Marine Risks Are Specific.
Your Cover Should Be Too.
Marine
specialists
Direct access to marine underwriters
GIBA licensed, Steadfast backed
Get specialist marine broking that closes the gaps general cover leaves behind, so a bad day on the water doesn’t become a bad year.
One Specialist. A Complete Marine Risk Solution.
GIBA Marine — Your specialist marine insurance partner.
Marine Risks Are Different. Your Insurance Should Be Too.
Specialist marine insurance for businesses that operate on, around and over the water.
GIBA Marine specialises in insurance for vessels, marine trades, commercial operators and marine cargo.
We understand the risks that come with the marine industry — and the gaps that can exist when standard business insurance is relied upon for marine exposures.
Our specialist marine broking approach connects you with insurers and underwriters who understand the marine industry, providing tailored solutions for Hull & Machinery, Protection & Indemnity, Marine Liability, Marine Trades, Cargo and Transit.
Specialist advice. Marine expertise. Insurance designed around your business.
GIBA Marine — Your specialist marine insurance partner.
How We Help
We Assess Risk
We find what you’re exposed to, including the gaps you didn’t know were there. No guesswork, no assumptions.
We Negotiate Cover
We go straight to marine underwriters and push on wording, not just price. You get cover that actually fits.
We Process Claims
One call to us is all it takes. We liaise with the insurer, assessor and relevant parties, manage the process and keep you updated from start to finish.
We Manage Renewals
We start early and test the market properly. Your cover keeps pace with the business instead of rolling over unchecked.
What We Cover.
Industry-Specific Expertise.
Commercial Marine
Cover for vessels that earn their keep, from single owner-operators to working fleets.
- Commercial vessels, hull and machinery
- Commercial fishing vessels and fleets
- Charter and tourism vessels
- Workboats and tenders
- Vessel builder's risk
- Commercial diving operations
- Protection and indemnity
Cargo and Transit
Cover for goods in transit by sea, air, road and rail, domestically and internationally, plus the stock sitting still at either end.
- Marine cargo, single transit and annual policies
- Stock throughput, covering goods in transit and in storage under one policy
- Import and export shipments
- Freight forwarding
- General average
- Warehouse to warehouse cover
Marine Trades and Liability
For the businesses that build, repair, berth and service other people’s boats, and the owners responsible for their own.
- Marine trades liability
- Marina and slipway operators' liability
- Boatyards, shipwrights and chandlers
- Public and products liability
- Professional indemnity
- Ship repairers' legal liability
- Faulty workmanship cover
- Shipowners' liability
- Marine tradesman
Pleasurecraft
Boats used for pleasure still carry real exposure, particularly offshore.
- Private pleasurecraft
- Blue water cruising
- Super yachts
- Private Moorings
- Racing risk
Who We Work With
If you build it, fix it, berth it, sell it or sail it, we can cover it. GIBA Marine works with sole traders through to large operators across the marine and marina industry.
Build, repair and maintenance
Boat builders, hull repairers, mechanics, painters, upholsterers, vessel cleaners and detailers
Trades and contractors
Marine electricians, gas fitters, plumbers, air-conditioning contractors, divers (inspections, cleaning and structural work)
Yards and handling
Boat yards, boat lifters, boat stackers, slipways and marinas
Sales, advice and training
Boat brokers, chandlery outlets, marine surveyors, skipper training and certification providers
Clubs and member facilities
Yacht clubs and rowing clubs, including their hospitality operations
On the water
Commercial fishing operators, charter and tourism vessels, commercial divers, freight forwarders and importers, private vessel owners
Not on the list? Marine risks rarely arrive in neat categories. Call us and we’ll tell you straight whether we can help.
Why GIBA Marine
A broker who knows the marine.
Marine placements turn on details that general brokers rarely see. We work with those terms every day, so nothing gets missed.
Direct underwriter relationships.
We take your risk straight to marine underwriters. That matters most when your operation doesn’t fit a standard box.
Steadfast scale behind the placement.
Part of Australasia’s largest broker network. That means a broader insurer panel, exclusive wordings and real weight at renewal.
Claims support that doesn't disappear.
Marine claims are slower and more technical than most. Ours are managed by a dedicated national claims team, not left with one busy broker.
Continuity of relationship.
You deal with the same people year after year. No re-explaining your fleet to a new broker every renewal.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from real people we've helped protect.
When Something Goes Wrong On The Water
Report the incident to us as soon as you can, even before you know the full extent of the damage. Early notification protects your position with the insurer and lets us get a surveyor moving.
We’ll tell you what the insurer needs, arrange survey where it’s required, and manage the claim through to settlement. For vessel casualties, we’ll also help coordinate the practical side, including salvage and repairer arrangements.
Meet the GIBA Marine Team
- Thelma leads GIBA Marine with over 30 years in insurance, 16 of them in marine. She has worked with insurers and brokerages, and knows commercial fishing trawlers, marine operators and the businesses around them.
- Spencer Cornish has spent two years learning marine insurance broking, handling client enquiries, renewals and insurer negotiations. Focused on commercial fishing vessels and marine liability, he is known for his attention to detail and approachable service.
FAQs
What is Marine Transit Insurance?
Marine insurance covers vessels, marine businesses and cargo against loss, damage and liability. It splits broadly into hull and machinery (the vessel itself), marine liability (damage or injury you cause to others), and cargo or transit (goods being moved). GIBA Marine arranges all three.
What's the difference between marine hull and marine transit insurance?
Marine hull insurance covers the vessel and its machinery. Marine transit insurance covers goods while they’re being transported, whether by sea, air, road or rail. A freight forwarder usually needs transit cover; a charter operator usually needs hull and liability cover. Many businesses need both.
Do I need marine insurance if my boat is only used privately?
It isn’t compulsory in most Australian jurisdictions, but marinas, moorings and boat ramps often require proof of third-party liability cover before they’ll accept a vessel. Pleasurecraft policies also cover damage to your own boat, which is generally the larger financial exposure.
Will my vessel need a survey?
Most commercial vessels and older pleasurecraft need a current survey before an insurer will offer terms, and insurers will usually specify how recent it has to be. We’ll tell you what your insurer requires and can point you to marine surveyors.
Does public liability cover my marine trades business?
Standard public liability policies frequently exclude work on or around vessels, and they rarely cover damage to a customer’s boat while it’s in your care. Marine trades liability is written to handle that. It’s one of the most common gaps we see in marine businesses.
Does GIBA Marine cover international shipments?
Yes. Marine cargo and transit policies can be arranged for both domestic and international movements, including import and export shipments, on either a single-transit or annual basis.
Who does GIBA Marine work with?
GIBA Marine works with commercial fishers, charter and tourism operators, marine trades, marina and slipway operators, commercial divers, freight forwarders and private boat owners across Australia.
How do I make a marine claim?
Contact GIBA Marine as soon as the incident happens, even before the full extent of the loss is known. We’ll tell you what the insurer needs, arrange a surveyor where required, and manage the claim through to settlement.
Get Marine Cover That Holds Up
Whether you're insuring a single vessel, a working fleet or a yard full of other people's boats, we'll review what you have and tell you where it's exposed. No obligation.