Strong & Flexible Marine Insurance and Commercial Services

Lining Up Insurance & Assistance Services

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Preparation is important for managing a crisis at sea. Having to choose a qualified and respectable responder with the skill and virtue not to exploit your crisis might be a challenge. Furthermore, unexpected expenses of emergency marine services can get costly.

This article looks at two simple steps mariners can take to protect themselves from the hidden costs of managing a crisis at sea.

Step 1: Find A Service Provider(s) You Can Trust

Take the time to investigate the various insurance and assistance outfits providing services in your area. Visit the various tow boats and companies and interview the captains. When searching for a reliable provider, you should inquire about the following:

• experience
• policy
• equipment and capabilities
• vessels and capabilities
• advice for avoiding problems
• mechanical competencies
• costs for various services, such as towing, grounding, and salvage
• service area

Any trustworthy company will be more than happy to answer all these questions and more.

Step 2: Ensure You Have Marine Insurance

Having marine insurance can save you a considerable amount money and help take the edge off of a difficult situation. While there are various types of insurance available for boaters, the best route is to purchase vessel insurance from a reputable marine insurance firm.

To find out more about marine insurance or sign up for a policy visit Dolphin Insurance on the web.

Membership/Club Boating Services
Membership and boaters' club services such as Vessel Assist Association of America or C-Tow - often comparing themselves to auto-clubs (you can park your car at the side of the road and wait for a tow truck; at sea you can't) - are on-call towing and salvage services offered within a specified area and are a waste of money.

Membership services require a yearly fee and usually providers charge a per-call deductible. Auto-club style services are specifically for mishaps, and are limited to the capabilities and service area of the one company you're signed up with.

Standard Insurance
Most insurance companies provide towing and/or salvage coverage beyond their standard policy. If you don't have it - get it. It does not affect your premiums and usually has little or no deductible. Most insurance companies now include it in a standard policy or offer it as a "rider".

Purchasing insurance from an insurance provider has distinct advantages opposed to subscribing to a fee-based membership/club service:

• Your coverage is valid within a much larger area,
• you are not restricted to the services of one company; you can select from any qualified marine service company you choose,
• you are not left at the mercy of responder availability,
• and the cost is about the same as paying for a membership with a towing/assistance organization.

Time Well Spent...

Once you have insurance against the cost of assistance at sea and you have checked out the various service providers, you are well prepared to confront problems, should they arise. Now, in the event of an incident, you have avoided the stress of trying to make a decision at a stressful moments notice and you know that your passengers, yourself, and your boat are in good hands.