared, cargo owners may need to provide security before goods are released, usually arranged through their cargo insurer.

For yachts and aircraft, the owner often deals with one insurer, but repairers, marinas, airports or maintenance organisations may also be involved and may carry their own liability cover. An independent surveyor can help separate what falls under the hull or aircraft policy from what should be claimed against a third party, and can track recovery actions so that nothing is time-barred.

• Aviation damage claims: assessing a loss to an aircraft
• Cargo and freight claims: understanding expert and survey fees
• Cargo and freight claims: what the surveyor looks for
• Expert Witness for Car and Motorcycle Accidents (USA, UK)
• Fees for aviation loss assessment: what owners can expect to pay
• Fees for marine loss assessment on commercial vessels
• Fees for yacht and pleasure boat claims: an owner's cost guide
• Marine loss assessment: hull, machinery and casualty claims
• Travel Industry Expert Witness: Disputes Over Trips, Tours and Travel Insurance
• Yacht and pleasure boat claims: surveys, evidence and disputes

Pick the guide that matches your vessel, aircraft or shipment below; expertdassure.com explains each step in plain language.