Marine Parts Manufacturers: 2 Winter Insurance Updates

Winter weather poses unique challenges for marine parts and accessories manufacturers. In a market valued at over $8 billion, your clients need manufacturing parts and accessories insurance. It can be dangerous to run a business without it or to be underinsured.

Seasonal spikes in claims often go unnoticed without proactive planning, which is why you play a crucial role in helping marine manufacturers prepare before winter hazards escalate.

Understand Winter Risks Before Making Adjustments

So, what winter insurance gaps should agents watch for in marine parts and accessories manufacturing? To answer that question, learn where your clients are exposed.

Winter can create several predictable risks for marine parts and accessories manufacturers. Facilities face increased vulnerability to freeze-related property damage, pipe bursts, ice-related roof strain, and heating system failures. Cold-weather transportation delays can slow supply chains, impacting business income. Production ramps near year-end can strain equipment that is already operating in harsher-than-normal conditions.

By clearly framing these winter risks, agents can strengthen their advisory role — not just responding to claims after the fact, but preventing losses before they occur. In fact, understanding the exposures can set the stage for the two key seasonal insurance adjustments that address most cold-weather claims.

Manage Winter Risks With Two Key Adjustments

Most winter-related claims related to manufacturing parts and accessories insurance trace back to two areas: property/equipment valuations and accurate liability and employee coverage. Agents who review these ahead of winter can help their clients avoid costly setbacks.

1. Update Property and Equipment Schedules

Confirm that all tools, lifts, machinery, molds, fabrication equipment, storage systems, and temperature-sensitive materials are accurately valued and fully insured. Winter is a high-risk season for breakdowns and freeze-related damage, making outdated schedules a major red flag.

2. Verify Liability and Employee Coverage Accuracy

General liability, products and completed operations, maritime employers liability, USL&H, and workers’ compensation must reflect current staffing and operations. Many manufacturers hire temporary or seasonal employees before year-end, and failing to update these exposures can lead to gaps or disputes during a claim.

Winter Insurance Checklist for Agents

• Review and update equipment and property schedules
• Confirm coverage for seasonal or temporary employees
• Validate GL and products/completed operations coverage
• Ensure business income protection for weather-related shutdowns

Help your clients with these two adjustments, and you’ll likely address most winter claims and position yourself as a proactive risk manager.

Protect Property and Equipment During Winter

Depending on where your client is based, winter conditions can be harsh on essential manufacturing equipment. Frozen pipes can damage tooling, snow loads may impact roof structures, and cold interiors can impair sensitive machinery. Inadequate valuations, missing assets from schedules, or underinsured equipment are also common issues that surface during the first winter freeze.

A solid winter-specific property audit should mean that your client’s manufacturing parts and accessories insurance will reflect true exposure levels. It also should include business income coverage if production is forced offline.

Ensure Liability and Employee Coverage Accuracy

Property isn’t only at risk; people are, too. Slip-and-fall incidents rise in winter, especially in busy production areas and loading docks. Agents should confirm that all employee-related coverages accurately reflect staffing levels and any travel associated with year-end shipments or field work.

Liability policies, including GL and products and completed operations, should be reviewed so that they account for any winter-specific operational changes or increased shipment volumes.

Partner Up for Winter Risk Protection

Merrimac Marine provides specialized guidance and access to carriers that understand the complex risks facing marine parts and accessories manufacturers. Agents who partner with Merrimac can deliver stronger winter protection and better policy alignment.

Contact Merrimac Marine for help reviewing your clients’ policies before winter disruptions occur.

About Merrimac Marine Insurance

At Merrimac Marine, we are dedicated to providing insurance for the marine industry to protect your clients’ business and assets. For more information about our products and programs, contact our specialists today at (800) 681-1998.