Post-Summer Shipbuilding Trends & Their Insurance Implications for Marine Manufacturers

Marine manufacturers often face their heaviest production schedules in the months leading up to summer, when demand for new builds and vessel deliveries peaks. As summer winds down, operations shift to post-season maintenance, retrofits, and a busy calendar of fall and winter trade events that showcase new products and drive sales for the year ahead.

For insurance agents, this transition is a key moment to help clients reassess their exposures and ensure programs align with evolving risks in the $230 billion recreational boating industry. Marine manufacturers encounter unique challenges during this period, and specialized coverage helps protect assets, employees, and operations.

Key Post-Summer Trends in Shipbuilding

Several post-summer trends are relevant for insurance considerations:

• Increased repairs and retrofits: Vessels endure significant wear during summer, leading to higher demand for repair work and equipment replacement. These activities heighten the potential for ship repairers’ legal liability claims if damage occurs during servicing.
• Shift from new builds to modifications and product innovations: While large-scale projects may slow, custom work and specialty modifications rise, requiring coverage that extends to unique tools, lifts, and parts.

These shifts offer agents an opportunity to review client policies and identify gaps before incidents occur, ensuring coverage aligns with operational realities.

Workforce and Operational Changes

Staffing patterns may shift after the pre-summer production push and the intense summer boating season. Seasonal layoffs, turnover, or the onboarding of temporary workers can introduce training gaps and increase accident potential. For marine manufacturers, these workforce dynamics affect insurance exposures:

• Workers’ compensation and USL&H coverage: Ensures land-based and maritime employees are protected, particularly as turnover raises the risk of workplace injuries
• Jones Act/maritime employers liability: Critical when employees qualify as seamen under maritime law, as misclassification or inadequate coverage can lead to costly claims
• General liability: Helps address third-party injury or property damage exposures that may rise with less experienced staff in the mix

Agents should review these coverages in tandem with staffing changes to make sure policies reflect the actual workforce on the ground and at sea.

Additional Insurance Implications for Marine Manufacturers

Post-summer exposures go beyond simple property concerns. Agents should focus on specialized protections tailored to marine operations, including:

• Ship repairers’ legal liability: Covers damage to customer vessels while under the care, custody, or control of the manufacturer or repairer
• Products and completed operations liability: Protects against claims tied to faulty workmanship or defective parts once the vessel leaves the yard
• Inland marine coverage: Safeguards expensive tools, equipment, or vessels in transit or displayed at trade events
• Business income and equipment breakdown: Helps sustain operations if critical machinery fails or delays cause revenue loss.

These coverages address the real risks marine manufacturers face when demand shifts after summer.

Preparing Clients for the Next Season

Post-summer transitions reshape exposures for marine manufacturers in ways that demand proactive planning. Agents who monitor these shifts can help clients maintain resilience, protect assets, and remain competitive as operations adjust to the fall season and beyond.

Merrimac Marine specializes in developing tailored insurance solutions for the marine industry. With decades of underwriting expertise, our programs address the interconnected exposures of marine manufacturers — from protecting piers, docks, and facilities to managing pollution liability, commercial auto, and bumbershoot coverage.

By partnering with Merrimac, agents can differentiate themselves through access to robust marine-specific programs and risk-management strategies. Our team works alongside agents to evaluate client operations, identify gaps, and design comprehensive protection.

Work with Merrimac to deliver specialized coverage that evolves with your clients’ needs, ensuring long-term protection and stability in a changing market.

FAQ About Post-Summer Shipbuilding Trends

What types of claims increase for marine manufacturers after summer?

Ship repairers’ legal liability, equipment breakdown, and liability claims related to vessel retrofits may rise after summer.

Why is workforce turnover a concern for insurance coverage?

New or temporary staff can heighten accident and liability risks, making coverage adjustments necessary.

Do marine manufacturers need different coverage for custom retrofits?

Yes, unique modifications often require specialized property and liability protection to address the specific exposures.

How can agents help clients prepare for post-summer insurance needs?

Agents can review existing policies, identify coverage gaps, and align protections with operational and staffing changes.

About Merrimac Marine Insurance

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