5 March 2026

Mobile trades on site: Insurance checks for marinas

A man smiles, wearing a white collared shirt and a white sleeveless vest with the logo
By Malcolm Stewart Head of HKJ Commercial
Illustration of a person in an orange vest near a boat and an orange van labeled

Mobile trades keep marinas moving - but only with the right safeguards

The white van is the backbone of Britain, enabling millions of trades to go about their businesses. The story is no different when the spotlight is on the marine industry, with hundreds of marine trades working across the sector from the back of a van. From mobile marine engineers and electricians to painters and carpenters, they provide valuable services to boaters wherever they are located. With the number of boats berthed and stored in marinas, mobile marine trades can seem like a permanent fixture on site.

With overall responsibility and a duty of care for everyone and everything in the marina, it falls to marina management to ensure that mobile trades operate safely and responsibly. Confirming that the appropriate insurance cover is in place is a key starting point. There are many risks involved, with the potential to disrupt operations, put customers’ craft at risk, and create costly claims for the marina if not carefully managed.

From the perspective of the marina, the most important cover area is liability. Public liability insurance protects against claims made by third parties for injury or property damage caused by a trader’s actions. Someone tripping over an extension cable and hurting themselves, or a misplaced tool falling from a cabin top and damaging a neighbouring boat are the type of claim it protects against.

Illustration of a person standing beside an orange van labeled

Motor insurance for the van is a legal requirement, but always worth making sure it is in place in case of any mishaps within the marina grounds. Policies should allow for business use and visiting multiple sites. Third party insurance provides protection for others, whilst a comprehensive policy is more rounded for all parties.

Other insurance elements aren’t essential from a marina’s point of view, but show careful consideration and a well-run business.

They include professional indemnity insurance which protects against claims of negligence. Whether it’s advice or designs which are called into question, ensuring cover is in place to protect against a claim demonstrates a standard of care in a traders work and acts as a safety net for your marina clients.

Business assets are next on the list with goods, tools and equipment carried certainly worth a trader considering. Losing specialist tools can halt a business overnight so being able to replace essential kit quickly, keeping downtime to a minimum provides continuity for those providing services to your clients. For mobile trades transporting goods, spares or customer property, then goods in transit cover is worth them considering. Many mobile tradespeople in the marine industry carry expensive electrical components, paint systems and machinery that would be difficult and costly to replace at short notice. Marinas are often relatively safe and secure locations, but criminals use increasingly innovative techniques to carry out their crimes and are therefore not immune. Protection against such risks is always worth considering.

Illustration of a person in a bright orange outfit standing on cracked ground with hands placed on the head.

Every mobile business is different which is why specialist commercial marine insurance tailored to a trader’s unique needs is so valuable. It may be that your service providers also need employee liability insurance, cyber insurance or something else to balance their business risks. Working with a specialist broker, like ourselves at HKJ Commercial, who understands the realities of working afloat, ashore and everywhere in between, will give the mobile trades operating in your marina the confidence to focus on their day-to-day activity. It also provides yourself as the marina manager, peace of mind that any issues arising from their operations are fully insured.

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