Marine Surveyor Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a marine surveyor 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 marine surveyors and vessel appraisers. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual services, contracts, and clients.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Surveyors E&O | Covers missed defects and valuation errors. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers yard injuries and damage during testing. | Core | |
| Watercraft / Non-Owned P&I | Covers operating client vessels on sea trials, which GL excludes. | Prevalent | |
| Care, Custody & Control Endorsement | Covers damage to the vessel being surveyed. | Prevalent | |
| USL&H / Maritime Endorsement on WC | Covers work on vessels and docks that state WC may not. | Prevalent | |
| Contractual Liability | Covers yard and marina indemnity agreements. | Prevalent | |
| Equipment Floater | Covers moisture meters, borescopes, and drones. | Prevalent | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers travel to marinas and yards. | Situational | |
| Cyber Liability | Covers emailed reports and client financials. | Situational | |
| Umbrella | Adds limits for commercial vessel and cargo surveys. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by marine surveyors is the sea trial. GL policies usually exclude watercraft use, and E&O excludes bodily injury and property damage, so a collision with the surveyor at the helm can fall between them. Subcontractor errors are the second blind spot — one surveyor paid $70,000 for an uninsured naval architect's mistake.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your marine surveyor coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Marine Surveyor & Appraiser Insurance · Marine Surveyor Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a marine surveyor business need?
The core coverages for a marine surveyor business are Marine Surveyors E&O, General 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 marine surveyor 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.