Dredging & Marine Construction Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a dredging & marine construction business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for dredging and marine construction contractors. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual vessels, crews, and waters.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull & Machinery | Covers dredges, barges, tugs, and work boats. | Core | |
| Protection & Indemnity (P&I) / | Maritime Employers Liability Covers Jones Act crew injuries and vessel liability — state workers' comp does not. | Core | |
| USL&H Endorsement | Covers dock and over-water workers under federal Longshore law. | Core | |
| General Liability (incl. | Completed Ops) Covers damage to pipelines, utilities, and third-party property. | Core | |
| Contractor's Pollution / Vessel Pollution Liability | Covers fuel spills, turbidity, and contaminated sediment releases. | Core | |
| Contractor's Equipment (Inland Marine) | Covers cranes, pile drivers, and shore equipment. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation (Shore-Side) | Covers yard and office staff. | Prevalent | |
| Bumbershoot / Marine Excess Liability | Adds high limits over marine and liability policies. | Prevalent | |
| Diving Operations Liability | Covers commercial diving — often excluded elsewhere. | Situational | |
| Surety Bonds | Performance and payment bonds for public dredging contracts. | Prevalent |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by marine contractors is the mix of worker laws. Crew on dredges are Jones Act seamen, dock and pier workers fall under federal Longshore law, and yard staff are under state comp — a policy built for only one leaves the others uncovered. Pipeline strikes are the other big risk: one Corpus Christi dredge strike killed five and cost $11.6 million in vessel and pipeline damage. Confirm P&I, USL&H, and state comp all apply, and plot every pipeline before dredging.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your dredging & marine construction coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Dredging & Marine Construction Insurance · Dredging & Marine Construction Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a dredging & marine construction business need?
The core coverages for a dredging & marine construction business are Hull & Machinery, Protection & Indemnity (P&I) /, USL&H Endorsement, General Liability (incl., Contractor's Pollution / Vessel Pollution Liability. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my dredging & marine construction coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.