Photo: Rasheedhrasheed, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Marine insurance in Tanzania: cargo, vessels and liability
The three marine covers, as the Insurance Act defines them
The Second Schedule of the Insurance Act (Part B, general business) splits marine risks into three classes of insurance business.
| Cover | Class | What the Act says it insures |
|---|---|---|
| Hull and machinery | Class 6 — Ships | Vessels used on the sea or inland water, and their machinery, tackle, furniture or equipment |
| Cargo | Class 7 — Goods in transit | Loss of or damage to merchandise, baggage and other goods in transit, whatever the form of transport |
| Liability | Class 12 — Liability for ships | Damage arising from the use of vessels at sea or on inland water, including third-party risks and carrier's liability |
Inland water counts: a boat on Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika or Lake Nyasa falls in the same classes as a ship in Dar es Salaam port.
Importing goods: cargo cover must be Tanzanian
Section 133 of the Insurance Act says insurance taken out by a Tanzanian resident or resident company must be placed with a Tanzanian insurer, and subsection (3) spells it out for imports: ground, marine and air cargo insurance for Tanzanian imports shall be effected by a Tanzanian insurer.
- A foreign policy does not count: if your supplier abroad insures the goods for you, that policy does not meet s.133(3) — the cargo cover must come from a Tanzanian insurer.
- Cover not available locally: s.133(2) lets you place it abroad only through a resident insurer and with the Commissioner's prior written approval.
- Cabinet-approved agreements: s.133(4) keeps special arrangements approved by the Cabinet outside subsection (3).
- Every import needs cover: section 134(1) adds that no one may import goods without insurance. Regulations are to say which imported goods are concerned.
Boats, ferries and pontoons must be insured
Section 134(1) of the Insurance Act, added in 2022, forbids operating a marine vessel, ferry or pontoon without insurance. TIRA's 2024 market report lists marine vessels among the mandatory covers it now oversees with other authorities, alongside imports, commercial buildings and public markets.
The Act does not set a minimum amount or say which of the three covers a vessel must carry. Ask the insurer to state in writing which risks — hull, liability to third parties and passengers, cargo on board — the policy includes.
Other compulsory covers for businesses, such as the Workers Compensation Fund for crew and staff, are explained in business insurance in Tanzania.
What TIRA's 2024 figures show about marine insurance
From the TIRA Annual Insurance Market Performance Report 2024:
| Marine insurance, 2024 | Figure |
|---|---|
| Gross premiums written | TZS 37,112 million (TZS 40,112 million in 2023, down 7.5%) |
| Claims in 2024 | TZS 25,624 million |
| Claims settled in 2024 | TZS 13,365 million — a settlement ratio of 52.2% |
| Share kept by insurers after reinsurance (retention) | 35.6% |
A low retention means Tanzanian insurers pass most marine risk to reinsurers; TIRA groups marine with the classes of "high severity, volatility, or technical complexity".
Buying marine cover and claiming
- Check the licence: the insurer must be on TIRA's register — see the licensed insurance companies in Tanzania.
- Describe the risk: for cargo, the goods, packing, route, transport mode and sum insured; for a vessel, its type, waters of navigation, value and use.
- Get the cover note before the goods leave or the boat sails: a loss that happened before cover started is not insured.
- Renew on time: under s.139 of the Act, an insurer cannot extend cover beyond a 15-day grace period unless you ask to renew before or during it; without that instruction the policy is treated as lapsed on its expiry date.
- Claim: once you sign the discharge, the insurer must pay within 45 days (s.131), extendable once by up to 45 days by the Commissioner. If it drags on, see how to complain about an insurer in Tanzania.
What an insurer says it offers is its own statement. The Zanzibar Insurance Corporation's marine insurance page, seen in September 2026, describes cover for "goods, cargo, and vessels against loss or damage occurring during transit by sea, air, or land" and names importers and exporters, shipping and logistics companies, manufacturers and traders as its customers. See its profile.
To compare offers for cargo or a vessel, ask for quotes from insurers licensed in Tanzania.
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Frequently asked questions
Is marine insurance compulsory in Tanzania?
Yes for imports and vessels: Insurance Act s.134(1) forbids importing goods or operating a marine vessel, ferry or pontoon without insurance, and s.133(3) requires cargo cover for imports to be placed with a Tanzanian insurer.
Can I use my supplier's foreign cargo policy for goods imported into Tanzania?
No. Section 133(3) of the Insurance Act says ground, marine and air cargo insurance for Tanzanian imports shall be effected by a Tanzanian insurer.
What does marine insurance cover in Tanzania?
The Insurance Act has three marine classes: ships (the vessel and its machinery and equipment), goods in transit (cargo, by any transport) and liability for ships (third-party and carrier's liability).
How big is the marine insurance market in Tanzania?
TIRA reports TZS 37,112 million of marine premiums in 2024, down 7.5% from 2023, with a claim settlement ratio of 52.2%.