Covered Risks under Institute War Clauses (Cargo)

What Are the Insured Risks under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo)?

The insured risks under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) define which perils causing loss of or damage to insured cargo are covered when those perils arise from war risks that are normally excluded under the standard Institute Cargo Clauses.

Under the standard ICC(A), ICC(B), and ICC(C), war, civil war, revolution, rebellion, related internal disturbances, hostile acts by or against belligerents, capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, detainment, and damage caused by abandoned mines, torpedoes, bombs, and other abandoned weapons of war are generally excluded as war risks.

Coverage for these perils therefore requires confirmation that the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) have been incorporated into the applicable insurance contract.

However, the mere attachment of the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) does not mean that all cargo damage, delay losses, additional charges, voyage interruptions, or commercial losses connected with war are automatically covered.

In practice, the following points are examined sequentially:

• Whether the cause of loss falls within the insured perils listed in Article 1
• Whether capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, or detainment arose from the war risks specified in Article 1.1
• Whether actual loss of or damage to the insured cargo occurred
• Whether the incident occurred within the insurance period specified in Article 5
• Whether an exclusion under Articles 3 or 4 applies
• Whether General Average or Salvage Charges are separately covered under Article 2
• Whether insurance indemnity is being distinguished from cost liability under the Master B/L, House B/L, or other terms of the Contract of Carriage

This article focuses on the insured perils in Article 1 and General Average and Salvage Charges under Article 2, while distinguishing them from ordinary marine perils, piracy, terrorism, riots, administrative measures, sanctions, and commercial liens.

Scope Covered in This Article

Item	Content Covered in This Article	Content Covered in Other Articles in Detail
War Risks under Article 1.1	War, civil war, revolution, rebellion, insurrection, civil strife arising from these events, and hostile acts by or against belligerents	Final legal classification of individual armed conflicts under international or domestic law
Capture and Related Acts under Article 1.2	Scope, causal requirements, consequences, and attempted acts involving capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, and detainment	Final legal assessment under national prize law, administrative law, sanctions law, or maritime enforcement law
Abandoned Weapons of War	Cargo damage caused by abandoned mines, torpedoes, bombs, and other abandoned weapons of war	Technical identification of ordnance, explosive disposal, and official accident investigation
Extension for Mine and Torpedo Risks	Outline of the extension during lighter or similar transport involving floating or sunken mines and abandoned torpedoes, including the 60-day limit	Detailed calculation of the Article 5 insurance period, the 15-day rule, the 60-day limit, and reinstatement of cover
General Average and Salvage Charges	Article 2 requirements, causal connection with avoidance of insured perils, and supporting documents	General Average adjustment, General Average Bond, and General Average Guarantee procedures
Relationship with the Standard ICC	War-risk exclusions under ICC(A), ICC(B), and ICC(C), and the separate function of the War Clauses	All Risks coverage, named-perils coverage, and general exclusions under the standard ICC
Piracy and Armed Robbery	Distinction from acts of war and confirmation under ICC(A), ICC(B), ICC(C), and endorsements	Piracy endorsements, ransom issues, hull insurance, and P&I insurance
Terrorism and Politically Motivated Acts	Division of coverage between the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) and the Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo)	Terrorism-related insurance periods and termination-of-transit provisions
Administrative Measures and Sanctions	Distinction between customs detention, export or import restrictions, sanctions-related restrictions, and war-risk-related detainment	Sanctions law, export controls, import regulations, and Sanction Limitation and Exclusion Clauses
Costs and Financial Losses	Distinction among physical cargo damage, General Average, Salvage Charges, additional charges, and delay losses	Delay exclusions, loss or frustration of the voyage or adventure, and loss-mitigation expenses
Insurance Period	Need to assess the insured peril and the insurance period as separate requirements	Loading on board, discharge, the 15-day rule, voyage changes, and Termination of the Contract of Carriage
NVOCC and Freight Forwarder	Document collection, incident classification, insurer notification, B/L conditions, and allocation of additional charges	NVOCC liability, freight forwarder liability, liability limitations, notice periods, and time bars

Purpose and Background of the Clauses

Standard cargo insurance generally covers ordinary transport perils such as grounding, sinking, collision, fire, cargo-handling accidents, and theft, subject to the applicable ICC wording.

War, civil war, military action, hostile acts by belligerents, capture, seizure, and mines are different in character because their frequency and severity are strongly affected by political and military conditions. The level of risk can change rapidly depending on the region, route, and port of call.

For this reason, the standard ICC generally excludes war risks, while the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) provide separate cover for specified perils during a separately defined insurance period.

The Institute War Clauses (Cargo) do not provide unlimited cover for every event connected with war.

Article 1 identifies the causes of loss that may be covered and generally requires loss of or damage to the insured cargo caused by those perils.

Article 2 separately covers General Average and Salvage Charges incurred to avoid, or in connection with avoiding, loss caused by an insured war peril, even where the insured cargo has not itself sustained physical damage.

How to Read the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) Series

Article	Role	Key Points for Confirmation	Relationship with This Article
What Are the Institute War Clauses (Cargo)?	Introduction and overview	Relationship with the standard ICC and the Strikes Clauses, and the overall clause structure	Provides the general foundation for this article
Insured Risks under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Covered perils	Articles 1 and 2, war risks, capture and related acts, abandoned weapons, General Average, and Salvage Charges	This article
Insurance Period and Voyage Changes under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Insurance period and voyage changes	Loading on board, discharge, the 15-day rule, lighterage, the 60-day limit, and voyage changes	Deals with the insurance period after the insured peril has been identified
Exclusions under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Uncovered damage and costs	Delay, loss or frustration of the voyage or adventure, nuclear weapons, unseaworthiness, and unsuitability	Deals with exclusions after Article 1 has been considered

Articles 1 and 2: Structure of the Insured Risks

Article	Covered Peril or Cost	Basic Requirements	Main Supporting Documents	Practical Considerations
Article 1.1	War, civil war, revolution, rebellion, insurrection, civil strife arising from these events, and hostile acts by or against belligerents	Loss of or damage to cargo caused by one of the listed perils	Official announcements, military and political information, the master’s report, and shipping line notices	General deterioration in security, disorder, or delay alone is insufficient
Article 1.2	Capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, and detainment	Under the standard wording, the act must arise from a peril covered by Article 1.1	Detention or seizure orders, issuing authority, legal basis, and status of the cargo and vessel	Administrative measures, sanctions, embargoes, maritime arrests, and commercial liens must be distinguished
Article 1.2	Consequences of, or attempts at, capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, or detainment	A causal connection between the consequence or attempted act and cargo loss or damage	Attack reports, tracking records, threats, evasive action records, and incident reports	A general fear of capture or a warning alone is insufficient
Article 1.3	Abandoned mines, torpedoes, bombs, and other abandoned weapons of war	Loss of or damage to cargo caused by the abandoned weapon	Official investigations, ordnance examination, incident reports, and surveys	The cause must be distinguished from ordinary grounding, collision, fire, or machinery failure
Article 2	General Average and Salvage Charges	Charges incurred to avoid, or in connection with avoiding, loss caused by an insured war peril	General Average declaration, master’s report, salvage contract, and adjuster’s notice	A General Average declaration alone does not establish insurance coverage

Main Situations Where the Insured Risks Become an Issue

Situation	Reason for Confirmation	Central Issue	Main Documentation	Additional Points to Confirm
A vessel is attacked in a conflict zone	The attack may constitute a hostile act under Article 1.1	Identity of the actor, military purpose, and relationship with belligerent forces	Official announcements, master’s report, and shipping line incident report	Insurance period and exclusions
Cargo is damaged by shelling at a port affected by civil war	The distinction between civil war, civil strife, riot, and civil commotion becomes relevant	Whether the incident reached the level of organized armed conflict	Government announcements, international-organization material, and local reports	Relationship with the Strikes Clauses
A vessel or cargo is seized by a party to a conflict	The incident may fall within Article 1.2	Whether the seizure arose from a peril listed in Article 1.1	Seizure order, military or authority announcements, and shipping line notices	Delay exclusion and loss or frustration of the voyage or adventure
Cargo is detained by customs because of declaration deficiencies	The detention is likely to be an administrative measure rather than a war risk	Legal basis of the measure and any relationship with an Article 1.1 peril	Customs notice, declaration documents, and inspection records	Customs and import-regulation issues
Cargo is withheld because of a connection with a sanctioned party	Article 1.2 must be distinguished from sanctions restrictions	Reason for detention, sanctions basis, and restriction on payment of insurance indemnity	Authority notice, sanctions list, and contract documents	Sanction Limitation and Exclusion Clause
A shipping line withholds cargo for unpaid freight	The situation is likely to involve a commercial lien	Distinction between the lien under the B/L and an Article 1.2 peril	B/L, invoices, tariff, and lien notice	Cost liability under the Contract of Carriage
Cargo is damaged by contact with an abandoned mine	This may be a typical Article 1.3 event	Type of weapon, whether it was abandoned, and cause of the incident	Official investigation, master’s report, and survey report	General Average, Salvage Charges, and insurance period
An armed group seizes or damages cargo	Piracy, armed robbery, terrorism, and hostile acts must be distinguished	Identity, motive, location, and political or military background	Official announcements, shipping line report, and details of demands	ICC(A), Strikes Clauses, and endorsements
A vessel deviates to an alternative port to avoid a mine hazard	General Average under Article 2 may be relevant	Common safety, extraordinary sacrifice or expenditure, and causal connection with the insured peril	General Average declaration, navigation warning, and master’s report	General Average Bond and General Average Guarantee
Only additional charges arise following closure of a port	The charges must be separated from physical cargo damage under Article 1	Physical loss, General Average, delay costs, and contractual additional charges	Cost breakdown, shipping line notice, B/L, and quotation	Article 3.7 and the Contract of Carriage

Application Requirements and Matters Outside the Scope of Coverage

Verification Item	Requirements Supporting Coverage	Facts Insufficient by Themselves	Matters Outside This Article	Practical Measures
Incorporation of the War Clauses	The applicable War Clauses are incorporated into the insurance contract covering the cargo	A quotation referring only to “war risks”	Final contractual determination of incorporation	Check the Policy, Certificate, Schedule, and Endorsements
War, Civil War, and Related Events	The Article 1.1 event is supported by objective evidence	General information concerning danger zones, deteriorating security, or military tension	Final classification of an armed conflict under international law	Fix the date, location, parties, acts, and sequence of events
Civil Strife	The event arises from war, civil war, revolution, rebellion, or insurrection and has the necessary degree of organization and force	Localized demonstrations, brief disturbances, or ordinary criminal activity	Final political or legal classification	Confirm organization, continuity, use of force, objectives, and opposition to government
Hostile Acts	The act is committed by or against belligerents and is connected with the relevant conflict	The mere involvement of weapons or military personnel	Final criminal, military, or international-law assessment	Check the actor, opposing party, military purpose, and relationship with the conflict
Capture, Seizure, Arrest, Restraint, or Detainment	Under the standard wording, the act arises from a peril specified in Article 1.1	The use of the word “detention,” “seizure,” or “arrest” in a document	Final interpretation under national administrative, maritime, or sanctions law	Confirm the issuing authority, legal power, reason, target, scope, and duration
Attempted Capture or Related Act	A causal connection exists between the attempted act and cargo loss or damage	A general warning or abstract risk of capture	Final classification of a military operation	Confirm pursuit, threat, intimidation, evasive action, and the sequence leading to the damage
Abandoned Ordnance	An abandoned mine, torpedo, bomb, or other abandoned weapon of war caused the loss	The occurrence of an explosion or hull damage alone	Final technical identification of the ordnance	Obtain investigation material from authorities and technical experts
Loss of or Damage to Cargo	Physical loss of or damage to insured cargo results from the covered peril	Route change, delay, inability to deliver, or the occurrence of costs alone	Final quantum assessment	Secure photographs, survey reports, inspections, and quantity and quality records
General Average	The sacrifice or expenditure is adjusted for common safety in connection with an insured peril	The shipping line’s declaration of General Average alone	Final adjustment of allowed items and contribution percentages	Confirm the reason for declaration and causal relationship with the insured peril
Salvage Charges	The Salvage Charges were incurred to avoid, or in connection with avoiding, loss caused by an insured peril	The occurrence of towing or operational costs alone	Final assessment of the salvage contract or award	Confirm the salvage agreement, purpose of the work, and cause of the peril
Piracy	Coverage exists under the applicable ICC or piracy endorsement	An attack by an armed group alone	Final legal classification of piracy	Confirm the purpose, location, private-gain element, actor, and political background
Terrorism and Politically Motivated Acts	The applicable requirements of the Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo) or another endorsement are satisfied	The occurrence of an explosion or destructive act alone	Final classification of a terrorist organization	Review the War Clauses and Strikes Clauses in parallel
Administrative Measures and Sanctions	A specific endorsement provides relevant cover and no sanctions restriction prevents payment	The use of words such as seizure, restraint, arrest, or detention	Legality of the measure under administrative or sanctions law	Review the official notice and applicable sanctions clause
Insurance Period	The incident occurred within the Article 5 insurance period	The fact that the cause falls within Article 1	Final interpretation of amendments to the insurance period	Organize loading, arrival, discharge, and the relevant 15-day or 60-day period chronologically

Comparison with the Standard ICC and the Strikes Clauses

Risk or Event	Main Clause to Check	Basic Treatment	Key Criteria	Practical Considerations
War, Civil War, Revolution, Rebellion	Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Generally excluded under the standard ICC but potentially covered under the War Clauses	Causal connection between the political or military event and cargo damage	Presence in a hazardous area alone is insufficient
Hostile Acts by or against Belligerents	Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Potentially covered under Article 1.1	Actor, opposing party, purpose, and connection with the conflict	Distinguish from ordinary crime and private violence
Capture, Seizure, Arrest, Restraint, or Detainment	Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Under the standard wording, potentially covered when arising from an Article 1.1 peril	Cause, actor, authority, legal basis, and reason for the act	Check any special wording that extends or restricts the causal requirement
Abandoned Mines, Torpedoes, Bombs	Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Potentially covered under Article 1.3	Type of weapon, abandonment, and causal connection with damage	The Article 5.4 period extension has a narrower scope
Piracy	ICC(A) and, where relevant, piracy endorsements for ICC(B) or ICC(C)	Piracy is excepted from the war exclusion in ICC(A), while ICC(B) and ICC(C) require separate review	Private gain, location, actor, and purpose	Do not assess piracy solely under the War Clauses
Armed Robbery in Port or Coastal Areas	ICC, theft provisions, and endorsements	Treatment varies depending on whether the act is classified as theft, armed robbery, or piracy	Location, relationship with the vessel, and private motive	The label used in an incident report may not match the legal classification
Terrorist Acts	Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo)	Generally excluded under the standard ICC and potentially covered under the Strikes Clauses	Organization, violence, and intention to influence or overthrow a government	Check the insurance period and any termination-of-transit clause
Acts Motivated by Political, Ideological, or Religious Reasons	Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo)	Potentially covered under the Strikes Clauses	Motive of the actor and causal relationship with cargo damage	The event may overlap factually with a hostile act under the War Clauses
Strikes, Riots, and Civil Commotion	Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo)	Generally considered under the Strikes Clauses rather than the War Clauses	Participants, labour dispute, organization, violence, and nature of the disturbance	Confirm the boundary with civil war, insurrection, and civil strife
Malicious Damage	ICC(A), Institute Malicious Damage Clause, or another endorsement	Treatment depends on the applicable ICC and endorsements	Political motive, simple malice, and intention to cause damage	Distinguish malicious damage from terrorism and hostile acts
Administrative Measures and Customs Detention	Generally outside the War Clauses unless specific wording applies	May fall outside Article 1.2 if not caused by an Article 1.1 peril	Legal basis, nature of the violation, and issuing authority	Prioritize the official administrative and customs documents
Delay and Additional Charges	Exclusion clauses, specific endorsements, and the Contract of Carriage	Not themselves insured perils under Article 1	Physical damage, General Average, delay loss, and contractual allocation of costs	Separate insurance coverage from B/L cost liability

War, Civil War, Civil Strife, and Hostile Acts under Article 1.1

Article 1.1 covers loss of or damage to insured cargo caused by:

• war
• civil war
• revolution
• rebellion
• insurrection
• civil strife arising from the above events
• hostile acts by or against belligerents

The use of one of these expressions in a news report, incident notice, or official statement does not by itself determine coverage under the Clause.

In practice, relevant factors include the organization of the actors, degree of armament, continuity of the acts, relationship with a government, military, or anti-government force, territorial control, political or military objectives, and targets of attack.

Distinction between Civil Strife and Ordinary Riot or Civil Commotion

Aspect	Factors Supporting Application of the War Clauses	Factors Supporting Application of the Strikes Clauses	Evidence	Practical Note
Actors	Military forces, organized armed opposition groups, or organized belligerents	Crowds, workers, protestors, or temporary groups	Official statements, group declarations, and reports	Assess the factual structure rather than the label
Objective	Seizure of government, territorial control, or military action	Protest, labour demands, or local disorder	Statements, demands, and selected targets	A political motive alone does not establish a war peril
Level of Force	Sustained armed action, heavy weapons, or organized combat	Sporadic violence, arson, vandalism, or stone-throwing	Military or police reports, footage, and damage reports	A single use of a weapon is not conclusive
Continuity and Territorial Scope	Sustained activity across an area, with territorial control or identifiable fronts	Short-lived or geographically limited disorder	Chronology, maps, and official restrictions	Low-intensity conflicts require individual assessment
Causal Connection with Cargo Damage	Direct damage caused by military attack or armed conflict	Damage caused by rioters, vandalism, or arson	Survey report, incident report, and surveillance footage	Separate the background circumstances from the immediate cause

Objective Evidence for Confirming a War Peril

Source	Information Available	Provider	Limitations	Use in Practice
Government, Military, and Maritime Authority Announcements	Attacks, blockades, military operations, and danger zones	Relevant governments, naval authorities, and port authorities	May reflect the position of one party to the conflict	Cross-check material from multiple authorities
International Organizations and Maritime-Security Information	Conflict status, navigation warnings, and high-risk areas	International and maritime organizations	May not identify the cause of an individual cargo incident	Compare with the exact accident location and time
Master’s Report and Statement of Facts	Vessel position, attack, threat, detention, and evasive action	Shipping line and master	Represents the vessel-side account and may not resolve the legal classification	Compare with AIS, port, and authority records
AIS and Voyage Records	Vessel position, route alteration, stoppage, and evasive movement	Shipping line and maritime-information provider	Does not identify the actor or purpose	Integrate with attack, detention, and navigation notices
Survey Report	Cargo damage, possible cause, and timing	Surveyor	The surveyor may not determine the political or military classification	Use together with official and military evidence
Shipping Line and NVOCC Notices	Route changes, detention, alternative-port discharge, and operational facts	Shipping line and NVOCC	Do not finally determine insurance coverage	Retain the original notice and transmission time

Article 1.2: Capture, Seizure, Arrest, Restraint, and Detainment

Article 1.2 lists capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, and detainment.

Under the standard wording, those acts must arise from a war peril specified in Article 1.1, such as war, civil war, or a hostile act by or against a belligerent.

The Clause also refers to consequences of, or attempts at, those acts. Actual completion of a seizure or detention is therefore not the only possible factual pattern, but a causal connection with loss of or damage to cargo remains necessary.

Terminology Equivalents Are Not Fixed One-to-One

The terms capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, and detainment overlap in meaning but do not describe identical factual or legal concepts.

English Term	Core Concept	Typical Factual Range	Points to Confirm	Interpretive Note
capture	Taking control of a vessel or cargo by an opposing or belligerent force	Military or hostile possession and control	Actor, military authority, control, and transfer of possession	The concept is not limited to a formal prize proceeding
seizure	Taking possession or control by force or authority	Military seizure, confiscation, enforcement seizure, or other compulsory control	Authority, legal basis, possession, and intended disposition	The same term may also be used for administrative enforcement unrelated to war
arrest	Legal or official restriction on the movement of a vessel or cargo	Maritime arrest, court attachment, or authority-imposed restraint	Court or authority order, underlying claim, and legal basis	A maritime arrest for debt is generally distinct from a war-risk arrest
restraint	Restriction of movement, navigation, possession, or disposal	Blockade-related restrictions, authority orders, or enforced limitations	Restricting party, scope, duration, and coercive effect	Physical possession of the vessel or cargo is not always required
detainment	Keeping a vessel or cargo from continuing its movement for a period	Military, administrative, judicial, or operational detention	Reason, duration, release conditions, and controlling authority	Use of the word “detention” in a notice does not by itself establish Article 1.2 coverage

In practice, Article 1.2 should be assessed by reference to the original wording, the actor, authority, reason, subject matter, duration, conditions for release, and causal relationship with Article 1.1, rather than by relying on a translated label.

Standard Wording and Special Extensions

Item	Standard Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Where a Special Clause Extends the Cause Requirement	Documents to Check	Practical Note
Cause of an Article 1.2 Act	The act must arise from a peril specified in Article 1.1	Coverage may be extended to certain capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, or detainment not arising from Article 1.1	Schedule, Endorsement, and special clause wording	Coverage differs by insurer and individual contract
Administrative Measure	Not automatically covered	Determined by the wording of any specific extension	Administrative notice and Endorsement	Sanctions restrictions may still prevent insurance payment
Commercial Lien or Detention	Generally a separate matter under the Contract of Carriage	Usually remains a contractual cost or lien issue unless expressly covered	B/L, tariff, unpaid invoice, and lien notice	An extension does not necessarily create unlimited cover

War-Risk Restraint versus Administrative Measures, Sanctions, and Commercial Detention

Category	Typical Example	View under the War Clauses	Documents	Practical Response
Capture or Seizure Arising from War Risks	Armed forces of a belligerent take control of a vessel connected with the opposing side	Potentially covered where causally connected with Article 1.1	Military announcement, seizure order, and shipping line notice	Confirm the actor and military basis
Detainment under a Military Blockade	A vessel is prevented from entering or leaving a blockaded area	Assess Articles 1.1 and 1.2	Blockade order, navigation warning, and vessel records	Separate physical cargo damage from delay loss
Customs or Quarantine Measure	Cargo is detained because of a declaration deficiency, import restriction, or quarantine issue	Generally separate from war risks	Administrative notice, declaration, and inspection record	Confirm the legal or documentary deficiency
Sanctions or Embargo Restriction	Cargo is withheld because of a connection with a sanctioned country, entity, or product	Article 1.2 and the sanctions provisions must both be reviewed	Sanctions basis, authority notice, and contract documents	Insurance indemnity may be legally restricted
Maritime Arrest for a Claim	A creditor arrests the vessel through a court	Generally not a war risk	Court order and underlying claim documents	The term “arrest” alone does not establish Article 1.2 coverage
Commercial Detention or Lien	Cargo is withheld because freight or storage charges remain unpaid	Generally a matter under the Contract of Carriage	B/L, tariff, invoice, and lien notice	Separate insurance coverage from the payment obligation

Article 1.3: Abandoned Mines, Torpedoes, Bombs, and Other Abandoned Weapons of War

Article 1.3 covers loss of or damage to insured cargo caused by abandoned mines, torpedoes, bombs, or other abandoned weapons of war.

Weapons left after a past war or armed conflict may remain in shipping routes, ports, coastal waters, or on the seabed and may cause a cargo incident long after the active hostilities have ended.

The assessment therefore does not depend solely on whether a state of war existed on the incident date. The relevant question is whether an abandoned weapon of war caused the loss or damage.

Article 1.3 and Article 5.4 Do Not Have the Same Scope

Item	Insured Perils under Article 1.3	Extension during Lighter or Similar Transport under Article 5.4	Practical Note
Weapons Covered	Abandoned mines, torpedoes, bombs, and other abandoned weapons of war	Floating or sunken mines and abandoned torpedoes	The 60-day extension does not necessarily apply to bombs or other abandoned weapons
Transport Condition	Within the ordinary Article 5 insurance period	During transport to or from the ocean-going vessel in a lighter or similar craft	Identify the transport segment and transport equipment
Time Limit	Governed by the normal Article 5 insurance period	Up to 60 days after discharge from the ocean-going vessel unless otherwise agreed	Do not confuse this with the standard ICC 60-day provision
Evidence of Commencement	Loading, arrival, and discharge records	Discharge date from the ocean-going vessel and lighter-transport records	Record dates separately for each identifiable part of the cargo

In a mine or torpedo incident, the relevant evidence includes the type of weapon, incident location, discharge date from the ocean-going vessel, lighter-loading records, direction of transport, and incident date.

Distinction among Piracy, Armed Robbery, Terrorism, and Acts of War

Category	Typical Characteristics	Main Clause to Check	Main Evidence	Practical Note
Piracy	Private gain, ransom, or seizure of a vessel or cargo for property-related purposes	ICC(A) and relevant piracy endorsements for ICC(B) or ICC(C)	Demands, actor, location, and official classification	Confirm that piracy is excepted from the ICC(A) war exclusion
Armed Robbery	Property-motivated attack in port, at anchor, or in coastal waters	ICC, theft provisions, and endorsements	Location, boarding circumstances, and purpose	May not satisfy the legal definition of piracy
Terrorist Act	Organized violence intended to influence or overthrow a government	Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo)	Organization statement, objective, and official announcement	Where the event also resembles a hostile act, the insurer should assess both clauses
Politically, Ideologically, or Religiously Motivated Act	An individual or group commits destruction for a specified motive	Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo)	Statement, motive, and target	The act may be covered under the Strikes Clauses even without an organized terrorist group
Act of War or Hostile Act	Military or hostile action by a state, armed force, belligerent, or organized anti-government force	Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Military operation, belligerent relationship, target, and official material	A political motive alone is insufficient; the hostile or belligerent character must be examined

Article 2: General Average and Salvage Charges

Article 2 covers General Average and Salvage Charges incurred to avoid, or in connection with avoiding, loss caused by a peril insured under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo).

The charges must be adjusted or determined according to the Contract of Carriage, governing law, or practice.

A General Average declaration alone does not establish coverage under the War Clauses.

It remains necessary to confirm that the peril giving rise to the General Average was an insured war peril, that the sacrifice or expenditure was incurred for the common safety, and that no applicable exclusion prevents recovery.

Typical Example: Deviation to an Alternative Port to Avoid a Mine Hazard

Assume that a floating or sunken mine hazard is identified on the planned route and the vessel deviates to a safe alternative port to protect the common safety of the vessel, crew, and cargo.

The deviation may result in extraordinary fuel costs, refuge-port expenses, emergency discharge costs, or other expenditures, followed by a declaration of General Average.

The issue is whether the expenditure was incurred for the common safety to avoid loss caused by an insured mine peril, rather than merely because the voyage was delayed or operating costs increased.

Check Item	Details to Confirm	Main Documents	Action if an Issue Arises
Cause of the Peril	Whether the mine or similar hazard falls within Article 1	Navigation warning, official announcement, and master’s report	Submit the incident-cause evidence to the insurer
Common Safety	Whether the measure addressed a common peril to the vessel and cargo	General Average declaration, master’s decision, and voyage records	Distinguish the action from commercial convenience
Expenditure or Sacrifice	Whether the expenditure or sacrifice was extraordinary and reasonably incurred	Cost breakdown and adjuster’s documentation	Confirm the allowable items with the adjuster and insurer
Guarantee Procedure	Whether a General Average Bond or General Average Guarantee is required for cargo release	Adjuster’s notice, General Average Bond, and General Average Guarantee	Contact the insurer before the cargo-release deadline
Salvage Charges	Whether the salvage operation was connected with avoidance of an insured peril	Salvage contract, award, and adjustment documents	Record General Average and Salvage Charges as separate claim items

Distinction from Additional Costs and Delay Losses

Claim Item	Basic Position	Clauses or Contracts to Check	Practical Note
Loss of or Damage to Cargo	The principal subject of Article 1	Article 1, insurance period, and exclusions	Confirm the causal relationship between the peril and physical damage
General Average Contribution	Potentially covered separately under Article 2	Article 2, the Contract of Carriage, governing law, and practice	Confirm the reason for declaration and the insured peril
Salvage Charges	Potentially covered separately under Article 2	Article 2 and the salvage contract	Confirm the relationship between the salvage operation and the insured peril
Storage Charges and Onward-Transport Costs	Not automatically covered merely because Article 1 applies	Exclusion clauses, endorsements, B/L, tariff, and quotation	Separate insurance recovery from liability under the Contract of Carriage
Delivery Delay and Contractual Penalties	Generally examined as delay or commercial loss	Article 3.5 and the sales contract	Separate from physical cargo damage
Costs Arising from Loss or Frustration of the Voyage or Adventure	Article 3.7 may apply	Exclusion clauses and the Contract of Carriage	Do not confuse Article 3.7 with Termination of the Contract of Carriage under Article 5

Decision Flow for Insured Risks

Step	Check Item	Decision Branch	Practical Response
1	Identify the applicable insurance contract	Which Policy or Certificate applies?	Match the cargo, B/L, and insurance number
2	Confirm incorporation of the Institute War Clauses (Cargo)	Does the standard wording apply, or is it modified?	Obtain the Schedule and Endorsements
3	Fix the date, location, and vessel position	Do the peril and cargo incident form part of the same factual sequence?	Organize AIS, Port Logs, and incident reports
4	Check for an Article 1.1 peril	Was there war, civil war, civil strife, or a hostile act?	Collect multiple objective sources
5	Check for capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, or detainment	What act occurred, and what was its legal and factual basis?	Obtain the original notice, order, and issuing-authority information
6	Confirm the causal connection with Article 1.1	Did the act arise from a war peril, or from an administrative, sanctions, judicial, or commercial reason?	Organize the reason and legal basis for the restriction
7	Confirm consequences or attempted acts	Is there a continuous causal link between the consequence or attempted act and cargo damage?	Prepare a timeline of threat, pursuit, avoidance, and damage
8	Check for abandoned weapons	Was a mine, torpedo, bomb, or other abandoned weapon involved?	Obtain official and technical cause reports
9	Distinguish among piracy, terrorism, riots, and hostile acts	Should the event be examined under the War Clauses, Strikes Clauses, standard ICC, or an endorsement?	Organize the actor, motive, location, and purpose
10	Confirm physical loss of or damage to cargo	Was there physical damage, or only delay and additional costs?	Secure surveys, photographs, and inspection records
11	Confirm causation	What were the proximate and contributing causes?	Break down the incident by cause
12	Confirm the insurance period	Did the incident occur after loading on board and before the applicable termination point?	Apply the Article 5 period rules
13	Check the mine and torpedo extension	Did the incident occur during lighter transport and within the applicable 60-day limit?	Confirm the transport equipment, direction, discharge date, and incident date
14	Check General Average and Salvage Charges	Does Article 2 apply?	Submit the declaration, adjuster’s material, and salvage documentation
15	Check Articles 3 and 4	Does a delay, voyage-frustration, nuclear, unseaworthiness, or unsuitability exclusion apply?	Assess the exclusions separately
16	Check liabilities under the Contract of Carriage	Have insurance recovery and contractual cost liability been distinguished?	Review the Master B/L, House B/L, Standard Trading Conditions, tariff, and quotation

Common Practical Issues

Case	Main Issue	Evidence	Initial Response
Container cargo damaged by military attack	Article 1.1 and causation	Official announcements, master’s report, and survey	Preserve evidence of the attack and cargo damage
Port damaged during low-intensity domestic armed conflict	Civil strife versus riot or civil commotion	Organization, weapons, duration, and political structure	Refer both the War Clauses and Strikes Clauses to the insurer
Seizure by a party to a conflict	Whether Article 1.2 arose from Article 1.1	Seizure order, shipping line notice, and vessel records	Confirm the original order and issuing authority
Customs detention described as “detention”	Difference between the document terminology and the insured peril	Customs notice, legal basis, and declaration documents	Assess the reason for the measure, not the label
Cargo withheld under sanctions	Article 1.2, sanctions clause, and payment restrictions	Sanctions notice, party information, and insurance Endorsement	Contact the insurer and legal adviser promptly
Vessel and cargo damaged by an abandoned mine	Article 1.3, insurance period, and General Average	Accident investigation, navigation warning, and survey	Identify the weapon and incident location
Cargo damaged by a sunken mine during lighter transport	Article 5.4 extension and the 60-day limit	Discharge date, lighter record, and incident date	Confirm the transport direction and commencement of the period
Motive of an armed-group attack is unclear	Piracy, terrorism, or hostile act	Demands, actor, location, and statement	Review all potentially applicable clauses
General Average declared to avoid a mine hazard	Article 2, common safety, and causation	Declaration, warning, master’s report, and adjustment documents	Coordinate the guarantee procedure with the insurer
Storage charges arise after a port closure without cargo damage	Physical loss under Article 1 versus contractual additional costs	Cargo inspection, cost breakdown, B/L, and tariff	Separate insurance recovery from contractual liability

Scope of Freight Forwarder Involvement

Operational Situation	What the Freight Forwarder Can Assist With	What the Freight Forwarder Should Not Decide	Main Parties to Consult	Practical Handling
Applicable Clause	Collect the Policy, Certificate, Schedule, and Endorsements	Final insurance-coverage decision	Shipper, insurer, and insurance agent	Separate the War Clauses, Strikes Clauses, and standard ICC
War-Risk Facts	Collect official announcements, navigation warnings, and shipping line notices	Final classification of armed conflict or hostile act	Shipping line, authorities, and insurer	Preserve original material and transmission times
Vessel Position and Route	Organize AIS, Port Logs, and route-change notices	Final determination of causation	Shipping line, NVOCC, and insurer	Fix the incident time and location
Capture, Seizure, Arrest, Restraint, or Detainment	Organize the original order, issuing authority, reason, scope, and duration	Final legal classification of the act	Shipping line, authorities, insurer, and legal adviser where needed	Do not classify the event by a translated term alone
Sanctions and Administrative Measures	Collect official notices, sanctions basis, and customs documents	Final sanctions-law determination	Shipper, authorities, insurer, and legal adviser	Separate the War Clauses from the sanctions clause
Cargo Damage	Coordinate photographs, survey, inspection, and quantity and quality records	Final determination of cause and quantum	Cargo owner, shipper, warehouse, and surveyor	Separate physical damage from delay and financial loss
Mines and Abandoned Weapons	Organize the incident location, weapon information, lighter transport, and discharge date	Final technical identification of the weapon	Shipping line, authorities, technical experts, and insurer	Separate Article 1.3 from Article 5.4
General Average and Salvage Charges	Coordinate the declaration, General Average Bond, General Average Guarantee, and salvage documents	Final adjustment of allowable items or contribution amount	Shipping line, General Average Adjuster, insurer, and salvor	Complete guarantee procedures before the cargo-release deadline
Additional Charges	Separate storage, handling, onward-transport, additional-freight, and arrangement charges	That every charge is covered by insurance	Shipper, shipping line, NVOCC, freight forwarder, and insurer	Separate insurance, B/L, tariff, and quotation issues
Preservation of Rights against Third Parties	Support Claim Letters, notice-period control, and evidence preservation	Final legal liability of the shipping line, NVOCC, warehouse, or other party	Shipping line, NVOCC, warehouse, and legal adviser	Proceed in parallel with notification to the insurer

Documents to Check for Allocation of Additional Costs

Where a war risk results in route alteration, alternative-port discharge, port waiting, Termination of the Contract of Carriage, onward transport, storage, or other additional operations, insurance coverage and contractual cost allocation must be assessed separately.

The analysis should identify who made the operational decision, which contract term or tariff authorizes the charge, whether the condition was presented before the cost arose, and whether the relevant party agreed to the condition.

Document	Main Points to Confirm	Relationship with Cost Allocation	Main Parties	Action if an Issue Arises
Master B/L Terms	Shipping line’s rights concerning route alteration, alternative-port discharge, transshipment, cargo collection, lien, additional charges, and Termination of the Contract of Carriage	Provides the potential contractual basis for charges by the shipping line to the NVOCC	Shipping Line and NVOCC	Match the relied-upon clause with each invoiced cost
House B/L Terms	NVOCC’s rights concerning route alteration, substitute carriage, additional charges, shipper obligations, lien, and liability limitations	Determines whether the NVOCC may pass shipping line or independently incurred costs to the shipper	NVOCC and shipper	Compare the Master B/L and House B/L rights and cost provisions
Quotation or Freight Offer	Included charges, separately payable actual costs, War Risk Surcharge, port charges, storage, and onward-transport costs	Determines whether the charge was included in the agreed freight or separately chargeable	Shipper, NVOCC, and freight forwarder	Identify the precise cost items covered by expressions such as “at cost” or “payable separately”
Booking Confirmation or Shipping Instruction	Agreed route, transshipment ports, destination, freight rate, special conditions, and instructions	Provides the baseline against which later changes are compared	Shipping line, NVOCC, and shipper	Determine whether the later arrangement fell within the original Contract of Carriage
Standard Trading Conditions	Freight forwarder’s role as intermediary, agent, or contracting carrier; additional charges; subcontractors; indemnities; notice periods; and time bars	Determines whether the freight forwarder is personally liable or may recover the cost from the shipper	Freight forwarder and shipper	Confirm prior presentation, agreement, and effective incorporation into the contract
Tariff or Surcharge Schedule	War Risk Surcharge, Emergency Risk Surcharge, Congestion Surcharge, Diversion Fee, and calculation method	Provides the amount and calculation basis for additional charges	Shipping Line and NVOCC	Check the effective date, route, unit of charge, currency, and any minimum charge
War Risk Surcharge Notice	Affected area, voyage, effective date, amount, amendment, and withdrawal conditions	Provides the asserted basis for an additional freight charge connected with war risk	Shipping Line, NVOCC, and shipper	Confirm whether the notice was given at booking or before loading
Route-Alteration or Alternative-Port Notice	Reason, decision maker, alternative port, cargo treatment, and proposed onward movement	Identifies whether the cost arose from the shipping line’s discretion, an authority order, or the shipper’s instruction	Shipping Line, NVOCC, and shipper	Record the time of notice and whether the cost was explained before it was incurred
Notice of Termination of the Contract of Carriage	Place and time of termination, cargo location, collection deadline, and responsibility for onward transport	Identifies where the original Contract of Carriage ended and whether subsequent movement constitutes a new arrangement	Shipping Line, NVOCC, and shipper	Distinguish Termination of the Contract of Carriage from temporary transshipment
Shipper’s Instructions and Approval Records	Instructions or approval concerning alternative-port discharge, storage, return, disposal, onward sea transport, or air transport	Determines whether the charge arose from a specific choice made by the shipper	Shipper, NVOCC, and freight forwarder	Preserve written records of the date, conditions, and cost explanation
Orders for Storage, Handling, or Onward Transport	Ordering party, contractor, scope, price, period, and cancellation terms	Shows whether the NVOCC or freight forwarder contracted in its own name or acted as agent for the shipper	Warehouse, terminal, inland carrier, airline, NVOCC, and freight forwarder	Identify the contracting party and contractual capacity
Invoices and Cost Breakdowns	Storage, handling, onward transport, additional freight, return, documentation, and arrangement fees	Distinguishes actual third-party costs from commissions, mark-ups, or administrative charges	Shipping Line, NVOCC, warehouse, and freight forwarder	Reconcile the item, period, quantity, rate, currency, and tax treatment
Insurer Notification and Response	Potential cover, General Average, Salvage Charges, loss-mitigation expenses, prior approval, and excluded costs	Identifies which contractual costs may be recoverable through cargo insurance	Insurer and insurance agent	Do not assume that denial of insurance automatically determines contractual liability
General Average Documents	General Average declaration, General Average Bond, General Average Guarantee, and adjuster’s notice	Distinguishes a General Average contribution from ordinary storage or onward-transport charges	Shipping Line, General Average Adjuster, and insurer	Separate adjusted General Average items from costs borne individually

Practical Steps for Organizing Cost Allocation

Step	Matter to Confirm	Decision Branch	Practical Action
1	Break down each cost item	Additional freight, storage, handling, onward transport, General Average, or Salvage Charges	Organize invoices by item, period, and location
2	Identify who caused or authorized the cost	Shipping Line, NVOCC, shipper, freight forwarder, or authority	Create a chronology of notices, instructions, and orders
3	Check the Master B/L basis	Does the shipping line have a contractual right to charge the NVOCC?	Match the clause with the invoiced item
4	Check the House B/L and Standard Trading Conditions	May the NVOCC or freight forwarder recover the cost from the shipper?	Confirm incorporation, prior presentation, and agreement
5	Check the quotation and tariff	Was the cost included in the agreed freight or separately payable?	Compare the quotation with the additional invoice
6	Check the shipper’s specific instruction or approval	Did the cost result from a choice made by the shipper?	Preserve the cost information presented at the time of approval
7	Check whether insurance recovery is available	General Average, Salvage Charges, loss-mitigation expenses, or specific Endorsement	Ask the insurer to respond by cost item
8	Map the final billing chain	Shipping Line to NVOCC, NVOCC to shipper, or freight forwarder to shipper	State the contractual basis, actual cost, fee, currency, and tax for each claim

The fact that an NVOCC or freight forwarder has been charged by a shipping line does not by itself establish a right to pass that charge to the shipper.

Conversely, a cost that is not recoverable under cargo insurance may nevertheless be payable by the shipper under the Master B/L, House B/L, Standard Trading Conditions, tariff, quotation, or a specific instruction.

In practice, a cost-allocation schedule should be prepared for each item, showing the cause of the cost, ordering party, claimant, contractual basis, prior presentation and agreement, and possibility of insurance recovery.

Practical Scenario 1: A Cargo Vessel Is Seized by a Party to the Conflict

Assume that a cargo vessel is seized during the voyage by the military organization of a party to a conflict and the cargo can no longer be delivered.

The first issue is whether the seizure arose from war, civil war, or a hostile act under Article 1.1.

The original seizure order, issuing authority, military basis, vessel flag, vessel ownership, route, cargo, incident location, and shipping line notice should be organized chronologically.

If the cargo has sustained physical loss or damage, the causal relationship with Article 1.2 must be assessed.

If there is no physical damage and the claim concerns only delayed delivery, Article 3.5 on delay and Article 3.7 on loss or frustration of the voyage or adventure should also be examined.

Practical Scenario 2: Cargo Damage Caused by an Abandoned Mine

Assume that a vessel contacts an abandoned mine on its route, causing damage to the vessel and cargo.

The issue is whether the incident was caused by an abandoned weapon of war rather than by ordinary grounding, collision, fire, or machinery failure.

Relevant documents include navigation warnings, official accident investigation, master’s report, hull-damage report, cargo survey, and technical information concerning the explosive device.

If the vessel deviates to a safe port, conducts emergency discharge, or receives salvage assistance for the common safety, General Average and Salvage Charges under Article 2 should also be considered.

If the incident occurred during lighter transport, the Article 5.4 weapon scope, direction of transport, discharge date, and 60-day limit must be confirmed separately.

Practical Scenario 3: It Is Unclear Whether an Armed-Group Attack Was Piracy or a Hostile Act

Assume that an armed group attacks a vessel and damages or seizes the cargo.

If the attack was committed for ransom, money, or property, it may be examined as piracy or armed robbery under the standard ICC or an endorsement.

If it was committed by a state, military force, organized anti-government force, or other party to a conflict for military purposes, Article 1.1 may be relevant.

If it involved organized violence intended to influence or overthrow a government, or was motivated by political, ideological, or religious reasons, the Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo) should also be reviewed.

The actor, demands, statements, location, selected target, and official classification must be examined rather than relying on the description used in a single report.

Practical Scenario 4: Cargo Is Detained under Sanctions

Assume that port or customs authorities detain cargo because of a connection with a sanctioned country, entity, or product.

The use of words such as seizure, restraint, arrest, or detention does not by itself establish an Article 1.2 peril.

The basis of the restriction must be identified as an Article 1.1 war peril, sanctions law, export or import regulation, declaration deficiency, court process, or administrative action.

Even where the incident might otherwise fall within Article 1, a Sanction Limitation and Exclusion Clause may restrict insurance cover or payment.

The authority notice, sanctions basis, party details, cargo information, B/L, invoice, and insurance Endorsements should be submitted to the insurer.

Practical Scenario 5: Port Closure Causes Additional Charges without Cargo Damage

Assume that a destination port closes because of war risk, the vessel proceeds to another port, and storage, handling, onward-transport, and additional-freight charges arise.

If the cargo itself has not sustained loss or damage, those costs must be considered separately from Article 1 cargo damage.

If the expenditure forms part of General Average or Salvage Charges incurred for common safety, Article 2 may apply.

If the costs arise merely from deviation, delay, Termination of the Contract of Carriage, storage, or onward transport, Article 3.7, specific Endorsements, the B/L terms, tariff, and quotation must be examined.

The NVOCC and freight forwarder should separately explain insurance recovery and contractual cost liability.

Common Misunderstandings

Common Misunderstanding	Actual Approach	Practical Note
All war-related loss is covered whenever the War Clauses are attached	The Article 1 peril, cargo damage, insurance period, and exclusions must all be confirmed	Separate the background event from the immediate cause
An incident in a high-risk area automatically falls within the War Clauses	A causal connection with a listed Article 1 peril is required	Consider ordinary fire, collision, theft, or cargo-handling causes
Use of the words capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, or detention automatically establishes coverage	Under the standard wording, the act must arise from an Article 1.1 peril	Check the original order, actor, authority, legal basis, and reason
The Article 1.2 terms have fixed one-to-one meanings	The concepts overlap and their legal meaning depends on the facts and legal basis	Do not determine coverage from a translated term
A customs seizure is a war-risk seizure	Administrative enforcement is generally a separate matter	Confirm the legal basis and relationship with Article 1.1
Sanctions detention is always payable under the War Clauses	The sanctions basis, insured peril, and sanctions clause must be reviewed separately	Insurance payment may be prohibited or restricted
All piracy is covered under the War Clauses	Piracy is excepted from the ICC(A) war exclusion	For ICC(B) and ICC(C), review the relevant piracy Endorsement
Every politically motivated act falls under the War Clauses	Terrorism and politically motivated acts may fall primarily under the Strikes Clauses	Distinguish them from hostile acts by or against belligerents
Every riot is civil strife under the War Clauses	Organization, force, continuity, political structure, and relationship with armed conflict must be considered	Review riot and civil commotion under the Strikes Clauses
Abandoned bombs are covered by the Article 5.4 60-day mine extension	The extension is limited to floating or sunken mines and abandoned torpedoes	Separate Article 1.3 from Article 5.4
A General Average declaration automatically produces payment under the War Clauses	The insured peril, common safety, causation, and adjustment basis must be confirmed	Review the declaration reason and adjuster’s documents
All additional costs following a port closure are covered	Physical cargo damage, General Average, delay, voyage-frustration costs, and contractual charges must be separated	Review the B/L, tariff, and quotation
If insurance does not pay, the NVOCC or freight forwarder must bear the cost	Insurance coverage and liability under the Contract of Carriage are separate issues	Check the House B/L, Standard Trading Conditions, and quotation

Decision Checklist

Situation for Confirmation	Party to Confirm With	Items to Confirm	Action if Issues Are Found
Insurance Contract	Policyholder, insurer, and insurance agent	Policy, Certificate, insured cargo, and clause edition	Obtain the complete set of applicable documents
War Clauses Incorporation	Insurer and insurance agent	Standard wording, amendments, Endorsements, and sanctions provision	Obtain written confirmation
Date and Location of Incident	Shipping line, NVOCC, port authority, and shipper	Vessel position, cargo position, and incident time	Cross-check AIS, Port Logs, and incident reports
War, Civil War, and Related Events	Authorities, shipping line, and insurer	Actor, military background, belligerent parties, and target	Collect multiple independent sources
Civil Strife, Riot, or Civil Commotion	Authorities, insurer, and adviser where necessary	Organization, use of force, continuity, and political objective	Refer both the War Clauses and Strikes Clauses
Capture, Seizure, Arrest, Restraint, or Detainment	Shipping line, authorities, and insurer	Original wording, actor, authority, reason, scope, and duration	Submit the original source material
Administrative Measure or Sanction	Authorities, shipper, insurer, and legal adviser	Legal basis, affected party or cargo, and sanctions provision	Separate the measure from the alleged war peril
Piracy or Armed Robbery	Shipping line, authorities, and insurer	Location, private motive, demands, and actor	Check the ICC and piracy Endorsement
Terrorism or Political Motive	Authorities and insurer	Organization, motive, and intent to influence government	Check the Strikes Clauses
Abandoned Weapon	Authorities, technical expert, shipping line, and insurer	Weapon type, abandonment, and accident cause	Obtain technical appraisal and accident investigation
Cargo Damage	Cargo owner, shipper, warehouse, and surveyor	Loss or damage, occurrence time, and immediate cause	Preserve the site, take photographs, and arrange a survey
Insurance Period	Shipping line, terminal, and insurer	Loading on board, arrival, discharge, and the 15-day period	Calculate the War Clauses insurance period
Mine and Torpedo Extension	Shipping line, lighter operator, and insurer	Weapon, transport equipment, direction, discharge date, and incident date	Apply the limited Article 5.4 scope
General Average	Shipping line, General Average Adjuster, and insurer	Reason for declaration, insured peril, guarantee, and contribution claim	Submit the claim under Article 2
Salvage Charges	Shipping line, salvor, and insurer	Salvage contract, peril, work, and amount	Confirm the causal relationship with Article 2
Additional Charges	Shipper, shipping line, NVOCC, freight forwarder, and insurer	Storage, handling, onward transport, additional freight, and contractual basis	Separate the insurance, B/L, tariff, and quotation analysis
Rights against Third Parties	Shipping line, NVOCC, warehouse, and legal adviser	Claim Letter, notice deadline, liability limit, and time bar	Preserve rights while pursuing the insurance claim

Documents to Be Checked in Practice

Document Category	Specific Documents	Information to Confirm	Source	Practical Note
Insurance Contract	Policy, Certificate, Schedule, and Endorsements	War Clauses, Strikes Clauses, amendments, and sanctions provision	Policyholder and insurer	Match the documents with the cargo and voyage
Military and Political Information	Government, military, international-organization, and maritime-authority announcements	War, civil war, hostile acts, blockade, and danger zones	Relevant authorities	Preserve publication time and revision history
Vessel Status	AIS, Port Logs, voyage records, and Statement of Facts	Vessel location, route, stoppage, avoidance, and detainment	Shipping line and port authority	Use a consistent time zone
Shipping Line and NVOCC Notices	Incident notice, route alteration, capture or detainment notice, and alternative-port discharge notice	Operational facts and chronology	Shipping line and NVOCC	Retain the original text
Capture, Detainment, and Administrative Measures	Seizure order, customs notice, quarantine notice, sanctions notice, and court order	Issuing authority, legal basis, reason, target, and duration	Authorities, shipping line, and shipper	Do not classify the event from the terminology alone
Cargo Damage	Photographs, Survey Report, inspection record, and quantity and quality data	Loss or damage, timing, and cause	Cargo owner, shipper, warehouse, and surveyor	Preserve originals and metadata
Abandoned Weapons	Ordnance analysis, accident investigation, navigation warning, and hull-damage record	Weapon type, abandonment, and incident location	Authorities, technical expert, and shipping line	Separate from ordinary marine casualty causes
Insurance Period	Stowage Plan, Loading Record, Discharge Report, and EIR	Loading, discharge, and insurance period for each cargo unit	Shipping line and terminal	Distinguish planned loading from actual loading
Lighter or Barge Transport	Operation log, cargo handover record, discharge date, and incident date	Article 5.4 transport segment and 60-day limit	Lighter operator, shipping line, and terminal	Confirm whether the cargo was moving to or from the ocean-going vessel
General Average	General Average declaration, General Average Bond, and General Average Guarantee	Reason for declaration, guarantee, and contribution claim	Shipping line and General Average Adjuster	Confirm the causal connection with the insured peril
Salvage Charges	Salvage contract, award, operation report, and cost breakdown	Purpose of salvage, peril, work, and amount	Salvor and shipping line	Record separately from General Average
Contract of Carriage	Master B/L, House B/L, Standard Trading Conditions, tariff, and quotation	Route-alteration rights, lien, additional charges, termination rights, and liability limits	Shipping line, NVOCC, freight forwarder, and shipper	Do not confuse insurance coverage with contractual liability
Preservation of Rights	Claim Letter, receipt record, and deadline-control sheet	Claims against third parties	Shipping line, NVOCC, and warehouse	Proceed separately from insurer notification

Practical Points of Caution

The insured risks under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) should not be assessed solely by reference to the terminology used in a news report, shipping line notice, authority notice, or translated document.

In particular, capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, and detainment overlap but are not identical concepts.

The assessment should consider the original wording, actor, authority, reason, degree of control over the vessel or cargo, duration, conditions for release, and causal relationship with Article 1.1.

Piracy, armed robbery, terrorism, politically motivated acts, riots, civil commotion, civil strife, and hostile acts may require examination under different clauses depending on the actor, purpose, organization, use of force, and location.

For abandoned weapons, Article 1.3 and the narrower Article 5.4 extension for floating or sunken mines and abandoned torpedoes during lighter transport must be assessed separately.

Whether cargo insurance responds and who bears additional costs under the Master B/L, House B/L, Standard Trading Conditions, tariff, or quotation are separate questions.

Summary

The insured risks under the Institute War Clauses (Cargo) define the causes of loss of or damage to insured cargo that may be covered even though those causes are normally excluded under ICC(A), ICC(B), and ICC(C).

Article 1.1 covers war, civil war, revolution, rebellion, insurrection, civil strife arising from those events, and hostile acts by or against belligerents.

Article 1.2 covers capture, seizure, arrest, restraint, and detainment arising from those perils, together with consequences of, or attempts at, those acts.

The Article 1.2 terms overlap in meaning and should not be applied solely by reference to a translated expression. The original wording, actor, authority, reason, and causal connection must be examined.

Under the standard wording, an Article 1.2 act must arise from an Article 1.1 peril, although individual Endorsements may extend or modify that causal requirement.

Article 1.3 covers cargo damage caused by abandoned mines, torpedoes, bombs, and other abandoned weapons of war.

The Article 5.4 extension during lighter transport is narrower and applies to floating or sunken mines and abandoned torpedoes, generally subject to a 60-day limit following discharge from the ocean-going vessel unless otherwise agreed.

Article 2 covers General Average and Salvage Charges incurred to avoid, or in connection with avoiding, loss caused by an insured war peril, where those charges are adjusted or determined under the Contract of Carriage, governing law, or practice.

Piracy, armed robbery, terrorism, politically or ideologically motivated acts, riots, administrative measures, sanctions, and commercial detention must not be classified collectively under the War Clauses. The standard ICC, Institute Strikes Clauses (Cargo), Endorsements, sanctions provisions, and the Contract of Carriage must be reviewed separately.

In practice, the insurance documents, official announcements, shipping line notices, vessel records, restraint or detention orders, incident reports, surveys, General Average documents, B/Ls, cost breakdowns, and insurer responses should be organized chronologically to distinguish the insured peril, cargo damage, insurance period, exclusions, cost coverage, and contractual liability.

Please consult the insurance company, insurance agent, or other responsible party before making a final decision.