A Perfect Example of Why You Need to Get Marine Insurance Before Shipping a Car!

Shipping a car overseas is extremely safe, but accidents can and do happen, and you want to be prepared for the worst possible scenario. Take a look at the case of the Modern Express. This 164-meter RoRo (roll on, roll off) vessel was en route to Le Havre, France when it encountered some nasty weather on January 26, 2016. This caused the vessel to lose stability and list sharply to one side. It was left to drift 150 nautical miles off the Spanish coast in the Bay of Biscay.

While the 22 crew members were evacuated safely, the ship continued to list and drift aimlessly toward the French coast, with many concerned it would run aground and cause untold environmental devastation. A salvage team was brought in after an air inspection showed the only option was to tow the vessel. On January 29, a four-man salvage team was deposited onto the vessel and attempted to attach a tow line; however, bad weather made this attempt unsuccessful.

They were hoisted off the ship but tried again a few days later on February 3 after reports showed the vessel was just 25 nautical miles off the coast. This time, they were successful in attaching the tow lines, and the Modern Express was towed into the Port of Bilbao. It was moored safely, then ballasting was used to upright the boat. It had been loaded with 3, 600 tons of wood, cars, and construction equipment, representing millions of dollars in damage.ย Extensive inspections took place over the next several days to sort through the wreckage and determine a plan for disposing of the contents as well as the ship itself.

If your car or construction equipment had been on that RoRo vessel and you had neglected to get the marine insurance, youโ€™d be in a bad way right now. If you HAD been smart and purchased marine insurance, you would be reimbursed for the damages.

Now isnโ€™t that a great reason to click โ€œyesโ€ next to the optional marine insurance? We think so. Get a quote now at Ship Overseas. Itโ€™s more affordable than you think!

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