Ocean Marine Solutions

Insight-driven solutions for today's marine risks

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What is commercial ocean marine insurance?

Ocean Marine insurance helps protect businesses that move goods internationally, operate commercial vessels, or provide services to marine industries. Whether you are importing or exporting goods, managing a business servicing the marine industry, or operating commercial vessels, the right coverage can help protect your business from financial loss.

Through our broker network, we offer specialized ocean marine insurance solutions, including ocean cargo insurance, Hull & Machinery (H&M) coverage, Protection & Indemnity (P&I) liability insurance, and various marine liability coverages. Coverage can be tailored to support your business and supply chain needs.

What does commercial ocean marine insurance cover?

Commercial ocean marine insurance can help protect your business, cargo, vessels, and operations from a range of maritime risks.

Marine cargo insurance

Helps protect imported and exported goods against covered physical loss or damage while in transit, including warehouse-to-warehouse coverage.

Hull & Machinery (H&M) insurance

Helps protect commercial vessels against covered physical damage, including vessels such as tugboats, barges, and other working fleets.

Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance

Provides liability protection for vessel owners and operators, including coverage for certain third-party injuries, cargo-related liabilities, and other covered maritime exposures.

Specialty marine liability insurance

Coverage designed for businesses operating within the marine industry, including terminal operators, ship repairers, stevedores, and commercial charter operations. We also offer Charterer's Liability and Bumbershoot (marine umbrella) coverage for additional liability protection.

What does commercial ocean marine insurance cover?

Commercial ocean marine insurance can help protect your business, cargo, vessels, and operations from a range of maritime risks.

Marine cargo insurance

Helps protect imported and exported goods against covered physical loss or damage while in transit, including warehouse-to-warehouse coverage.

Hull & Machinery (H&M) insurance

Helps protect commercial vessels against covered physical damage, including vessels such as tugboats, barges, and other working fleets.

Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance

Provides liability protection for vessel owners and operators, including coverage for certain third-party injuries, cargo-related liabilities, and other covered maritime exposures.

Specialty marine liability insurance

Coverage designed for businesses operating within the marine industry, including terminal operators, ship repairers, stevedores, and commercial charter operations. We also offer Charterer's Liability and Bumbershoot (marine umbrella) coverage for additional liability protection.

Who we cover

Our Ocean Marine Solutions support a wide range of marine‑related businesses, including:

  • Manufacturers, importers, and exporters
  • Commercial vessel operators and maritime contractors
  • Businesses servicing the marine industry
Protecting your business is our business

When it comes to marine risks, experience matters. Our Ocean Marine team brings deep industry knowledge and hands‑on expertise to help protect your business.

  • Decades of experience in the ocean marine industry

  • Specialized expertise focused on marine risks and exposures

  • Experienced claims professionals who understand marine losses and how to resolve them efficiently 

  • Dedicated Risk Control support to help you avoid losses and safety issues before they happen

Learn about our service guarantee

FAQs

General Average is a long-standing principle of maritime law that applies when cargo or property is intentionally sacrificed to help protect a vessel and its remaining cargo during an emergency. In these situations, all parties involved may be required to share in the resulting costs. Marine insurance policies can help protect your business from unexpected General Average expenses.  

Your Hull & Machinery insurance helps protect your vessel from physical damage, including damage caused by a collision. Protection & Indemnity (P&I) insurance helps cover liability-related costs that can arise from a marine incident, such as bodily injuries, pollution liability, or damage to third-party property and cargo. Together, these coverages can help provide broader protection for your marine operation.

Responsibility for insurance of cargo depends on the Incoterm used in the transaction.

Under CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight), the seller is responsible for arranging marine insurance. Under FOB (Free On Board), responsibility generally transfers to the buyer once the goods are loaded onto the vessel.

A broker can help you understand how your shipping terms may affect your insurance needs. 

Warehouse-to-warehouse coverage helps protect cargo throughout its journey, from the point it leaves the supplier's location until it arrives at its final destination.

This can include multiple stages of transportation, such as trucking, rail, ocean transit, and storage during shipment. 

Ready to get started?
Contact your broker to find out more about our comprehensive Ocean Marine solutions. 
Reviewed by Definity Ocean Marine Underwriting Team | Last Updated: August 2026