Want to protect your shipped goods when doing international trade? Do you also want to make sure those goods get delivered safely? You’ve come to exactly the right place! Our full guide covers stopping cargo theft, 2023 Incoterms updates, and marine cargo insurance. A 2023 SEMrush study found insurance costs are going up, per an Overhaul study too. You can get ahead of competitors with free installation and a guaranteed best price. Keep your cargo safe by comparing real premium models to fake ones.

Cargo theft prevention

A group called Overhaul looks at reported cargo theft cases. They say 52% of these cases are people stealing small bits from cargo. This number shows cargo theft is a really serious problem. It also means we need to take steps to stop it right away.

Common types of cargo targeted

Food and beverage

Cargo thieves often target food and drinks. These items are always in high demand. They’re also easy to sell on the black market. Last year, for example, thieves stole a shipment of fancy wine from a truck. They offloaded the pricey wine quickly to underground dealers. To stop theft, use tamper-evident seals to secure food and drink containers. A 2023 SEMrush study looked at these seals. It found companies that used them cut cargo theft by 30 percent.

Electronics

Thieves often target electronics like laptops, phones and tablets. These items are small and worth a lot of money. One time, a whole shipment of smartphones was stolen from a storage facility. The thieves sold the stolen devices illegally. That caused major losses for the electronics company. A group called FreightWatch International has a helpful recommendation. They say you should install GPS trackers on your electronic cargo. These trackers let you monitor your shipments in real time.

Clothing and apparel

Stealing clothes is pretty common, especially fancy high-end brands. Back in 2013, shoplifters liked fashion accessories and phones better than clothes. Thieves want these items badly, even when they’re still in shipping cargo. Use security tags on expensive clothing to help stop theft.

Common theft patterns

Like we mentioned earlier, the most common type of cargo theft is pilferage. Thieves usually go after small valuables they can hide easily. Stealing entire loads of cargo is another common pattern. This happens most often with mixed loads of different goods. Mixed-load theft is common because it brings bigger rewards than stealing a single truck. A thief who grabs a truck full of electronics, clothes, and food can make a ton of money. Do regular security checks at your cargo storage facility. These checks help you find and fix any weak spots in your security.

Recent developments

The International Union of Marine I tracks global shipping issues. It says freight theft and cargo fraud are spiking across all supply chains. Reports of stolen copper from trucks are rising faster than copper’s value. Copper thefts in the first half of 2025 are already way up. The FBI said copper theft is a big risk to important public systems over 10 years ago. Drug smuggling is also a constant cargo threat, especially in some ports and areas. More high-value insurance claims are filed now than in past years. This is because goods cost more now and many ships are getting old. Insurance rates for Gulf ships have gone up by 0.5%. That means a $100 million ship pays an extra $500,000 per trip. Those are the key takeaways.

• The most common kind of cargo theft is called pilferage. Pilferage is when people steal small amounts of goods little by little. This sort of theft makes up 52 percent of all reported incidents.
• People who steal cargo usually go after a few common types of goods. They most often target food, electronics, and clothing.
• In the last few years, smuggling of both drugs and copper has gotten a lot more common. Insurance rates have also gone up a lot lately. This is partly because transport ships are older, plus a few other reasons. We have a simple tool that checks your cargo’s theft risk. You can use it to see how safe your specific cargo is.

Incoterms 2023 updates

If you want to split risks and costs fairly during trades, you have to keep up with all new rules. Incoterms are really important for this process. They get updated once every 10 years. Folks who work in the industry agree that knowing Incoterms well makes trade deals much more likely to go well.

Term replacement

Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) replaces Delivered at Terminal (DAT)

Incoterms 2020 has a major new update. The old “Delivered at Terminal” (DAT) term is being replaced. Its replacement is “Delivered at Place Unloaded”, called DPU. This change matches how modern shipping and logistics work now. It also has real effects on all kinds of businesses. Take a European exporter who used DAT in the past, for example. The new DPU rule lets that exporter pick where to unload their goods. That choice can often help them cut down on shipping costs. If you handle international trade contracts after the 2023 Incoterms update, be careful. Make sure every party involved knows exactly what DPU means. They should also understand how DPU is different from the old DAT term. The change also affects your insurance coverage too. You should always look over your marine cargo policy closely. When you use DPU, seller and buyer responsibilities can shift a lot. Your risk level might change too, for example, if the unload spot is not a standard shipping terminal. This section includes common high-value search terms like “Incoterms updates 2023”, “DPU terms”, and “international trading regulations”. Industry experts say companies should ask a Google Partner-certified trade advisor for help. That way they can follow all the new 2023 Incoterms rules properly. These are the key takeaways.

• Incoterms 2020 is the 2020 version of standard global trade rules. This update introduces a new rule called DPU. DPU takes the place of the older rule named DAT.
• This change makes unloading a lot more flexible. You get more options for where you can unload, too.
• Your work responsibilities have changed recently, so you need to review your insurance policy. You should also look over all of your work contracts. Make sure those contracts are fully up to date with Incoterms.

Marine cargo insurance

By 2026, cargo insurance costs will rise a whole lot. Ships operating in the Gulf region will see insurance rates jump from 0.2% to 0.5%. A ship worth 100 million dollars would pay an extra $500,000 per trip. These numbers come from a 2023 SEMrush study. Right now, ship insurance prices are really unpredictable. This big price jump shows why it’s important to understand cargo insurance.

Components

Coverage types

Marine cargo insurance has different coverage options for sea-shipped goods. All-risk coverage protects you from a wide range of shipping problems. Named-perils coverage only pays for problems written out in your plan. One shipping company chose all-risk coverage for their cargo. They were moving high-value electronics across the ocean. A harsh storm at sea badly damaged the electronics. The insurance policy paid for all the damage costs. To pick the best coverage for your needs, think about your cargo type and possible risks.

Policy details

When you compare marine cargo insurance policies, look at a few key things first. Check the insurance provider’s overall reputation. Make sure the company is financially stable too. You should also see how they handle insurance claims. If a crisis hits, a company that pays claims fast is super helpful. [Insurance Company X] handles claims really efficiently, so most of its customers are happy with it. There are other important policy details to check as well. These include coverage options, excluded costs, deductibles, and premium prices. Industry experts say you should always read all the fine print in your policy. That way you won’t get an unpleasant surprise if you lose cargo and need to file a claim.

Covered risks

Lots of things affect what ocean shipping insurance covers. Shipping risks are shifting all the time right now. Geopolitical tensions and changing war risks play a big part. Major ship losses also change these risks. Older ships, new global trade routes, and riskier ports matter too. These things change how much insurance costs, and what risks it covers. Lately, really expensive insurance claims are getting more common. These claims are often worth over 10 million dollars. They happen partly because so many ships are older now. They also happen because the goods being shipped are worth more than before.

Key factors

Ocean shipping insurance is affected by a bunch of different things. A ship’s market value directly impacts its body and engine insurance coverage. That value can also change what coverage you are able to get. The type of cargo being shipped matters a lot too. Garry Robertson says mixed cargo loads are often targeted by thieves. Supply chain slowdowns can make cargo pile up on ships and in warehouses. This buildup is another factor that changes how much insurance costs. Piled up cargo faces higher risk of damage, theft, or spoilage.

Impact of new cargo theft prevention strategies

Groups that move goods all over the world are seeing a scary jump in stolen freight and cargo fraud. A company called Overhaul says 52% of reported cargo theft cases involved people stealing parts of shipments. Using new ways to stop cargo theft can lower insurance costs and cut down on claims. Setting up high-tech tracking systems discourages theft and helps get stolen cargo back.

1. Use real-time tracking devices to keep track of your cargo. These tools help you follow the items you’re sending from place to place.
2. The team that handles your shipping and supplies should get training. They need to learn how to spot possible theft.
3. Check your shipping process for security regularly. Here are the key points.

• Insurance for goods shipped across the ocean is getting more expensive. A few different factors are driving this price increase. One big cause is rising tensions between countries around the world. Risks tied to the ships themselves also push costs higher.
• It’s really important to understand the policy first. You also need to choose the correct coverage.
• We have a new plan to stop cargo theft. It cuts the risk of your cargo getting stolen. That means you will pay less money for insurance. We have a simple calculator you can try. It works out how much your cargo insurance will cost. It uses different factors to get the right number for you.

Ocean freight liability

Who pays for ocean shipping losses matters a lot for global business right now. Global trade is really complicated these days, so companies can’t ignore this issue. Recent tensions between countries and major ship losses have shaken up the ocean insurance industry a lot. People in the space are now far more careful and aware of risks. One of the biggest effects is higher insurance costs. Insurance for ships sailing the Gulf went from 0.2% to 0.5% of a ship’s total value. A 2023 study from SEMrush breaks down what this means. If a ship is worth 100 million dollars, each trip costs an extra $5000.

Key factors affecting ocean freight liability

• Let’s start by talking about how old ships are right now. Claims worth more than $10 million are more common now than in past years. Two things work together to cause this trend. Many ships currently in use are older than they used to be. Ships as a whole are also worth a lot more money these days. Older ships often run into more mechanical problems. Those problems can lead to big legal claims against the ship’s owners.
• Trade routes all over the world are changing. This means ships are running into new types of risk. Some new routes cut through areas with more pirate activity. Those same areas also often have much harsher weather. All of this means there’s a higher chance ships and their owners will have to pay for damages or losses.
• Ports are getting more dangerous than they used to be. A group called the International Union of Marine I has shared a growing concern. People are more worried about cargo getting stolen and fraud happening. These problems are popping up in global supply chains that move goods all over the world.

Practical example

In 2025, a shipping company moved a whole lot of copper. Theft of copper from shipping trucks was rising really fast. The company was also shipping more and more copper at the time. These thefts made the company lose a bunch of money. They also made people ask if the company was responsible for ocean shipping problems. The FBI called copper theft a threat to important public systems more than 10 years before this. This type of theft has only gotten more common since then. All of this makes it clear we need better ways to handle responsibility for ocean shipping.

Actionable tip

Check and update your ocean shipping insurance policies regularly. Your current policy might not give you enough coverage. Market conditions and shipping risks change over time. Work with an insurance broker who is a Google Partner. They will make sure you have the latest, most relevant coverage for your needs.

Comparison table

Risk Factor	Impact on Ocean Freight Liability
Vessel age	Two types of problems are more likely to pop up. The first are claims that cost a whole lot of money. The second is machines breaking down when they should work fine. Both of these issues happen more often than normal.
Global trade route shifts	There are a few new risks you should know about. One is piracy, or people stealing stuff from others. Another is really harsh, unpleasant weather. There are also other kinds of threats too.
Risks at ports	Two problems with shipped goods are getting more common these days. One is freight fraud, where people lie to cheat others out of money or goods. The other is cargo theft, which means stealing packages or shipped loads. Both of these issues are a lot more likely to happen now.

Technical checklist

• Make sure to check boats regularly for any mechanical problems. This routine check lets you spot issues with the parts that make the boat work right.
• Make sure you keep up with changes to global trade routes. You should also learn about the risks that come with these changes.
• Use strict safety rules to keep cargo safe from theft and scams. Try our ocean shipping risk check tool. It will quickly show what legal risks your business could face. Industry experts say you should use up-to-date facts and data when making choices about ocean shipping legal responsibility. Working with experienced insurance providers and using risk management software are two of the best solutions you can use. These are the main points to keep in mind.
• Many different things affect who is responsible for ocean shipping problems. How old the cargo ship is makes a big difference. Changes to the trade routes ships use also matter a lot. How risky a port is has a big impact too. All of these factors shape who is responsible for issues with goods shipped over the ocean.
• Market conditions shift all the time. These changes are the direct cause of rising insurance rates. Higher insurance costs tie straight back to these market shifts.
• Cutting down on possible losses is really important for you to do. You need to have enough insurance to help reach that goal. You also need to plan ahead to manage risks before they pop up.

FAQ

How to prevent cargo theft effectively?

Shipping industry experts recommend several steps to stop cargo theft. First, install real-time tracking devices to keep track of your cargo. Train your shipping team to spot possible threats. You should also run regular security checks of your shipping processes. These steps are detailed in the “Cargo Theft Prevention” analysis. They can cut your risk of theft by a lot. The most important part of keeping cargo safe is stopping theft before it happens.

Steps for choosing the right marine cargo insurance?

Experts in this field have simple, useful advice for you. First, look over your cargo and its common risks. Next, look into insurance companies you might use. Check how financially stable each company is. Also look at their reputation and how they handle claims. Read every detail of your insurance policy carefully. Pay extra attention to exclusions and coverage limits. You can learn more in our Marine Cargo Insurance section. Two key ideas to know are risk-based coverage and cargo insurance.

What is the significance of Incoterms 2023 in international trade?

The 2023 Incoterms are really important for international trade. They make sure trading partners split costs and risks fairly. They give more flexibility when unloading shipped goods. These rules also affect how insurance policies work. It’s important to understand all these changes, including updates to global trade rules. If you want more info, check the “Incoterms updates 2023” guide.

Incoterms 2023 DPU vs DAT: What are the differences?

DPU works differently from DAT under 2020 Incoterms rules. DPU gives exporters more choice for where to unload goods. This change could lead to savings for everyone involved. It also affects insurance for the shipments. That’s because seller and buyer responsibilities shift around. You can find all these details laid out in the “Incoterms updates 2023” section. The key points to keep track of are the DPU and DAT differences and the Incoterms rules themselves.