Marinas store tens of millions of dollars in customer vessels that are entirely excluded from standard commercial GL coverage — the care, custody, and control exclusion eliminates all customer boat damage liability unless the marina has wharfingers' liability specifically written. Add fuel spill pollution liability (the most heavily regulated environmental exposure in commercial lines), dock infrastructure that is routinely underinsured by $1M–$5M, and over-water WC exposures, and the marina is one of the most technically demanding commercial accounts an agent can write.
Marina Operators Legal Liability (Wharfingers' Liability)The specialty liability form for marina operations — standard commercial GL does not cover a marina's legal liability for damage to customer boats in the marina's care, custody, or control. Marina operators legal liability (also called wharfingers' liability) pays when customer vessels are damaged by marina negligence — fire spreading from a marina-owned vessel or fuel dock to customer boats, a dock collapse that damages multiple vessels, a marina employee who damages a vessel while moving it, or flooding damage to stored vessels from inadequate marina drainage. The aggregate value of customer boats in a marina can reach tens of millions of dollars.
Commercial General LiabilityCovers bodily injury and property damage on marina premises — a visitor who falls on a wet dock, a guest who trips on dock lines or cleats, a marina employee who injures a customer during a boat launch, a customer who falls from a ladder between the dock and the vessel, or a pedestrian injured in the marina parking lot. Marina GL exposure is amplified by the water access, constantly wet surfaces, and the unfamiliarity many visitors have with nautical environments.
Commercial PropertyCovers marina buildings — the main office, ship store, fuel dock structures, boatyards, dry storage buildings, maintenance sheds, and boat lift equipment. The marina dock system itself (fixed docks, floating docks, breakwaters, pilings) represents a significant property value and must be specifically scheduled. A floating dock system for a mid-size marina can represent $1M–$5M in replacement cost. Storm damage to docks and piers is the most common severe property claim in marina operations.
Pollution LiabilityMarina operations involve petroleum products — fuel storage and dispensing (diesel and gasoline for vessels), oil and petroleum products from vessel maintenance and repair, bilge water discharge, and antifouling bottom paint removal. A fuel spill at the marina dock, a petroleum release from the fuel storage tank, or bottom paint residue in the marina water creates pollution liability that is excluded from standard GL. Marine fuel spills involving navigable waters trigger Coast Guard and EPA notification requirements and cleanup obligations that can be extremely expensive.
Workers' CompensationMarina employees face significant WC exposures — drowning and near-drowning risk from working over water, falls from docks and vessels, back injuries from line handling and boat maneuvering, fuel exposure for dock attendants, and chemical exposure during vessel maintenance and painting. WC for marina operations (class code 6325 — marine — all employees) reflects the water access and heavy lifting exposure that characterizes marina work.
Inland Marine (Boat Lift and Haul Equipment)Marinas with travel lifts (large wheeled cranes used to lift boats in and out of the water), forklifts for dry stack storage, travelifts, and other equipment used to handle customer vessels need inland marine coverage for this equipment. A travel lift can cost $200,000–$500,000, and its failure while supporting a customer vessel creates both equipment loss and potential marina operators liability for the vessel.
ACORD 125 — Commercial Insurance ApplicationPrimary submission document for marina accounts. Capture number of wet slips and dry storage spaces, maximum vessel value in the marina, fuel sales volume (gallons per year), whether the marina has a repair yard and haul-out facility, boat launch ramp operations, restaurant or ship store revenue, and prior loss history including fuel spills, vessel damage claims, and dock incidents.
ACORD 126 — Commercial General Liability SectionRequired for GL. Describe all marina operations — wet slip rental, dry stack storage, fuel sales, vessel haul-out and storage, vessel repair and maintenance services, boat launch ramp, charter or rental vessel operations, ship store, restaurant or snack bar. Each revenue category affects the GL underwriting.
ACORD 130 — Workers Compensation ApplicationRequired for WC. Marina employees include dock hands and fuel dock staff (6325), vessel maintenance and repair technicians (6325), lift operators (6325), ship store and office staff (8017/8810), and restaurant staff if applicable (9082). The over-water work exposure and fuel handling must be addressed.
→How many wet slips does the marina operate?
→How many dry storage spaces (dry stack or open yard) does the marina have?
→What is the maximum value of any single vessel stored at the marina?
→What is the estimated total value of all customer vessels at the marina at peak season?
→Does the marina sell fuel? What is the annual fuel sales volume in gallons?
→What type of fuel storage does the marina have — above-ground tanks, underground tanks, floating fuel dock?
→Does the marina have a travel lift, forklift, or other vessel handling equipment?
→Does the marina perform vessel repair and maintenance services?
→Does the marina have a haul-out facility and boat yard?
→Does the marina have a boat launch ramp — public access or fee-based?
→Does the marina have a ship store or restaurant?
→Does the marina rent or charter vessels to customers?
→What type of dock system does the marina have — fixed wood docks, floating docks, or concrete/aluminum docks?
→Has the marina had any fuel spills or environmental incidents?
→Has the marina had any vessel damage claims from marina operations?
Complete marina submissions in one workflow
AgencyAssist captures slip count, vessel values, fuel operations, dock infrastructure, repair services, environmental history, and prior claims through one intake link. ACORD forms generated automatically.