Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Chubb: Cargo and Transit Insurance

Chubb underwrites worldwide ocean cargo directly and puts nearly 400 risk engineers behind it; Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance's guide states up to a $25 million maximum line, subject to risk profile, with a $15,000 minimum premium.

Embarcadero Risk brings together source-based comparisons for businesses moving people and goods.Research updated 2026-10-01

What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Chubb Cargo and Transit Insurance?

Transit scope

Chubb lists international ocean and air transit, domestic U.S. and Canadian transit, and foreign inland movement. BHSI’s U.S. guide marked US-12/22-A lists ocean/international and domestic transit, stock throughput and excess stock. Compare the same routes and modes; confirm the dated guide’s current availability in a proposal. [5] [3]

Target customer profiles

Chubb names exporters, importers, manufacturers, logistics companies and businesses shipping unusual products. BHSI’s current U.S. Marine catalog names importers/exporters, freight/logistics operators and manufacturers. These are company-described target customers, not underwriting acceptance rules; confirm the commodity and named insured with each market. [5] [2]

What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Chubb Cargo and Transit Insurance Quotes?

  • Which transit modes, countries and storage locations appear in Chubb’s proposed schedule? [5]
  • Does BHSI’s current form support the same routes, commodities and target customer? [3]

Chubb lists international ocean/air and domestic U.S./Canada transit; BHSI’s U.S. cargo guide marked US-12/22-A lists ocean/international and domestic transit, stock throughput and excess stock. Chubb names importers, exporters, manufacturers and logistics companies; BHSI’s current Marine catalog names import/export, freight/logistics and manufacturing customers. Confirm the dated guide’s current availability and the issued terms.

Source material

  1. 01
    Motor Truck Cargo Legal Liability Coverage

    American Association of Insurance Services, Inc.; hosted by National Unity · Coverage and Property Covered pp.1–2; Perils Excluded pp.6–7; Valuation p.8; How Much We Pay p.9; Transit definition p.13 · accessed 2026-09-16

  2. 02
    Marine

    Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance · Inland and ocean marine product list, covered property classes and target businesses; lines 18-69 · accessed 2026-09-28

  3. 03
    Ocean Marine Cargo Overview

    Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance · Two-page U.S. marketing PDF marked US-12/22-A; product types lines 14-20; ocean marine cargo appetite, capacity and placement lines 43-57; out-of-appetite and target risk characteristics lines 58-72; terms disclaimer lines 103-114 · accessed 2026-09-28

  4. 04
    Commercial Insurance Guide

    California Department of Insurance · Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent · accessed 2026-09-16

  5. 05
    Worldwide Ocean Cargo Insurance

    Chubb · Coverage Details list: international steamer and air transit, domestic transit, foreign inland transit, warehousing, barge, war/strikes/riots; Who we serve; agent submission FAQ · accessed 2026-09-23

  6. 06
    Shipping Options

    International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce · Export Shipping Basics; Tips on International Shipping from U.S.; Working with Freight Forwarders · accessed 2026-09-16

  7. 07
    Special Documents

    International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce · Insurance Certificate bullet · accessed 2026-09-16

Coverage topics

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance

  • coverage: BHSI's marine program lists ocean cargo, project cargo and stock-throughput coverage. BHSI U.S. Ocean Marine catalog; not inland transit or proof of the policy territory. Material limitation: Policy territory and transit definitions must be checked; catalog does not itself establish global scope.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: The marine catalog names importers/exporters, freight/logistics operators and manufacturers among its target customers. BHSI U.S. Ocean Marine target-account list only; not Inland Marine eligibility. Material limitation: Target customer examples do not define every acceptable cargo or shipment.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: BHSI’s marine catalog distinguishes ocean marine and inland marine, and separately lists stock-throughput as an option. US BHSI catalog. Material limitation: Confirm how Spot's shared cargo-transit key maps to these distinctions before coding coverage.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: BHSI’s Ocean Marine Cargo overview lists stock throughput, ocean/international transit, domestic transit, excess stock, logistics, and contingent cargo coverage as coverage types available. BHSI U.S. Ocean Marine Cargo marketing overview marked US-12/22-A; the current marine catalog independently lists Ocean Cargo and Stock Throughputs under Ocean Marine. Material limitation: Not all types are necessarily combined or available for every insured. Domestic transit wording is not a basis to merge this line with the separately listed Inland Marine catalog. Verify current forms, exclusions, territory and issuer.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The BHSI Ocean Marine Cargo guide states up to $25 million maximum line, subject to risk profile, a $15,000 minimum premium, worldwide coverage, and primary or excess positions. U.S. Ocean Marine Cargo/STP marketing guide marked US-12/22-A; $25 million capacity expressly depends on risk profile. Material limitation: The document is dated 2022-12 and says multinational policy ability would follow in 2025; do not treat its worldwide wording or current availability as confirmed. Capacity is not an insured limit, and minimum premium is not a quote. Reconfirm current appetite and issuer.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: The Ocean Marine Cargo guide describes target risks including manufacturers/distributors of finished goods, machinery and equipment, food and beverage, bulk liquids, containerized goods, and stock with balanced exposure; it lists pharmaceuticals, project cargo, autos, DOL, and livestock as out of appetite. BHSI Ocean Marine Cargo/STP appetite in U.S. marketing material marked US-12/22-A. Material limitation: This is historical appetite guidance, not a policy exclusion list or current acceptance commitment. The current BHSI Marine catalog separately lists Project Cargo as an Ocean Marine product while this 2022 guide lists it out of appetite; current product-specific meaning and appetite must be reconciled with underwriting. It does not establish Inland Marine eligibility.company-reportedSource ↗

Chubb

  • role: Chubb underwrites worldwide ocean cargo insurance directly, covering goods shipped internationally as well as transit within a country and at storage locations. Worldwide Ocean Cargo Insurance product page.company-reportedSource ↗
  • eligibility: Chubb says it serves exporters, importers, manufacturers, logistics companies, and businesses that ship unusual or distinctive products. Who we serve section.company-reportedSource ↗
  • coverage: Chubb lists coverage for international ocean and air transit, domestic transit within the U.S. and Canada, foreign inland transit including local admitted policies, domestic and foreign warehousing, barge and connecting-conveyance movement, and war, strikes, riots and civil commotion risks. Coverage Details list; subject to the policy as issued.company-reportedSource ↗
  • limits: The reviewed page does not publish specific coverage limits or deductibles for ocean cargo insurance. Worldwide Ocean Cargo Insurance product page as read on 2026-09-23.not-foundSource ↗
  • services: Chubb says its in-house network of nearly 400 risk engineers globally helps companies anticipate and minimize cargo-related exposures, and it operates a Risk Engineering Center for loss-prevention education. Chubb Risk Consulting Services and Risk Engineering Center sections.company-reportedSource ↗
  • application: For new ocean cargo business, agents submit a Chubb application to the local mailbox where they submit other Chubb business. FAQ section: "How do agents submit an Ocean Cargo quote?"company-reportedSource ↗

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