Shipping with responsibility
Shippers of art or valuables do more than move goods from A to B. They also bear responsibility for priceless, and sometimes irreplaceable, objects. This is why shipping and storing such precious cargo demands a huge amount of care, accuracy and in-depth know-how.
A challenging business: shipping art
Shipping art is a particularly tricky business. Art is shipped all over the world – exposing it to all sorts of risks. Temperature fluctuations, humidity, damage, loss – even the smallest shipping errors can have dramatic effects.
A tradition in protecting values
It is reassuring to know that ERGO is also your expert when it comes to insuring shipping and storage. Back in the 1970s, Herbert Zocher, the former ERGO shipping director, developed the Zocher rate. A tool for calculating shipping insurances, it has proved its worth over many years.
Comprehensive security meets comprehensive service
Today, we protect you with tailored insurance concepts – and also support you with a comprehensive range of services. The ERGO Risk Engineering Service will be happy to advise you on the optimum packaging, preventive safety measures, storage risks and so forth. The result: maximum security for you – and even greater confidence in your skills from clients.
Insurance coverage
worth its weight in gold
We also offer professional insurance coverage for shippers specialised in high-value freight. This includes gold and silverware, jewellery, jewels, watches, precious gems and other items produced by jewellery manufacturers, wholesalers and jewellers.
Risks that defy
calculation
Loss examples from our daily insurance business
Damaged goods
A sculpture is shipped to an art museum as a loan for a special exhibition. The artwork is packed properly and professionally and is delivered by truck. Despite optimum protective packaging, several scratches are discovered on the precious sculpture when it is unpacked. We indemnify the loss by paying for the restoration and making up the loss in value – up to the agreed amount insured.
Thieves at work
A box with several oil paintings is stolen from a warehouse. Who stole it and how it was stolen remains a mystery. The value of the paintings is estimated at several thousand euros. ERGO indemnifies the loss – up to the agreed sum insured.
An ill wind
A large-format painting is to be shipped to an art collector in the USA. During reloading on to another plane at London Heathrow Airport, a gust of wind catches the box and sends it crashing to the ground. Both the box and the painting are completely destroyed. We indemnify the loss, reimbursing the full value of the painting – up to the agreed amount insured.
Smoothing the way: our service
Making more possible – ERGO knows how to do it. Find out all the details of our exclusive services.
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“Judith and Holofernes – a masterpiece insured by ERGO”
The multi-million artwork embarked on a sales tour protected by an artwork transit insurance from ERGO’s French subsidiary, headed by Fabien Guibert.
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“The heist must have been well planned.”
ERGO art expert Julia Ries commenting on the robbery of the century in Dresden’s Historic Green Vault.
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“What does an art historian at ERGO do exactly?”
Johannes Kasek spends a lot of his time with precious items: he assesses art objects and their risks.
More informationAll our expertise for your logistics
Do you have any questions about products, services or bespoke insurance? We will be happy to advise you:
Write us!