Adidas’ insurance provider, Zürich Versicherungs-Gesellschaft, is demanding over half a million dollars from Maersk after three shipping containers filled with Adidas apparel went missing. The containers, worth a total of $562,272, were en route from Asia and made their way to the Port of Los Angeles, only to disappear later in transit.

The sportswear was destined for a client in Lebec, but on January 24, 2024, the Wilmington warehouse staff discovered the containers had vanished without a trace. Despite efforts, the cargo has not been recovered, resulting in a declared total loss.

Zürich Versicherungs-Gesellschaft asserts that Adidas is not at fault for the disappearance, and that the onus is on Maersk and its affiliates for what they claim is negligence and a breach of contract. Maersk, in their response, has expressed their commitment to taking cargo loss and damage incidents seriously, promising to collaborate with clients to maintain a secure and dependable supply chain, while also noting their policy against commenting on ongoing legal disputes with insurance entities.

This incident shines a light on the ongoing issue of cargo theft in the US, with industry insiders revealing that such thefts are not only common but have developed into a shadowy supply chain network. Just last year, US authorities took down a theft ring that was targeting overseas warehouse containers, revealing a web of illegal overseas warehouses and drivers working in cahoots.

REFERENCE: This article was translated by Michael L. For the original article, please refer to “3 Shipping Containers Stolen After Arrival, Carrier Faces $560,000 Claim from Cargo Owner,” as compiled by OneShipping.com in collaboration with NewHorizonShipping.com.