On the Water or the Dock, Cover the Crew.
Workers' injury coverage for the maritime jobs state comp leaves out
USL&H and Maritime Employers Liability insurance covers injuries to the maritime workforce that standard state workers' compensation does not reach. Federal law carves these workers out of ordinary comp and places them under their own regimes: dock, harbor, and shipyard employees fall under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (USL&H), while the crew of a vessel — "seamen" — are covered instead through the Jones Act and general maritime law. A business that employs people on or near the water almost always has at least one of these exposures, and a standard workers' comp policy will not respond to it.
Getting this coverage right is a legal question as much as an insurance one, because which act applies determines how an injured worker is paid.
What USL&H & Maritime Employers Liability Covers
These coverages respond to distinct maritime workforce exposures:
USL&H (Longshore Act) — Statutory, no-fault benefits for maritime employees injured on navigable waters or the adjoining piers, docks, and terminals — longshoremen, ship repairers, harbor construction, and shipbuilders.
Maritime Employers Liability (MEL) / Jones Act — Liability coverage for injury to vessel crew, who are excluded from the Longshore Act and instead sue their employer for negligence under the Jones Act and general maritime law.
Maintenance & Cure — The vessel owner's general-maritime obligation to cover an injured seaman's living expenses and medical care until maximum recovery.
Transportation & Wages — Related maritime-law obligations to an injured crew member, where applicable.
Defense Costs — Legal defense for the negligence-based claims that Jones Act and general-maritime exposures generate.
What It Does Not Cover
These policies are specific, and do not cover:
Purely land-based employees with no maritime nexus (covered by state workers' compensation)
Seamen under USL&H, or longshore workers under the Jones Act — the two regimes are mutually exclusive by role
Vessel hull, machinery, and cargo (covered under ocean marine)
Injuries falling under the separate Defense Base Act for overseas government contractors
Intentional acts, per policy terms
Which act applies turns on the worker's duties and connection to a vessel.
Who Needs USL&H & Maritime Employers Liability?
This coverage is important for:
Stevedoring, longshore, and terminal operators
Shipyards, ship repairers, and boat builders
Marine and harbor construction contractors, including dredging operations
Marinas and vessel operators with crew
Commercial fishing operations
Charter, tug, barge, and passenger-vessel companies
If your employees work on, over, or next to navigable water, one of these acts likely applies.
How Coverage Is Structured
Maritime workforce coverage is typically arranged as:
A USL&H coverage endorsement extending a workers' compensation policy to the Longshore Act
Maritime Employers Liability written to cover Jones Act and general-maritime exposure for crew
A voluntary compensation or state-act layer where a worker's status is uncertain
Coordination so every worker falls under the correct act without gaps or overlaps
Underwriting based on payroll, vessel operations, and the maritime nexus of each role
Classifying each worker correctly is the heart of a sound program.
Real-World Claim Examples
A longshoreman is injured unloading a vessel at the dock and files under USL&H
A deckhand hurt aboard a vessel sues the employer under the Jones Act
A shipyard worker is injured during a repair and the Longshore Act applies
A marina's crew member requires maintenance and cure after an on-board injury
In each case, the business's standard workers' comp policy would not respond.
Why Proper Placement Matters
Coverage varies significantly based on:
Whether each worker is a Longshore employee, a Jones Act seaman, or land-based
The maritime nexus of the duties performed
How USL&H, MEL, and state coverage are coordinated
Payroll classification and vessel operations
A misclassified worker — or a missing act — can leave a serious injury uninsured and the employer personally exposed.
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., we start maritime coverage where the exposure actually lives: in how each worker is classified under the law. We coordinate USL&H, Maritime Employers Liability, and state coverage so every employee falls under the right act, and we align the program with your workers' compensation and ocean marine coverage. For specific operations, see our commercial fishing and marina and boat storage pages.
The water doesn't forgive a coverage gap — so we don't leave one.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
See 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, in the USL&H & Maritime Employers Liability Policy Feature Checklist.
Complete the USL&H & Maritime Employers Liability Supplemental online in a few guided steps, download the fillable PDF, or browse all applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get usl&h & maritime employers liability insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate usl&h & maritime employers liability insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
How much does usl&h & maritime employers liability insurance cost?
There is no flat rate. The cost of usl&h & maritime employers liability insurance reflects your industry, your size (payroll and revenue), your claims history, and the limits and deductibles you choose. We market your account to multiple carriers, compare the real quotes side by side, and explain what is driving each number so you can weigh coverage against price with confidence.
Who needs usl&h & maritime employers liability insurance?
Whether usl&h & maritime employers liability insurance is strictly required depends on your state, your contracts, and your lenders or clients. Even where it is not mandatory, going without it can leave serious financial gaps. We assess your exposure and any contractual requirements, then structure coverage that meets both.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.