
Marine insurance carriers provide critical protection for vessels and cargo as they travel the world's oceans.
Marine insurance carriers offer a range of coverage options, including ocean protection, which safeguards against damage or loss of a vessel while it's at sea.
Ocean protection can cover a variety of risks, such as accidents, natural disasters, and even piracy.
Liability protection is also essential, as it shields owners and operators from financial responsibility in the event of an accident or damage to another vessel or property.
For example, if a vessel collides with another ship, liability protection can help cover the costs of repairs and any resulting lawsuits.
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Types of Coverage
Comprehensive coverage is available for marina and boat dealer insurance packages, including specialized packages tailored to the marine industry.
These packages may include coverage for dealership and yacht dealer inventory, commercial property, and commercial general liability.
Here are some specific types of coverage you can expect:
- Dealership & Yacht Dealer Inventory
- Commercial Property
- Commercial General Liability
- Piers, Wharves and Docks
- Marina Operators Legal Liability
- Protection and Indemnity
- Ship Repairers Legal Liability
- Tools/Equipment
- Commercial Auto
- Workers Compensation
- Marine Employers Liability (MEL)
- Jones Act
- Bumbershoot Coverage
- Sudden and Accidental Pollution
- Title Errors & Omissions / Truth in Lending E&O
Hull and Indemnity

Hull and Indemnity coverage is a type of protection that shields you from financial losses due to damage to your vessel's hull or liability for accidents.
This coverage is designed to protect most sizes of commercial marine vessels, from small tugs and charter boats to larger supply ships.
Some common perils that are typically covered under Hull and Indemnity include heavy weather stranding, collision, fire, lightning, and explosions.
Here are some examples of perils that are specifically covered:
- Perils of the sea, such as heavy weather stranding or collision
- Fire
- Lightning
- Explosions
- Collision
- Accidents in loading or discharging cargo
- Moving on or off dry docks and marine railways
- Negligence on the part of the captain and/or crew and repairers
This type of coverage also extends to accidents that occur while loading or discharging cargo, as well as negligence on the part of the captain, crew, or repairers.
Comprehensive Coverage
Customized coverage is available for various businesses in the marine industry. At Global Marine, our insurance experts can help craft a custom commercial marine insurance policy to meet the needs of your business.
Marinas and harbors, as well as boat dealers, can benefit from this tailored approach. For instance, marinas and harbors can get customized coverage, while boat dealers can also get specialized packages.
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Our years of experience in developing policies for the marine industry has led us to create custom marina and boat dealer insurance packages. These packages may include a wide range of coverages, such as dealership and yacht dealer inventory, commercial property, and commercial general liability.
Some of the specific coverages offered in these packages include piers, wharves, and docks, as well as marina operators legal liability. Additionally, protection and indemnity, ship repairers legal liability, tools/equipment, commercial auto, workers compensation, marine employers liability (MEL), Jones Act, bumber shoot coverage, sudden and accidental pollution, and title errors & omissions/truth in lending E&O are also included.
Each of our clients is treated on an individual basis to ensure they get all the coverage they need at the best possible price.
Here are some of the coverages that may be included in a custom marina and boat dealer insurance package:
- Dealership & Yacht Dealer Inventory
- Commercial Property
- Commercial General Liability
- Piers, Wharves and Docks
- Marina Operators Legal Liability
- Protection and Indemnity
- Ship Repairers Legal Liability
- Tools/Equipment
- Commercial Auto
- Workers Compensation
- Marine Employers Liability (MEL)
- Jones Act
- Bumbershoot Coverage
- Sudden and Accidental Pollution
- Title Errors & Omissions / Truth in Lending E&O
Marine Insurance Options
Marine insurance options can be tailored to fit the specific needs of your vessel.

You can choose between open coverage and named perils coverage, which protects against specific risks like collision or grounding.
For smaller vessels, a policy with a lower deductible and higher coverage limits may be more suitable.
Some marine insurance carriers also offer a "new for old" option, where your insurance company will replace your vessel with a brand new one if it's lost or damaged beyond repair.
A charterer's liability policy can provide financial protection in case your vessel is chartered to another party and something goes wrong.
It's essential to carefully review your policy to ensure you understand what's covered and what's not.
A marine insurance policy may also include an excess, which is the amount you need to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in.
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The AIG Advantage
AIG has more than 90 years of experience in the marine insurance industry, giving them a deep understanding of the needs of oceangoing and inland marine service businesses.
Their multinational risk coverage is impressive, extending across 215+ countries and jurisdictions. This broad reach is a testament to their extensive global presence.
AIG offers some of the highest limits in the industry, providing businesses with the protection they need to operate with confidence.
Liability and Risk

Marine liability insurance is designed for transportation companies, stevedores, wharfingers, terminal operators, and other marine-related businesses worldwide.
These businesses face unique risks, such as damage to cargo, vessels, or equipment, as well as environmental pollution.
Marine terminal operators, stevedores, and wharfingers are all high-risk industries that require specialized insurance coverage.
This coverage can include primary and excess protection, as well as indemnity for vessel pollution.
Some of the specific risks covered by marine liability insurance include:
Bumbershoots, or excess policies, provide additional protection against unexpected losses.
These policies are designed to fill gaps in primary coverage and provide peace of mind for marine businesses.
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Ocean Insurance Solutions
Ocean insurance solutions are designed to protect your business from financial loss due to various exposures that exist in the marine industry.
Berkley provides a variety of ocean marine insurance options and risk management services that can help in protecting your business.
Marine cargo insurance can provide coverage for cargo being shipped around the world, typically from warehouse to warehouse for imports, exports, domestic shipments, and intercompany moves.
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Berkley's excess marine liability insurance can provide insurance protection in excess of primary limits on a follow form excess or as a Bumbershoot, covering certain non-marine liabilities such as auto and employer's liability on an excess basis.
If you operate vessels, you may want to consider hull & machinery insurance, which can provide coverage for loss of or physical damage to your vessel and its machinery, up to an agreed value.
Here are some of the key ocean insurance solutions offered by Berkley:
- Cargo and stock throughput insurance: This comprehensive policy safeguards goods against physical loss or damage throughout the entire supply chain.
- Hull: First-party property coverage for vessel owners, designed for physical damage to a vessel by a covered peril.
- Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance: Liability coverage for vessel owners and operators, covering bodily injury and third-party property damage.
- Marine liability insurance: Provides coverage for a broad range of liabilities that may arise from maritime operations.
These insurance solutions can help you manage risks effectively throughout your operations and protect your assets from financial loss.
Products
As a marine insurance carrier, you'll want to consider the various products they offer to protect your business. Boat Dealer & Marina Operators is one such product that provides coverage for businesses that sell and operate boats.
Boat Dealer & Marina Operators is a crucial product for businesses that rely on their boats for income. It's a must-have for any boat dealer or marina operator.

Commercial Vessel Insurance is another essential product that provides coverage for commercial vessels. This type of insurance is vital for businesses that operate boats for transportation or cargo purposes.
Luxury Yacht Insurance is a specialized product that provides coverage for high-end yachts. This type of insurance is perfect for individuals who own luxury yachts and want to protect their investment.
Here are some of the key products offered by marine insurance carriers:
- Boat Dealer & Marina Operators
- Commercial Vessel Insurance
- Luxury Yacht Insurance
- Marine Cargo Insurance
- Marine Craftmaster Program
- Marine General Liability (MGL)
- Pollution Coverage & Certificates of Financial Responsibility (COFR)
- Excess Marine and Bumbershoot Liability
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three types of marine insurance?
There are three main types of marine insurance: Floating Policy, Voyage Policy, and Time Policy, each designed to cover different aspects of maritime risks. Understanding the differences between these policies is crucial for protecting your cargo and assets at sea.
What are the disadvantages of marine insurance?
Marine insurance has two main disadvantages: high premiums and complex policies that can be difficult to navigate.
Sources
- https://www.thehartford.com/commercial-insurance-agents/coverages-ocean-marine
- https://www.nationalmarinasales.com/preferred-vendors/global-marine-insurance/
- https://www.aig.com/home/risk-solutions/business/specialty-risks/marine
- https://www.berkley.com/business-insurance/ocean-marine
- https://www.greatamericaninsurancegroup.com/about-us/business-operations/division/ocean-marine
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