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Indian court extends shipping insurance liability

Indian court extends shipping insurance liability

Mumbai: The Indian Supreme Court has passed a judgment entitling shipping companies to compensation if cargo imported to India is damaged or destroyed prior to its arrival at the final destination. "When the coverage was extended on same terms and conditions, it would mean that the goods were covered till the same reached in any part of the country in India," the Justices said.

Although shipping companies must have extended insurance in order to claim for coverage beyond the port area, the decision is expected to reassure shippers who often face logistical hassles when transporting goods from Indian ports to their final destinations.

The decision was reached during judgment on a case in which Great Eastern Shipping (GES) was awarded Rs 49.4m ($1.2m) in compensation for 12,000 tonnes of sugar from China, that was destroyed at Kolkata (Calcutta) Port in 1994 in a fire. [26/07/07]