Clause 18. It is a condition of this insurance that the Assured shall act with reasonable dispatch in all circumstances within their control.

It is here to be noted that this protection is automatically provided without requiring the assured to give notice to the Underwriters or to pay an additional premium. Nevertheless, attention is drawn to the necessity to avoid delay wherever possible by Clause 18, which states:

This clause serves to reiterate Section 48 of the Marine Insurance Act on the subject of unreasonable delay. There is no provision for the assured to be held covered in the event that the goods are delayed for their own convenience, consequently early notice should be given to Underwriters, and their consent obtained to extend any such periods in storage, customs and the like, if the continuation of cover is not to be prejudiced.

Delay following discharge of the goods at the destination port is still of considerable concern to Underwriters for their liability is not terminated where such delay is in the ordinary course of transit. The time limit of 60 days, if transit has not ceased prior to then, is intended to reduce the hazards of unlimited delay. It is worth stressing once more that although the clauses maintain the insurance in force during delay beyond the control of the assured, such a continuance of the policy does not make losses proximately caused by delay recoverable, even though the delay may have arisen from perils insured against. It is also recalled that shipment on deck is not considered a “variation of the adventure” and needs to be specifically insured

Mention of the “variation of the adventure” arising