USL&H & Maritime Employers Liability Policy Feature Checklist
What to confirm in a usl&h & maritime employers liability policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current workers' compensation and maritime policies and check the box next to each feature you can confirm they include — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor.
Tick each feature you can confirm your policy includes — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Confirm? | Policy feature | What to confirm | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| USL&H Endorsement | Adds federal Longshore benefits to your workers' comp policy for dock, pier, and shipyard workers. | Standard | |
| Every State Listed | Confirm the endorsement names every state where waterfront work is done. | Standard | |
| Maritime Employers Liability | Covers Jones Act negligence suits by employees who qualify as seamen. | Standard | |
| Maintenance and Cure | Owed to injured seamen regardless of fault — confirm the MEL or P&I policy pays it. | Standard | |
| Crew on P&I | Some P&I policies leave out crew injuries unless crew is added. | Often limited | |
| Defense Costs Outside the MEL Limit | Jones Act suits are tried before juries; defense inside the limit can use it up. | Often limited | |
| Transportation and Repatriation | Pays to return an injured or ill crew member home. | If needed | |
| OCSLA Endorsement | Needed for work on fixed platforms on the Outer Continental Shelf. | If needed | |
| Alternate-Employer Endorsement | Extends coverage to a customer who may be treated as the worker's employer. | If needed |
The gap most often missed in this coverage
The most commonly missed gap in this coverage is the worker who moves between the dock and the vessel. A USL&H endorsement does not answer a Jones Act suit, and courts often treat a worker who spends about 30% of the workday aboard a vessel as a seaman. Claimants frequently file under both laws because Jones Act awards can be much larger. If any employee works aboard a vessel, even part-time, carry maritime employers liability alongside USL&H.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your usl&h & maritime employers liability coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: USL&H & Maritime Employers Liability Insurance · USL&H & Maritime Employers Liability Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What should a usl&h & maritime employers liability policy include?
Standard features to confirm in a usl&h & maritime employers liability policy include USL&H Endorsement, Every State Listed, Maritime Employers Liability, Maintenance and Cure. This checklist also flags the features that are often limited or sublimited and the ones to add if needed, with a plain-English note on each.
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 usl&h & maritime employers liability 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.