Supply chain disruption used to be seen as a “logistics problem”. Today it’s a balance-sheet problem—especially for businesses that rely on marine equipment and marine-adjacent assets such as:
Port and terminal operators
Marine contractors and dredging firms
Ship repair yards and boat builders
Offshore wind and marine engineering contractors
Importers/exporters moving high-value machinery
Plant hire firms supplying equipment to coastal projects
Fishing, aquaculture, and coastal utilities
When equipment is delayed, damaged, or stuck in transit, the knock-on effects can be immediate: missed project milestones, idle labour, liquidated damages, replacement hire costs, and reputational harm. Marine equipment insurance won’t “fix” the disruption, but it can fund recovery and keep cashflow moving.
“Marine equipment” can mean different things depending on the insurer and policy wording. In practice, it often includes:
Equipment used on or near water (cranes, winches, pumps, generators)
Dredging and marine construction plant
ROVs, sonar, survey equipment, and specialist electronics
Port handling equipment (where insured as plant rather than buildings)
Tools and mobile plant transported by sea or used dockside
Spares and components that are mission-critical
The key is how the equipment is used, where it’s used, and how it moves between sites. A policy designed for “inland plant” may not respond well when saltwater exposure, loading/unloading risks, or sea transit are involved.
Supply chain disruption rarely creates a single clean loss. It creates a chain reaction. A typical scenario might look like this:
A specialist pump or thruster is shipped to the UK for an offshore project.
The container is delayed at a transhipment port.
The project has a fixed mobilisation date.
You hire replacement equipment at short notice.
You pay standby costs for crew and subcontractors.
The client applies delay damages under contract.
Insurance can potentially respond to parts of this chain, but not all of it—and not always under one policy. That’s why structuring cover matters.
There isn’t one single “supply chain disruption” policy for marine equipment. Instead, protection usually comes from a combination of covers. The right mix depends on your operations.
If your disruption starts while equipment is being shipped, marine cargo insurance is often the first line of defence. It can cover physical loss or damage to the equipment while in transit by sea (and often road/rail as part of a multimodal journey).
Key points to check:
Institute Cargo Clauses (A/B/C) and what risks are included
Whether cover is “warehouse to warehouse”
Packing requirements and containerisation terms
Limits for high-value single items
Claims handling and survey requirements
Cargo insurance typically responds to physical loss/damage—not pure delay. But physical damage can be the trigger that causes delay, so it’s still central.
For equipment you own and use on projects, contractors’ plant insurance (sometimes adapted for marine plant) can cover:
Accidental damage
Theft
Fire
Transit between sites
Hired-in plant (if included)
For marine environments, you’ll want to confirm:
Saltwater exposure and corrosion wording
Use on barges, pontoons, and floating platforms
Loading/unloading risks
Operation in tidal zones and harsh weather
If the equipment is part of a build, installation, or commissioning project (for example, offshore wind components, marine civils, or port upgrades), an EAR/CAR policy may be the better “project wrapper”.
It can cover:
Contract works/material damage
Plant and equipment used on site (if included)
Third party liability (sometimes separate)
Some policies can be extended to include Delay in Start-Up (DSU) or Advanced Loss of Profits (ALOP), which is where supply chain disruption becomes more directly insurable.
BI is often misunderstood in marine equipment contexts. Standard BI usually requires:
Physical damage at your premises (or sometimes at a specified location)
A defined interruption period
If your disruption is caused by a delayed shipment, standard BI may not respond. However, depending on your set-up, you might explore:
Contingent BI (damage at suppliers/customers)
Denial of access (ports closed due to insured events)
Utilities interruption (where relevant)
BI is powerful when it applies, but it’s not a default solution for “delay”.
For specialist marine equipment with motors, electronics, and control systems, equipment breakdown (engineering) cover can help when the disruption is caused by internal failure rather than external damage.
It can cover:
Sudden and unforeseen breakdown
Repair/replacement costs
Sometimes additional costs to expedite repairs
Supply chain disruption can trigger contractual penalties, claims for consequential loss, or allegations of negligence.
Relevant covers include:
Public liability / products liability
Professional indemnity (if you design/specify equipment or provide engineering advice)
Marine liability (for marine contractors)
These policies won’t cover your own delay damages simply because a contract says you owe them—but they may respond if you’re legally liable due to negligence and the policy wording supports it.
To avoid nasty surprises, it helps to separate losses into categories.
Physical loss or damage to equipment in transit
Theft from secure storage or during transit (with conditions)
Accidental damage during loading/unloading
Damage caused by storms, heavy seas, impact, dropping, collision
Repair/replacement of owned equipment
Hire costs for temporary replacement (sometimes as an additional expense)
Expediting expenses (air freight, overtime) if endorsed
Pure delay with no physical damage trigger
Contractual penalties/liquidated damages (unless specifically insured)
Wear and tear, gradual corrosion, marine growth
Faulty workmanship/design (may be excluded but resultant damage may be covered)
Inadequate packing or improper securing
Known defects or pre-existing damage
War, strikes, and political risks unless bought back
The phrase “consequential loss” is a common sticking point. Many policies exclude it broadly, so you may need specific extensions if your contracts are unforgiving.
If supply chain disruption is a real concern, these are the types of enhancements worth discussing with a broker:
Expediting expenses / additional costs of working: to reduce downtime
Air freight / express shipment: higher costs to replace critical parts
Hired-in plant cover: if you’ll hire substitutes during disruption
Offshore/nearshore use endorsements: where standard plant cover is restrictive
Transit and loading/unloading extensions: especially for heavy lifts
Storage and lay-up cover: equipment stored awaiting mobilisation
DSU/ALOP (project policies): covers financial loss due to delay following insured damage
War and strikes buy-back (cargo): where routes or ports are exposed
Insurers price uncertainty. The more you can demonstrate control, the better the terms tend to be.
List the equipment that would stop operations if unavailable. For each item, note:
Replacement lead time
Single supplier vs multiple suppliers
Storage location
Transport method
Required certifications and testing
This helps you set realistic sums insured and decide where expediting cover is essential.
Many cargo and plant claims fail on “insufficient packing” or “inadequate securing”. For marine equipment:
Use professional packing standards and documented checklists
Photograph packing and container sealing
Use proper lifting points and engineered lift plans
Vet hauliers and freight forwarders for heavy/special loads
Theft during transit and at temporary storage sites is a major cause of disruption.
GPS tracking for high-value items
Secure compounds, alarms, and CCTV
Key control and access logs
Overnight parking rules for hauliers
Saltwater and humidity accelerate deterioration.
Planned maintenance schedules
Rinse-down and protective coatings
Proper lay-up procedures
Condition reports pre- and post-transit
Insurance and contracts should match.
Identify liquidated damages and caps
Check who bears risk in transit (Incoterms)
Confirm who insures what and when
Ensure your policy limits align with worst-case exposures
A quick contract and insurance alignment review can prevent disputes after a disruption.
Speed matters. A delayed claim is a longer disruption.
Mitigate immediately: hire temporary equipment, secure the site, prevent further damage.
Notify insurers early: even if you’re unsure the claim will proceed.
Document everything: photos, timelines, emails, delivery notes, condition reports.
Keep costs reasonable: insurers expect proportional mitigation.
Use approved repairers/surveyors: where required by policy.
For cargo claims, surveys and evidence of packing/condition are often decisive.
Usually not on its own. Most policies require physical loss or damage as the trigger. However, project policies may offer DSU/ALOP, and some policies can include additional expenses to reduce downtime.
It can be, but often only if security conditions are met (secure compound, forced entry evidence, tracking, etc.). Always check the theft conditions and exclusions.
Cargo insurance protects the item while it’s being transported (often “warehouse to warehouse”). Plant insurance protects owned equipment while in use, stored, or moving between sites—depending on the wording.
Sometimes, via “hire charges” or “additional costs of working” extensions. It’s not automatic, so it’s worth arranging upfront.
Often yes. Offshore/nearshore work can fall outside standard plant wordings, and project policies may be more appropriate.
Typically no, unless specifically insured and under a suitable policy structure. Many policies exclude contractual penalties.
Use replacement cost, including freight, duties, testing, and commissioning. For high-value single items, ensure the policy limit and any single-item sub-limits are adequate.
Use this as a quick “sanity check” when reviewing cover:
Do we have cargo cover for imported/exported equipment?
Is cover “all risks” (ICC A) where appropriate?
Are loading/unloading and heavy lifts covered?
Does plant cover include marine/nearshore use and transit?
Do we have hired-in plant cover and loss of hire considerations?
Are expediting expenses included for critical parts?
Are theft conditions realistic for our operations?
Do our contracts align with our insurance (Incoterms, liabilities, penalties)?
Supply chain disruption is now a normal operating condition for many marine and coastal businesses. The goal isn’t to eliminate disruption entirely—it’s to reduce the financial shock when it happens.
The right marine equipment insurance structure can protect against the most common triggers: physical loss or damage in transit, theft, accidental damage during handling, and costly downtime while repairs or replacements are arranged. Pair that with strong packing, security, maintenance, and contract discipline, and you’ll be in a far stronger position when the next delay hits.
Need help reviewing your marine equipment and transit exposures? Speak to a specialist commercial insurance broker who can map your supply chain risks to the right mix of cargo, plant, project, and liability covers—so you’re not relying on assumptions when it matters most.
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