Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance vs Marsh Mclennan Agency: Cargo and Transit Insurance

What Are the Key Differences Between Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Marsh McLennan Agency Cargo and Transit Insurance?

Published numbers versus an adviser conversation

BHSI's Ocean Marine Cargo guide states up to $25 million maximum line, a $15,000 minimum premium and worldwide coverage [3]. Marsh McLennan Agency's page sets no universal limit or retention and invites you to speak with an adviser [7]. A small shipper can test BHSI's minimum premium against its budget before calling; with Marsh McLennan Agency that figure only appears in a proposal.

Ocean focus versus domestic modes

BHSI lists stock throughput, domestic transit, excess stock and contingent cargo alongside ocean transit [3], and excludes pharmaceuticals, project cargo, autos and livestock from appetite [3]. Marsh McLennan Agency lists stock throughput, inland transit, motor-truck cargo and ocean marine [7]; its page names no excluded classes.

What Should You Confirm in Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance and Marsh McLennan Agency Cargo and Transit Insurance Quotes?

If you move pharmaceuticals or vehicles, ask Marsh McLennan Agency which markets accept them, since BHSI lists those out of appetite.
Ask each for the form, retention and conditions in writing [7].

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 ↗

Marsh McLennan Agency

role: Marsh McLennan Agency describes arranging cargo transit for the audience stated on the cited product page. cargo transit marketed by marsh-mclennan-agency; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement.company-reportedSource ↗
eligibility: Businesses storing or transporting goods; source discusses domestic and international supply chains. cargo transit marketed by marsh-mclennan-agency; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement.company-reportedSource ↗
coverage: The cited product page describes cargo stock-throughput, inland transit, motor-truck cargo, and ocean marine options for goods in storage or transit. Marketing description only; actual coverage, exclusions, conditions, limits, and availability depend on the issued policy and jurisdiction. cargo transit marketed by marsh-mclennan-agency; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement.company-reportedSource ↗
application: The page invites organizations to contact a Marsh McLennan Agency adviser or specialist to discuss placement. The page does not establish a quote, bind, or coverage-effective timeline. cargo transit marketed by marsh-mclennan-agency; scope is limited to the cited official product overview and described audience. This is not a policy form or a universal eligibility statement.company-reportedSource ↗
limits: The cited overview does not set a universal limit or retention for this line. Ask for the proposed policy form, limits, retentions, exclusions, and conditions in the quote. Only the cited marketing page was reviewed for published limit and retention information; no policy-form entitlement is inferred.not-disclosedSource ↗

BHSI's ocean cargo guide states a maximum line, minimum premium and out-of-appetite classes, while Marsh McLennan Agency's page lists inland transit and motor-truck cargo options without limits.

Source material

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
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
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
04
Commercial Insurance Guide
California Department of Insurance · Commercial Property; Inland Marine; What Should I Expect from a Broker-Agent · accessed 2026-09-16
05
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
06
Special Documents
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce · Insurance Certificate bullet · accessed 2026-09-16
07
Cargo Insurance | MMA
Marsh McLennan Agency · Cargo insurance coverage; cargo stock throughput, inland transit, motor truck cargo, and ocean marine sections. · accessed 2026-09-30