If you ship goods internationally, then you should consider war risk cover as part of your marine insurance package. In this post, we outline what marine war insurance is, what it covers—including derelict mines and weapons of war—and why it matters.
What Is Marine War Risk Insurance?
Marine war risk insurance provides protection against risks arising from war, conflict, terrorism, and piracy. It is a vital extension to standard marine insurance, especially for operators navigating high-risk or politically unstable regions.
This type of insurance can apply to all types of marine operations—from single-vessel owners to large international fleets—and covers a wide range of vessels, including:
- cargo ships
- tankers
- fishing boats
- passenger ferries
- private yachts
Note: The Joint War Committee (JWC), a body of Lloyd’s and IUA underwriters, designates official war risk zones (JWC Listed Areas), which are critical in determining coverage and premium implications.
What Does Marine War Risk Insurance Cover?
A typical marine war risk policy may include:
Hull Cover
Protection against physical loss or damage to the vessel caused by:
- Acts of war (declared or undeclared)
- Strikes, riots, and civil commotions
- Capture, seizure, arrest, or detainment
- Weapons of war, including missiles, bombs, derelict mines and torpedoes
- Piracy (if specifically endorsed)
Cargo Cover
Coverage for loss or damage to goods due to war-related perils. This is typically governed by the Institute War Clauses (Cargo).
Increased Value (IV) / Hull Interest
Additional cover that supplements the insured value of the vessel, ensuring full indemnity in the event of a total loss.
Breach of Warranty Cover
Protection in case a vessel enters a war zone in breach of trading warranties, subject to prior notice and additional premium.
Important: Terrorism and Kidnap & Ransom (K&R) are often excluded from standard war policies and may require separate, specialist policies.
How Does Marine War Risk Insurance Work?
Policies can be structured as:
- Annual Cover – Ideal for fleets or regular operations through high-risk areas.
- Voyage-Based Cover – Suitable for one-off transits through designated war zones.
Coverage is typically contains Exclusion Zones – Areas where cover is not automatically granted. These are listed within the current JWC Listed Areas .
Cover for these Specific regions can be “Bought Back” where necessary for individual excluded areas and additional war risk premiums apply.
Note: Crew-related risks are usually handled under separate Personal Accident or K&R policies.
Do I Need Marine War Risk Insurance?
If your operations are limited to low-risk, standard trading routes, war risk cover may not be essential. However, if you operate in or near high-risk waters, it becomes critical.
High Risk Areas for Shipping:
- Benin
- Cabo Delgado
- Eritrea, but only South of 15° N
- Gulf of Guinea
- Libya
- Nigeria
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Togo
- Sea of Azov and Black Sea waters plus inland waters
- Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Southern Red Sea
- Pakistan
- Iran
- Iraq, including all Iraqi offshore oil terminals
- Israel
- Lebanon
- Israel
- Lebanon
- Iran
- Iraq, including all Iraqi offshore oil terminals
- Israel
- Lebanon
- Oman (Musandam Governorate)
- Persian or Arabian Gulf and adjacent waters
- Saudi Arabia (Gulf coast)
- Saudi Arabia (Red Sea coast) excluding transits
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
- Russia
- Venezuela, including all offshore installations in the Venezuelan EEZ
These regions are prone to piracy, terrorism, and geopolitical tensions, increasing the likelihood of vessel attacks or detainment.
Why You Should Consider Marine War Risk Insurance
Standard marine policies typically exclude war-related perils. Without dedicated war risk insurance, you may be exposed to catastrophic losses—including total loss of vessel, cargo, and operational disruption.
War risk insurance provides:
- Financial protection against high-impact, low-frequency events
- Compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements
- Peace of mind when navigating volatile regions
Specialist Marine War Risk Insurance from Everard Insurance Brokers
Everard Insurance Brokers, the specialist marine trading division of Lloyd’s brokers James Hallam Limited, can help you secure tailored war risk insurance solutions.
Whether you’re planning a one-off voyage through a conflict zone or managing a fleet with regular exposure to high-risk areas, we can ensure you have the right protection in place.
Contact us to learn more about our dedicated marine insurance services.