Builder's Risk Insurance for marine contractors

Not always, but gaps are common. The owner's master policy may not cover materials you've delivered but not yet installed, or may carry a large deductible that falls on you. We review the project's program and add an installation floater if there's a gap.

Yes — and this is critical for marine work. A partial dock or pier under construction is highly exposed to wind, storm surge, and wave action. Named-storm coverage may carry a separate deductible in coastal zones. We structure the policy for your region's weather and water exposure.

Yes — theft of materials from the site or staging area is a covered cause of loss under most builder's risk forms, subject to the policy terms and deductible. Given the value of pile sections and hardware, this is one of the most valuable parts of the coverage.

It varies by contract. Often the owner or developer carries a master policy. When you're responsible for materials and labor you've put in place, an installation floater or your own builder's risk makes sure you're protected regardless of what the owner carries.

Soft costs are the additional expenses from a construction delay — extra interest, real estate costs, re-engineering, and lost marina slip revenue. Soft-cost coverage is optional but valuable on larger waterfront projects where a storm or fire could push back completion.

The limit should equal the completed value of the project (materials, labor, and profit) at the time of loss. We help you set the limit correctly so the dock, pier, or marina is fully insured throughout the build.

Yes. Fire is a covered peril, and a wood dock or pier under construction is exactly when the exposure peaks. Builder's risk covers fire damage to the structure and materials during construction.

Most marina contractors pay $2,500–$9,000 a year for $1M/$2M marine general liability, with Jones Act/USL&H rated on over-water payroll and equipment floaters based on scheduled marine gear. We quote the full program in about 15 minutes and show every market's price.

Yes. Contractors Choice Agency is licensed in all 50 states and writes marine construction crews from the Gulf Coast and Florida to the Chesapeake, New England, the Great Lakes, and the Pacific coast.

About 15 minutes for a standard program. Once bound, we turn around additional-insured certificates, waivers of subrogation, and primary/non-contributory endorsements usually within minutes.

The Jones Act covers crew members who work on navigable waters as 'seamen.' If your crew works on a barge, tug, or over navigable water, standard workers' comp does not apply — you need Jones Act coverage. We'll confirm exactly where your operations fall.

Only upland. Over-water work on navigable waters falls under the Jones Act and USL&H (Longshore), not state workers' comp. We coordinate all three so every crew member is covered everywhere they work.

Equipment is covered under an inland marine / contractors equipment floater (and watercraft may need a separate hull/P&I policy), not under GL. We schedule barges, cranes, pile drivers, and dredges at replacement cost so a loss over water is covered.

Most marine contractors carry $1M/$2M marine GL with a $2M–$5M umbrella. Ports and large marina owners often require $2M–$10M limits plus additional-insured status. We size limits to your actual contract requirements.

Yes — personal auto excludes business use and will deny claims when you haul dock sections or materials. Commercial auto covers your trucks, trailers, and lowboys, including hired/non-owned vehicles.

Often, yes. We have excess-and-surplus (E&S) markets for marine contractors with loss runs, USL&H claims, cancellations, or tough exposures that standard markets decline.

Your marine GL doesn't cover independent subs — they should carry their own (including Jones Act/USL&H) and name you additional insured. We set up certificate tracking and additional-insured requirements so subcontracted work doesn't become your liability.

You reach a person with context, not a queue. We respond within 2 hours, help you document the loss, and manage the claim with the carrier so it's paid correctly and your operation keeps moving.

Marine construction has Jones Act, USL&H, and over-water GL traps that generic carriers miss or deny. A specialty broker knows the maritime statutes, the markets that write marine work, and how to manage a maritime claim.