Commercial Inland & Ocean Marine Insurance Expert

Ocean Marine Insurance

Ocean marine is among the earliest formalized insurance contracts dating to the late 1600’s. In London, England, sea merchants met at Edward Lloyds coffee house to spread one merchant’s risk of losing a ship among the group. Several merchants shared the risk to one merchant of losing a boat, each assuming a percentage of any potential loss. The merchants formalized these early insurance policies by writing their name under the percentage of loss each had assumed. Thus, we have the origin of the terms underwriter and Certain Underwriters at Lloyds London.

Ocean marine insurance address loss exposure in three main areas:

Hull insurance protects the value of the vessel, its equipment and related machinery. Hull coverage can be used to insure offshore oilrigs and boats operating in inland waters
Cargo insurance covers waterborne shipments and commonly covers shipments continuing on dry land.
Liability is known as Protection and Indemnity (P&I). It covers bodily injury and property damage to not only the public, but also the master and crew.

Mr. Daniel’s Ocean Marine experience includes placing coverage and claims experience with:

Off shore drilling rigs (including Business Income
Boat owners (Ocean and Inland waters, Yacht policies, including salvage)
Importers/Exporters (Open Cargo policies, including Business Income)
Marinas (Ocean and Inland)
International shipments of oil, machinery and bulk goods

Inland Marine Insurance

When British sea merchants wanted to insure goods leaving a sea vessel and moving to their final destination on land, “inland marine insurance” was the natural progression of coverage. Standard property policy forms are static and designed to cover primarily fixed location exposures. Inland marine policy forms are flexible by nature and used to cover a staggering array of Property exposures:

Builders Risk (including Business Income)
Contractor Installation Floaters
Contractor’s Equipment Floaters
Riggers Liability (Third-party liability)
Cargo (Owner or Bailee)
Equipment and inventory
Property in Transit (Ocean, surface or air shipments)
Property in Transit - Owner’s or Trucker’s Vehicle
Transportation Legal Liability (Motor carriers, Riggers and Movers)

Inland marine insurance analysis requires knowing when and where an insured is at risk or when they are no longer at risk for insured goods. As an agent, Mr. Daniel insured all of the above exposures for clients. As an insurance expert, he has been engaged in the various marine cases listed below.

We welcome your phone call to discuss Ocean and Inland Marine issues pertinent to your case.

View Marine Insurance Cases below

Inland and Ocean Marine Expert Witness Cases

Cases are listed only after we are disclosed as an Insurance Expert to opposing counsel.

May 2010 – Designated as an Ocean Marine Insurance Expert by counsel for policyholder. Engagement required analysis of seaworthiness and carrier Bad Faith claim handling after a lightning strike damaged a yacht. Attorney Chris Garcia, Mills Shirley, L.L.P. (409) 763-2341; Adams v. One Beacon Insurance, et al; Cause No. 09CV2262 in the 10th Judicial District Court, Galveston County, Texas.

December 2009 - Engaged by policyholder’s counsel to analyze claim issues following a cruise boat sinking. Case included issues of seaworthiness and Insurance Bad Faith in regards to settlement of a Commercial Ocean Marine claim. Attorney Jim Ross, Jim Ross & Associates, P.C. (817) 275-4100; Admiralty Inland Cruises v. Indemnity Insurance / ACE USA, et al; No.4-08CV-746-A United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division.

November 2006 - Retained by plaintiff as consulting Property Insurance Expert to analyze issues surrounding claim denial under an Inland Marine Builders Risk policy. Case issues included Additional Insured endorsements, policy exclusions, Agent Errors & Omissions, and carrier Bad Faith. Attorney Michael Kennedy - Casey Ciklin Lubitz Martens & O’Connell West Palm Beach, FL (561) 832-5900. Suffolk Construction v. Royal Indemnity Co., Brown & Brown, Inc., et al; Cause No. 502002CA012543, 15th Judicial District, Palm Beach County, Florida.

August 2006 - Engaged by defense counsel to analyze claims issues relative to coverage for Boiler & Machinery losses under a Lloyds Ocean Marine Builders Risk policy. Attorney Clif Hall - Westmoreland Hall, PC (713) 871-9000. Smith-Enron et al v. Underwriters at Lloyds, et al; Cause No. A-175389, Jefferson County Texas 58th Judicial District.

July 2006 - Retained by defense counsel to render opinions in answer to allegations of Insurance Agent Errors & Omissions and Insurance Bad Faith claims misconduct by wholesale broker at Lloyds London. Coverage issues involved Builders Risk coverage under Lloyds Ocean Marine Insurance coverage form. Attorney Ashley Parrish - Cantey & Hanger, LLP, (214) 978-4145, The Houston Exploration Company v. Tysers International Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers & At Lloyds, et al, Cause No. 2004-61582 in the 234th District Court, Harris County, Texas.

March 2005 - Engaged by plaintiff counsel to research coverage availability regarding bothInland Marine and Ocean Marine Insurance after extensive damage to machinery in transit. Parties included the machinery manufacturer, multiple cargo transfer agents and common carriers. Attorney Hugh Connor - Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP, (817) 332-2500. Anchor Fabrication L.L.P. vs. Southwest Freight, Inc., et al; Cause No. 236-204366-04; 236th Judicial District, Tarrant County, Texas

Return to Top

Home Curriculum Vitae Cases by Category Cases by Date Contact Us Expertise Overview Services

Burl Daniel, CPCU, CIC, CRM | 817.980.4897 | burl@burldaniel.com