2 Things to Ensure in Survey Reports for Effective Cargo Claims Recovery

If you’ve ever had the unfortunate experience of dealing with cargo damage or the hassle of cargo claims, you know that it can be a real headache. The problem is, when cargo damage is extensive or your cargo insurance policy insists, you’re left with no other option but to appoint a cargo surveyor. But what’s the catch? The price tag for this service can go up to a whopping $1200 per reefer box or a bit less for dry cargo!

We’re here to help you understand what crucial information needs to be included in the survey report, so you’re not left holding a bunch of paper without a clear picture of the outcome.

At Recoupex we have seen thousands of survey reports. Some of these documents are useless. They lack specifics on the extent of the damage and often leave you guessing about who’s responsible for the mess. This lack of clarity can lead to cargo claims being rejected by either the liable party or your cargo insurer.

So, here’s your action plan. It’s your legal right to make sure that each survey report you pay for contains these 2 key information:

1. Damage Extent: This means you should know precisely what went wrong. For instance, was it 60 bags of coffee that got wet and are beyond salvation? Or maybe 13 boxes that mysteriously vanished during transit. Get the details on the damage.

2. Liable Party: It’s crucial to know who’s to blame for the damaged cargo. Was it due to mishandling during loading or unloading at the terminal? Perhaps it was because water found its way in through a rusty container roof. You need to pinpoint the responsible party.

Always insist on having the surveyor provide a preliminary report for you to review. Make sure these two key pieces of information are crystal clear in the final report. Avoid vague statements or contradictions in the report. Trust me, vague cargo survey reports are about as useful as a chocolate teapot.

Even if your insurer is footing the bill for the surveyor, I strongly recommend that you keep an eye on what’s being said in the report. If the surveyor repeatedly claims that the damage is due to condensation without physically inspecting the cargo, it could cause trouble. Why? Because condensation is often seen as the fault of the cargo owner, which could affect your cargo insurance policies. Deductibles for certain types of cargo damage might be higher than others, and you don’t want to get caught in that trap.

So, remember this: Before you go into a dispute with the party responsible for your damaged cargo make sure damage extent and liable party is mentioned in your survey report.  Control narrative and ensure that everything is crystal clear. Your goal? Effective cargo claims recoveries without the headaches.

Recoupex is a hub of transport lawyers – experts in cargo claims. We assess your case quickly. We have successfully recovered claims from Maersk, Sealand, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Company – MSC, CMA CGM, and other carriers.

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