The risks of shipping household items overseas
One of the key characteristics of Hong Kong is that it has always been a city welcoming people from all over the world. And for many, the time comes when they decide to move abroad on a permanent basis to seek opportunities elsewhere, or even just relocate back to their home countries. The logistics of making such a move can often be complex, especially if the family home needs to be sold or important household items put into storage.
For many, the best solution is to hire a cargo container and ship important household items and larger pieces of furniture to the new destination.
Luckily, with Hong Kong’s position as an international port and one of the most important logistical hubs in Asia Pacific, there are myriad companies on the market that will handle all the packing, legal documentation and shipping. The convenience of this cannot be underestimated during what is likely to be a stressful time.
But with this convenience comes the risks associated with sending your treasured items on a long sea voyage. In this article we examine some of the risks that you should be aware of.
Risks at sea
One of the most common risks is damage cargo containers caused by improper stowage on the container ship. While you might think that this issue is somewhat of a rarity, improper stowage of cargo containers is a serious problem within the industry. For example, between November 2020 and February 2021, 5,762 containers were lost in five major incidents, mainly in the Pacific Ocean. The cause was attributed to container stack collapses, with lashing equipment playing a factor.
Another aspect to consider is the potential for containers to be damaged before they are even loaded onto the ship. While this is thankfully a rarity, accidents do occur – either due to human error or natural disasters. This was illustrated in February 2023 during the devastating earthquake in Turkey when a fire broke out at the port of Iskenderun and engulfed hundreds of shipping containers as a result.
Another potential threat to consider is one far beyond either your or the global shipping 1currently at an all-time low, the threat of war is the highest it has been for decades. This creates a huge element of risk for the marine cargo industry as new routes would need to be devised, as well as the potential for ships being lost in an attack. Added to this is the ongoing threat of piracy, which is an ever-present danger to cargo shipping around the world.
Insurance to protect you on the voyage
Thankfully, there are products available to protect you financially from any mishaps to your items when they are at sea. MSIG’s Household Removal Insurance plan provides one-off insurance protection during the removal process from your residence in Hong Kong to the new accommodation overseas. If household items are accidentally lost or damages during the removal process, the insured would receive compensation.
What’s more, if you do need to make a claim, MSIG’s digital platform, EASY Claims, enables you to file a claim 24/7 in just three easy steps.
To find out more about MSIG’s Household Removal Insurance, please feel free to contact us 
Read more: Household Removal Insurance eases emigration worries
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