The second edition of "Insuring Cargoes - A practical guide to the law and practice" presents a comprehensive and insightful exploration of marine cargo insurance. The book strikes a delicate balance between law and practice, providing practical guidance and illustrating concepts with examples. While referencing relevant case laws, its primary focus is to offer practical insights.

The first chapter deals with the basic concepts of marine cargo insurance and examines in detail various aspects of international trade, including a critical look at Incoterms® 2020 and the UK’s Insurance Act 2015. The first chapter also provides examples of various methods of double insurance, which one does not find in other books.

Chapters two and three discuss English law as it stands on insurable interest. For instance, insurable economic interest is yet to be recognised in English law, and the fallout from this is discussed in the context of sale contracts where risk and title are passed on to the buyer, but the seller remains unpaid.

The fourth chapter examines components of a marine open cover, and the fifth chapter is dedicated to Institute Classification Clause, International Safety Management (ISM), and International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) endorsements.

Chapter six provides an in-depth analysis of the 2009 edition of Institute Clauses (A), while chapter seven explores inherent vice, delay exclusions, and buy-back covers. Subsequent chapters focus on ‘named' perils, trade clauses, and an in-depth analysis of several broker wordings (non-Institute clauses).

Additional chapters cover War, SRCC, Contract Certainty, Rejection Covers, and claims. The book addresses detailed claims-related topics, including the physical loss or damage cover and miscellaneous issues such as successive losses, piracy, and exchange rate fluctuations.

The final chapter, contributed by Jai Sharma of Clyde and Co, London, focuses on recoveries.

Mike Roderick of Clyde & Co, London, who wrote the foreword, says about the book: “The author does not shirk from tackling problematic areas……The author writes on these issues in a stimulating and authoritative manner. …. It is commended to any reader interested in marine cargo insurance”.

This book is undoubtedly a welcome addition to the library of any serious marine cargo insurance practitioner interested in contract certainty in policies and who wants a thorough grip over cargo insurance’s legal and practical aspects.