Jones Act & USL&H (Longshore) Coverage for marine contractors

The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (USL&H) is the federal workers' comp system for maritime workers who are NOT 'seamen' — including dock builders, pile drivers, and marine construction crews working over navigable water but not assigned to a specific vessel. The Jones Act covers seamen; USL&H covers the broader over-water workforce. Many marine contractors need both, plus state workers' comp for landside work.

No — this is the critical trap. State workers' comp generally does NOT cover injuries that occur on navigable waters. Those claims fall under the Jones Act or USL&H instead. If you're carrying only state workers' comp and a crew member is hurt on a barge, the claim can be denied and you can be personally liable. We coordinate all three coverages.

The consequences are severe. Under USL&H, an employer who fails to secure coverage can face federal penalties of tens of thousands of dollars per uncovered worker per day, plus double compensation owed to the injured worker, plus possible criminal liability. This is the single most dangerous coverage gap in marine construction.

Both are rated on over-water payroll by job classification. The rate reflects the maritime exposure (pile driving, diving, deck work). Because it's payroll-based, accurate classification of landside vs. over-water crew keeps your premium fair. We document your crew's real work split.

Often yes. Commercial divers working on navigable water for marine construction are frequently classified as seamen under the Jones Act or covered under USL&H, depending on the specifics. Diving is a high-hazard maritime specialty — we make sure your dive crew is properly classified and covered.

Most marine contractors have both. Landside work (yard, shop, upland site work) is covered under state workers' comp; over-water work falls under Jones Act and/or USL&H. We coordinate all three into one program so every crew member is covered wherever they're working that day, with no gaps and no double premium.

Navigable water is generally any body of water used (or capable of being used) for interstate or foreign commerce — which includes most coastal waters, bays, harbors, major rivers, and the Great Lakes. The line isn't always obvious, and getting it wrong is costly. We'll help assess your operations and confirm where Jones Act and USL&H apply.

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.