Vessels
Superyacht hull and liability programmes
| Cover | What it addresses |
|---|---|
| Hull and machinery | Physical loss or damage to the vessel and its systems |
| Protection and indemnity style liability | Third-party liability, crew injury, pollution |
| Crew employment cover | Employer obligations to professional crew |
| Wreck removal | Potentially the largest single exposure, often addressed separately |
| War and piracy | Where the itinerary calls for it |
Crew employment considerations
Once professional crew are employed, the vessel carries employer obligations — injury, repatriation, contractual entitlements — that a pleasure craft policy does not contemplate. This is usually the clearest signal that the vessel has outgrown recreational cover.
Wreck removal and salvage limits
On a large vessel, wreck removal and environmental remediation can substantially exceed the hull value, particularly in a sensitive marine environment or a remote part of the Australian coast. Ask specifically whether the limit sits inside the sum insured, above it, or within the liability section.
Specialist placement and surveys
- Placed by a specialist broker, often across several underwriters
- A current, detailed condition survey is effectively mandatory
- Survey recommendations become conditions with deadlines
- Management arrangements and ISM-style procedures may be examined
- Cruising areas are written to the intended itinerary, not a standard zone
Prepare your quote properly
Insurers price what they can verify. Work through the vessel-details checklist before you request quotes, so every quote you get is built on the same facts.
Frequently asked questions
At what size does a yacht need superyacht insurance?
There is no fixed threshold, but around 24 metres, or once professional crew are employed, placement generally moves into specialist markets rather than pleasure craft products.
Is wreck removal covered above the sum insured?
It varies, and it is the question most worth asking. On a large vessel wreck removal can exceed hull value, so whether it sits inside or above the sum insured materially changes your exposure.
Related guides
- High-Value Yacht Insurance Australia: Over $1 Million
- Salvage and Wreck Removal Insurance
- Motor Yacht Insurance Australia
- Commercial Charter Boat Insurance Australia
- Yacht Insurance Broker Australia
- Boat Liability Insurance Australia
- Boat Insurance by Vessel Type