What is a marine open cover?
A marine open cover is an annual agreement with an insurer that covers every shipment you make within agreed limits, goods and routes. You declare each shipment, before it sails, and pay premium as you go, instead of buying a new policy each time. In Kenya each import still needs its own digital certificate. Our marine cargo insurance page explains the cover.
Open cover or single transit?
| Single transit | Open cover | |
|---|---|---|
| Suits | One-off or occasional shipments | Regular shippers, roughly monthly or more |
| How long | One journey | Usually 12 months, renewed each year |
| Premium | Paid per shipment, with a minimum each time | Paid as you declare; agreed rates for the year |
| Admin | New quote and policy every time | One agreement; declare each shipment |
| Forgotten shipment | Not covered | Usually covered if missed in good faith |
| Kenyan import certificate | One per shipment | Still one per shipment |
- Single transit
- One-off or occasional shipments
- Open cover
- Regular shippers, roughly monthly or more
- Single transit
- One journey
- Open cover
- Usually 12 months, renewed each year
- Single transit
- Paid per shipment, with a minimum each time
- Open cover
- Paid as you declare; agreed rates for the year
- Single transit
- New quote and policy every time
- Open cover
- One agreement; declare each shipment
- Single transit
- Not covered
- Open cover
- Usually covered if missed in good faith
- Single transit
- One per shipment
- Open cover
- Still one per shipment
How an open cover works
- Agree the terms Goods, routes, cover level, rates, the limit on any one ship or aircraft, and the basis of value.
- Declare each shipment Before the sailing or flight date, with the value, route and vessel.
- Certificate issued For imports, the digital certificate goes to KRA against the IDF.
- Pay as you go Monthly or quarterly, on what you declared.
- Review at renewal Rates are reviewed on your volume and claims for the year.
What the insurer will ask
- Estimated annual value shipped and number of shipments
- The largest value on any one ship, aircraft or location
- Goods, packing and whether they are containerised
- Main routes and ports
- Cover level (ICC A, B or C) and war and strikes
- Claims history for the last three to five years
Rules to keep to
- Declare every shipment, on time: a deliberately undeclared shipment can void the cover.
- Shipments above the limit, unusual goods or new routes need the insurer's agreement first.
- Either side can usually cancel on notice, often one month.
- Keep shipping documents for every declaration; you will need them for a claim.
Frequently asked questions
What is a marine open cover?
An open cover is an annual agreement that insures every shipment you make within agreed limits. You declare each shipment, pay premium as you go, and avoid buying a new policy every time. Each import still needs its own digital certificate.
When is an open cover worth it?
Usually once you ship regularly, about once a month or more. It saves repeat minimum premiums and paperwork, and an undeclared shipment is still covered if you forgot it in good faith. For one or two shipments a year, a single-transit policy is simpler.
What is a marine insurance certificate?
It is the document that proves a shipment is insured: it names the goods, the voyage, the sum insured and the cover. For Kenyan imports it is now a Digital Marine Cargo Insurance Certificate sent straight to KRA. Banks ask for a certificate when they finance goods under a letter of credit.
How much is marine cargo insurance in Kenya?
Insurers do not publish rates, but market estimates put most import cargo at about 0.15% to 0.6% of the insured value, with minimum premiums of about KES 2,500 to 5,000 a shipment. On goods worth KES 2 million that is roughly KES 3,600 to 14,500 before levies. Fragile, high-theft or used goods cost more.
How do I pay for marine insurance?
For a digital import certificate the premium is paid through eCitizen, M-Pesa or a bank, against your IDF. For annual open covers insurers can bill monthly or quarterly against your declarations.
How do I make a marine cargo claim?
Tell us and the insurer as soon as you see damage or a shortage, before you sign a clean delivery receipt. Keep the goods and packing, ask for a survey, give the carrier written notice of a claim, and send the claim documents. We follow the claim through to settlement.
Shipping every month?
Tell us how many shipments you make, their total value and what you ship. We compare open-cover terms from Kenyan insurers.
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Sources
Facts and published prices checked 18 Oct 2026; last reviewed October 2026 by Naveah Capital. Rates shown are market estimates before levies, not a quote or a promise. Naveah Capital Insurance Agency is an IRA-licensed insurance agency in Nairobi; this page is general information, and your policy wording decides your cover.
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