Glossary of Terms

The Resource Center provides a glossary of insurance terms to help you understand the various insurance wordings that may appear in your quotes, cover notes & policies.

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

SALVAGE

(1) In marine insurance: an award payable to a third party for services rendered to preserve maritime property from peril at sea.
(2) In property insurance: the residual monetary value of insured property damaged as a result of an insured peril.

SALVAGE CHARGES

Money properly payable in an award to a third party acting independently of contract, to preserve the property insured in a maritime adventure from an insured peril.

SCHOONER

A two-masted sailing vessel built with sharp lines for speed.

SEAWORTHINESS

In marine insurance, every voyage policy (hull or cargo) carries an implied warranty that the vessel is seaworthy at the commencement of the voyage.

SECURITIES

In Crime (‘Money’) insurance, all negotiable or non-negotiable instruments or contracts

SELLER’S INTEREST

The insurable interest of the seller of the goods covered by a marine cargo insurance policy.

SERVICE OF SUIT

Instituting proceedings at law to pursue an action against a party to settle a dispute. In the absence of any provision to the contrary, a suit can be served under any jurisdiction.

SERVICE OF SUIT CLAUSE

A provision in an insurance policy stating the jurisdiction that the Insurer agrees to accept for service of suit representing either money or other property. It includes stamps, tokens and tickets, but does not include money.

SETTLEMENT

Usually, a policy benefit or claim payment. It connotes an agreement between both parties to the policy contract as to the amount and method of payment.

SETTLING AGENT

An agent authorised to pay claims under an insurance policy.

SHORTAGE

Circumstances where marine cargo is delivered to the consignee in a lesser amount or quantity than should have been delivered.

SPECIAL PERILS

An optional coverage designed to provide protection for your property or vehicle in respect of loss or damage resulting from incidents not specifically stated in the policy. A few examples of the types of losses Insured under the ‘special perils’ extension are: flood, earthquake, malicious damage, bursting or overflowing of water tanks, apparatus and pipes, riot and civil commotion.

SPECIFIED PERILS

An optional coverage designed to provide basic protection for your vehicle for loss or damage resulting from incidents specifically stated in your policy. A few examples of the types of losses Insured under named perils coverage include fire, lightning, theft, explosion, earthquake, windstorm and hurricane.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION

Self-ignition of combustible material through chemical action (as oxidation) of its constituents. In marine shipments it may occur when cargo such as soft coal or lignite is loaded in a wet condition.

SPREADING THE RISK

One of the basic principles of insurance where an Insurer seeks to limit his exposure on a particular location. He may do so by: (1) Accepting only part of a risk offered to him, thereby spreading the risk over a number of Insurers; and (2) Seeking to reinsure a portion of the line he has accepted with other Insurers.

STRANDING

With regard to a vessel: to run, drive, or cause to drift onto a strand; run aground. The vessel must be hard and fast for an appreciable period of time; a mere touch and go, or a grounding due to the rise and fall of a tide would not constitute stranding.

STRIKE

Sudden and dramatic cessation of work by common agreement, to obtain remedy for grievance or better working conditions.

SUBJECT MATTER INSURED

The subject matter exposed to risk, to which the Insured’s insurable interest attaches.

SUBROGATION

The right of an Insurance Company to step into the shoes of the party who they compensate, and sue any party who the compensated party could have sued as a means of recouping the loss.

SUE AND LABOR CLAUSE

A clause in a marine insurance policy whereby the insurer accepts liability for charges incurred by the insured in seeking to preserve his property from loss, or to minimise a loss that would be covered by the policy. The insured is said to sue and labour for the protection of his property.

SUM INSURED

The maximum amount of liability of the Insurer under an insurance policy. The premium rate is applied to the sum insured to determine the policy premium.

SURVEY FEE

The fee payable to a surveyor for his services in carrying out a survey and issuing a survey report.

SURVEY REPORT

The report prepared by the surveyor which is submitted by the claimant with his claim, and which gives details of damage to the insured property.

SURVEYOR

A competent person with knowledge and skill to carry out a survey on insured property that has been damaged, and to produce a survey report.