Subsea cable installation is a high-value, high-risk operation. A single incident—dropped equipment, vessel collision, weather downtime, or damage during lay and burial—can create six-figure losses fast. Because projects often involve multiple contractors, specialist plant, and tight weather windows, the right insurance isn’t just “nice to have”; it’s a core part of project risk management.
This guide focuses on equipment insurance for subsea cable installation—what it typically covers, how it interacts with marine and construction policies, and the questions insurers will ask.
Equipment can include owned, hired-in, and contractor-supplied assets such as:
Cable lay and burial equipment (ploughs, jetting tools, trenchers)
ROVs and tooling (work-class ROVs, TMS, manipulators, skids)
Cable engines, tensioners, linear cable machines
Deck machinery (A-frames, winches, cranes, sheaves)
Survey and positioning kit (USBL, INS, multibeam, side-scan)
Spooling and storage systems (carousels, turntables)
Power and control systems (umbilicals, HPU, control vans)
Temporary works and project-specific tooling
From an insurance perspective, the challenge is that equipment may be:
In transit internationally
On deck exposed to sea spray and heavy weather
Submerged and vulnerable to pressure, snagging, and impact
Operated by third parties under complex contract terms
Equipment losses in subsea cable installation can sit across multiple policies. The key is to avoid gaps and double assumptions.
Often the backbone for owned plant and tools. It can cover accidental physical loss or damage to plant used in the business.
Typical cover features:
Worldwide or UK/EU territorial limits
Cover at site, in storage, and sometimes in transit
Options for hired-in plant and tools
Common pitfalls:
Standard CPE may not automatically cover offshore/subsea operations
“Wet risks” (submerged equipment) can be excluded unless specifically endorsed
This covers the installation vessel (or vessels) for physical damage and sometimes associated liabilities. It generally does not cover your project equipment unless it forms part of the vessel’s insured machinery.
If you’re moving cable, joints, repeaters, or specialist tooling between ports and sites, cargo insurance is critical.
Key point: cargo policies can be extended to cover project equipment in transit, but you must be clear whether it’s insured as cargo, as plant, or both.
For subsea cable projects, the “works” section can cover the cable system being installed (materials and contract works). This is separate from equipment insurance, but incidents often involve both.
Example: a burial tool fails and damages the cable. The tool damage may be equipment insurance; the cable damage may be works insurance.
Equipment incidents frequently trigger third-party claims:
Damage to third-party property (other subsea assets, pipelines)
Pollution events (hydraulic leaks)
Injury to crew or offshore personnel
Liability doesn’t replace equipment cover, but it’s often where the “big” claims land.
Accidental damage (impact, collision, snagging)
Dropping or lifting incidents (subject to lifting endorsements)
Fire, theft (often limited offshore), vandalism
Storm and heavy weather damage (subject to conditions)
Transit risks (if included)
Wear and tear, gradual deterioration, corrosion
Mechanical/electrical breakdown (unless you buy breakdown cover)
Defective design or faulty workmanship (may be excluded or limited)
Consequential loss (loss of hire, delay penalties) unless separately insured
Unexplained disappearance
Dishonesty by employees/contractors
Subsea/wet risks unless specifically covered
If your operations include ROVs, trenchers, or burial tools operating underwater, get the wording confirmed in writing—don’t assume.
This is the big one. Many standard plant policies are designed for onshore construction. Subsea exposure changes the risk profile.
Ask specifically:
Is equipment insured while submerged and in operation?
Are there depth limits?
Is there a requirement for class-approved lifting points or certification?
Losses often happen during lifts. Insurers may require:
LOLER compliance (for UK operations)
Lift plans and competent appointed persons
Third-party crane operator conditions
If you hire ROVs or trenchers, contracts may make you responsible “as if owner.” Ensure:
Hired-in plant cover includes offshore use
The policy covers the hire company’s terms (or you negotiate them)
Subsea projects are logistics-heavy. Confirm cover for:
Port storage and laydown yards
Customs delays and extended storage
Packing standards and survey requirements
Some policies restrict cover during testing. For cable installation, “testing” may include:
OTDR testing
HV testing
System energisation
Ensure the policy definition matches your project stages.
Underwriters typically look at:
Total values at risk (ROV value, tooling, spares)
Loss history and incident controls
Water depth, seabed conditions, and route complexity
Vessel type and DP class
Contractor experience and competence
Maintenance regimes and certification
Contract terms (especially knock-for-knock)
Weather seasonality and project duration
If you can present a clear risk story—method statements, maintenance logs, lift plans, and contingency planning—you usually get better terms.
Offshore contracts often use knock-for-knock: each party bears its own property damage and personnel injury, regardless of fault.
That means:
You must insure your own equipment properly
You may not be able to recover losses from others even if they caused the incident
Insurers may refuse cover if you assume liabilities beyond what’s “usual.” Share key contract clauses with your broker early.
Equipment damage can cause delays. Standard equipment policies won’t pay LDs. If LD exposure is material, discuss:
Delay in start-up (DSU) / advanced loss of profits (ALOP)
Loss of hire (for vessels or chartered assets)
Claims succeed or fail on documentation and speed.
Make safe and prevent further loss
Notify insurers/broker as soon as possible
Preserve evidence (photos, ROV footage, logs)
Record timeline: weather, operations, decisions
Keep damaged parts for inspection where feasible
Was it wear and tear vs accidental damage?
Was equipment operated within manufacturer limits?
Were lifts performed under approved procedures?
Was the equipment properly declared and valued?
Have a standard pack ready:
Asset register with serial numbers and values
Maintenance and inspection records
Lift plans and competence records
Incident report template
Contact list for insurers, surveyors, and adjusters
Insurers love controls that prevent repeatable losses:
Pre-mobilisation inspections and acceptance testing
Spares strategy for critical tooling
Clear deck management and lifting zones
DP assurance and redundancy planning
Route surveys and boulder clearance where needed
Tooling risk assessments for snagging and overpull
Data logging and real-time monitoring
Even simple measures—like formalising maintenance intervals and documenting competence—can move the needle.
Use this as a pre-renewal or pre-project checklist:
List all equipment values (owned and hired) and where it will be (transit, port, offshore)
Confirm wet risks/subsea operation is covered (depth limits, conditions)
Confirm lifting/lowering cover and any certification requirements
Confirm hired-in plant responsibility and contractual terms
Confirm transit and storage cover (including port risks)
Align “works” insurance vs “equipment” insurance to avoid gaps
Check deductibles and whether they apply per item/per event
Confirm territorial limits and sanctions clauses for routes/ports
Confirm claims notification timeframes and survey requirements
Not always. Many standard policies are designed for onshore plant. If your equipment is submerged or used offshore, you typically need specific endorsements.
Usually no. The cable is typically insured under a works policy (CAR/EAR) or project cargo, depending on stage and contract structure.
Often yes. ROVs can be insured under specialist marine equipment wordings. Underwriters will want details on depth rating, maintenance, pilots, and loss history.
Not under standard equipment cover. You’d need specialist delay/loss of hire solutions, and they depend heavily on contract terms.
Classification of the cause: accidental damage vs wear and tear or mechanical breakdown. Documentation and maintenance records are critical.
Subsea cable installation is unforgiving: harsh environments, complex interfaces, and high-value assets. The best equipment insurance programmes are built around the reality of offshore operations—subsea exposure, lifting risk, transit logistics, and contract structures like knock-for-knock.
If you want, share your typical project profile (UK-only vs international, depth range, main equipment list, owned vs hired split), and I’ll outline a tighter “insurance schedule” you can hand to a broker/underwriter.
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