USL&H Insurance for Marine Contractors

Shipyard worker in protective clothing grinding steel, with sparks visible. Photo: Eugene Oliver / U.S. Department of Defense. Illustrative imagery.

Understand the federal obligation

The Longshore Act provides an injury-benefit framework for covered maritime employment. Its statutory definitions, geographic requirements and exclusions determine applicability; a job title or a contract's insurance checklist does not decide the issue. Harbor construction, ship repair and cargo-related work deserve particular attention. Work on navigable water may raise different questions from work on adjoining land. Employers should obtain a fact-specific assessment where duties, locations or vessel assignments make classification uncertain.

Describe the workforce accurately

Prepare job descriptions, payroll by duty, project locations, vessel assignments and the way employees move between land and water. Include supervisors, equipment operators, temporary workers and working officers rather than assuming an administrative title creates an exemption. Explain dredging, pile driving, diving support and vessel maintenance separately. Accurate records help the broker and underwriter evaluate the exposure and help counsel address legal classification questions. They also support a more reliable premium audit.

Coordinate the program before mobilization

An employer subject to the Act must secure compensation through authorized insurance or approved self-insurance. Confirm that the policy addresses the applicable federal obligation and that the insurer is authorized for it. State coverage may still be relevant to other work or employees. Review claims reporting contacts and employee notices before a project starts. Do not assume a state policy, an owner-controlled program or a subcontractor certificate automatically resolves Longshore obligations for every entity and worker.

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