Liability Insurance For Australian Skippers
Protect yourself.
If something goes wrong, you’re buying protection.
This is now available.
Available Policies
Delivery Only Skippers
This option is tailor made for those skippers who provide Delivery Only services to boat owners.
The policy provides cover for damage you might cause to a vessel you are delivering or to third parties when the hull insurer decided to subrogate their costs against you directly.
Whether you are partially retired or working in boat deliveries on a full-time basis, you can take comfort in knowing you have minimised the risks to yourself by purchasing Marine Skippers Liability Insurance.
Commercial Skippers
(includes delivery)
As a Commercial Skipper you have a duty of care to paying passengers onboard the vessel you are operating, as well as a duty of care to other boats and passengers you may cross paths with on the water.
The product is designed to offer protection directly to you as the Skipper. Whilst a Hull Insurance Policy will always be the first layer of defence there are instances whereby that first layer may be eradicated or unable to be claimed upon – refer to FAQ’s.
Rest easy knowing you have protected yourself.
Single Voyage Delivery
This is an alternative option when it comes to Delivery Only Cover. The policy gives you the flexibility to be able to purchase cover for an upcoming delivery as you need it.
This would be ideally suited to Skippers who may only move a few boats sporadically and do not wish to purchase an annual policy.
The policy provides cover for damage you might cause to a vessel you are delivering or to third parties when the hull insurer decided to subrogate their costs against you directly.
Who We Are
When skippering a boat that is not your own, the responsibility to yourself, your crew, passengers and to third parties is just as great as if you were skippering a boat you own.
With the Marine Skippers Insurance Third-Party Liability policy those who skipper rented or chartered boats can now protect themselves against financial or legal burden incurred as a direct result of bodily injury or property damage caused to third parties.
The Marine Skippers Insurance Third-Party Liability policy covers the skipper for legal liabilities to third parties arising out of an accident whilst they are skippering a boat they do not own.
The policy comes into effect when the boat’s own liability insurance either is not claimed upon, limit of liability exhausted or if activated, the hull insurer seeks to recover their financial damage direct from you, the skipper in charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I purchase this cover when the boats I operate are Insured and I am covered under the policy as the operator
There are several instances whereby having your own policy could provide an added safety net such as
The Boat Owner forgets to renew their policy and there is in fact no cover
You damage a boat which has a large excess (e.g $25,000) and the owner attempts to recover this excess from you in a claim whereby the loss/damage was a result of your negligence
The limit of Liability for bodily injury or property damage to others under a Hull Policy is exceeded
The boat owner refuses to co-operate with you or claim under their own policy for damage or injury you have caused, and you are being pursued by third parties directly
As a Delivery Skipper I always make sure the boats I am delivering are insured before I commence
We are aware of several instances whereby a delivery skipper was pursued by a vessel insurer following damages/loss they caused to a vessel they were delivering. The insurer paid the owner for the damages caused and then pursued the Delivery Skipper afterwards. One such Delivery Skipper was forced to sell his house to pay for the costs
As a Commercially Qualified Skipper operate many different boats, will your policy cover me?
Yes – subject to the terms and conditions of the policy wording
Does the policy provide cover for any boats or vessels themselves
The Policy does not provide Insurance for the vessel against events such as theft, fire and storm damage. This is a tailor-made policy to cover your personal liability as a Skipper and is the first and only available product within Australia of its kind.
Does this policy cover crew?
Yes
What is the limit of indemnity under the policy?
$5M AUD
Do you offer short team cover?
Yes, we offer single voyage cover for delivery-only skippers.
How do I make a claim?
You can contact the Marine Skippers office:
Email: claims@skippersinsurance.com.au
Who is the Insurer?
Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London