How High-Value Cargo Insurance Works

Declared Value Coverage

You declare the value of your shipment. JLog arranges all-risk cargo insurance. The premium is typically 0.5–1.5% of the declared value, depending on the goods type and destination. This small premium covers loss, damage, theft, and mishandling from collection to final delivery.

All-Risk Cargo Insurance

Unlike standard courier liability, all-risk insurance covers:

• Physical damage — Breakage, denting, scratching, warping
• Loss in transit — Goods missing, misdirected, or never received
• Theft — Theft during collection, transit, or delivery
• Mishandling — Dropped shipments, improper storage, crushing under load
• Environmental damage — Water damage, exposure to weather (where applicable)

The Claims Process

When goods are damaged or lost, the process is straightforward. JLog collects a condition report at the time of the incident, obtains photographic evidence, gathers documentation, and submits the claim on your behalf. We handle the process. You get paid.

What JLog Insures

We arrange cargo insurance for any goods requiring declared value cover. Here’s who we work with:

Artwork & Fine Art

Original paintings, sculptures, limited-edition prints, canvas works, and framed art. Whether you’re a gallery shipping to a collector or an artist sending work for an exhibition, JLog insures the piece to its market value.

Designer & Antique Furniture

Bespoke pieces, designer imports, handcrafted furniture, and antiques. A single chair can be worth R30,000–R100,000+. A sofa R80,000. Damage in transit is unacceptable. Insurance protects your inventory.

Ceramics, Glassware & Fragile Homeware

Handmade pottery, fine glassware, decorative ceramics, and artisanal homeware items. These goods are irreplaceable. If they break, you can’t simply reorder. Insurance is essential for studio owners and retailers.

Jewellery & Watches

Fine jewellery, designer watches, beaded pieces, and precious metal items. High value, small footprint, and easily lost or stolen. Declared value insurance is standard in the jewellery trade.

Professional Equipment

Photography gear, sound equipment, production tools, and specialized machinery. When you’re hiring equipment out or transporting it between shoots, insurance covers loss and damage.

Personal Effects for Relocating Expats

You’re moving overseas. Your household goods, art collection, and personal belongings need to reach your new country safely. JLog arranges insurance for international relocation shipments.

E-commerce Stock & Fulfilment

If you’re an e-commerce brand shipping high-value items—luxury goods, artisan products, premium homeware—we can insure the entire shipment in transit to customers.

International Cargo Insurance — Marine & Air Freight

For goods leaving South Africa by sea or air, the insurance considerations are different. International shipments face longer transit times, multiple handling points, and different risk profiles.

Marine Cargo Insurance (Sea Freight)

When artwork or furniture travels by container ship, marine cargo insurance covers the voyage. This is standard in the art world. JLog coordinates with international freight forwarders and ensures your shipment is covered under Institute Cargo Clauses A (all-risk), B (broad-risk), or C (basic coverage) depending on the goods and destination.

Air Cargo Insurance

Air freight is faster but higher risk if packing isn’t right. Air cargo insurance covers loss, damage, and mishandling. For fragile items or high-value goods, it’s the only sensible choice.

The Responsibility Question

Here’s what most international shippers get wrong: the destination country doesn’t arrange insurance. You do. As the shipper, you’re responsible for arranging declared value cover for the entire journey. JLog handles this from collection in Cape Town through to final delivery abroad.

Why JLog Handles Your Cargo Insurance

You could arrange cargo insurance yourself. But here’s what you’d need to do: understand Institute Cargo Clauses, determine the right coverage for your goods, get quotes from insurers, file claims, and negotiate. Most shippers don’t have time for this.

JLog does it as part of the service. We assess your goods, determine the right declared value, arrange the insurance, and handle all claims administration. One call. One partner. The rest is handled.