The key when arranging insurance for your goods is to understand your legal responsibility as part of your contract as either the owner, purchaser or seller of the goods. Legal terms are often used to reflect your contractual responsibiity and this may determine how cover is arranged:  

Free on Board (FOB) – If goods are shipped on an FOB basis, the sellers responsibility ends when a carrier takes possession of them.  For sea shipments, the sellers responsibility ends when the merchandise is placed safely on the vessel and/or when a bill of lading has been issued.  The BUYER is then responsible for the goods from that point on. 

Cost and Freight (C&F) – If goods are sold under a C&F contract, the BUYER must arrange cargo insurance for the goods as the price paid to the seller includes the cost of the goods, together with freight / shipping charges but NOT insurance. 

Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) – If goods are sold under a CIF contract, the SELLER must obtain cargo insurance on the goods, since the contractual price paid by the buyer includes the cost of the goods, insurance and freight / shipping charges. 

Free Alongside (FAS) – If goods are shipped using FAS conditions, the sellers responsibiity ends when the goods are placed at the dock from where the vessel will be loaded.  Traditionally this was a barge, or other vessel brought alongside the shipping vessel of the transit, hence the term Free Alongside.