Clearwater Underwriting provides specialist Hull and ancillary marine insurance solutions for maritime assets operating in an increasingly complex global risk environment.

Our approach combines disciplined technical underwriting with a practical understanding of vessel operations and the realities of modern shipping. By carefully analysing vessel characteristics, operational profiles, trading patterns, and geopolitical exposure, we structure insurance solutions that reflect the true risk faced by owners and operators.

We provide dependable underwriting capacity supported by strong governance and market discipline. Each risk is assessed with careful judgement and a focus on long-term portfolio integrity, ensuring consistency and reliability for brokers and their clients.

Our underwriting process is enhanced by access to maritime intelligence, vessel tracking data, and operational insight.

Marine Hull and Associated Risk

Integrating these sources allows our teams to develop a deeper understanding of vessel behaviour, trading exposure, and evolving risk conditions enabling more informed underwriting decisions .

We believe effective marine underwriting requires more than technical analysis alone. It requires close collaboration with policyholders and brokers, clear communication, and the ability to respond decisively when opportunities arise. Our teams work closely with distribution partners to deliver tailored solutions and efficient execution across both traditional hull risks and more complex ancillary exposures.

By combining specialist marine expertise, intelligence-led underwriting, and technology-enabled execution, Clearwater Underwriting offers policyholders and brokers a trusted partner capable of supporting maritime clients across a wide range of operational environments.

Insured Products

  • Hull & Machinery

    Comprehensive physical damage coverage available on the full range of market wordings as well as bespoke solutions.

  • Increased Value

    Insurance to cover the additional costs of a replacement vessel in the event of a total loss.

  • TLO (Total Loss Only)

    Reinsurance on a TLO basis and other bespoke reinsurance offerings available.

  • Port Risks

    Physical damage and liability coverage available for laid up vessels including laid up under repair.

  • Builders Risks

    Bespoke coverage for shipbuilding and conversion projects.

  • Mortgagees Interest

    Protecting lenders financial interest in vessels against non-payment under original policies.

  • Voyage & Tow

    Specialised voyage and tow insurance for repositioning voyages, dead ship tows and final voyage, ship-recycling projects.

  • Loss of Hire

    Indemnity for shipowners for lost earnings as a result of their vessel being out of use whilst under repair following loss or damage to the vessel.

  • Miscellaneous

    Please get in touch with enquiries for deductible buyback, excess H&M, General Average Disbursements, Salvor’s Lien, Captive reinsurance solutions and other misc coverages.

What Makes Us Different?

  • Vessel - Level Risk Insight

    Detailed vessel analysis informs our underwriting, delivering deeper operational risk insight on every quote.

  • Decisive Underwriting

    Decisive underwriting across marine classes, providing brokers with clear decisions and dependable turnaround from a team with approximately 100 years of combined experience.

  • Beyond the Policy

    More than insurance cover, we provide end-to-end support before and after policy binding, with flexible levels of engagement tailored to client needs.

Meet the Team

  • Chief Underwriting Officer
    richard@cw-uw.com

    Richard brings over 30 years of insurance experience, including 27 years within the Lloyd’s of London market. Most recently, he served as Head of Hull & War at Beazley, where he was responsible for strategic underwriting direction, portfolio performance, and broker relationship management within a highly specialised global class of business.

    Although marine remains his core discipline and professional passion, Richard has developed broad underwriting expertise across multiple lines, including Marine Hull & War, Marine Excess of Loss, Cargo, General Aviation, Offshore Energy, and Terrorism & Political Violence. His cross-class experience provides him with a comprehensive understanding of interconnected global risk exposures and portfolio diversification strategies.

  • Head of Hull
    richard.bridges@cw-uw.com

    Richard began his London Market career in 1987 and has been actively underwriting since 1991. Over more than three decades, he has built extensive experience across Marine Hull & War, Cargo, Marine Energy, and Marine Liability classes.

    He has over 13 years’ experience as a Class Underwriter at Lloyd’s of London, most recently serving as Head of Marine Hull & War at Travelers Syndicate 5000. In this capacity, he led underwriting strategy, portfolio management, and broker engagement within a complex global risk landscape.

    Richard has played an active role in market governance and technical development. He has served on the Joint Hull Committee and was Chairman of the JHC Navigating Limits Sub-Committee, contributing to the development and refinement of market wordings and underwriting frameworks. He is widely respected for his technical expertise, leadership, and longstanding contribution to the marine insurance market.

  • Underwriting Assistant
    alex@cw-uw.com

    Alex joined Clearwater UW as an Underwriting Assistant following completion of a BSc in Economics from the University of Nottingham.

    He brings strong analytical capability, numerical proficiency, and close attention to detail. At Clearwater, Alex supports underwriting operations through data analysis, documentation management, and broker coordination, contributing to efficient risk assessment and portfolio administration.

     He is committed to building a long-term career within the London Market and developing technical underwriting expertise within specialty marine and war risk classes.

  • Underwriter
    james@cw-uw.com

    James commenced his career in the London Market in 2013 as a Lloyd’s of London Apprentice, establishing a strong technical and professional foundation within one of the world’s leading insurance platforms. He subsequently joined Atrium Underwriters Ltd (Syndicate 609), where he spent 11 years developing deep expertise across Marine and Energy lines of business. During this time, he built a particular specialism in Marine Hull & Machinery, War, Ship Construction, and Subsea Cable risks, gaining comprehensive exposure to complex and high-value global portfolios.

    At Clearwater Underwriting, James serves as a Hull & War Underwriter and additionally holds the position of Head of Subsea Cables at InterProtect. In these roles, he is integral to the development and delivery of the Clearwater Marine proposition, while leading underwriting strategy for global submarine power and telecommunications cable risks. His ability to integrate Hull & War expertise with specialist subsea cable knowledge enables a cohesive and technically robust underwriting approach across interconnected risk classes.

    James is recognised for his disciplined underwriting philosophy, analytical rigour, and strong awareness of geopolitical dynamics and evolving market wordings. He has further strengthened his technical capability through close collaboration with leading cable risk engineers, warranty surveyors, loss adjusters, and maritime security advisers. This multidisciplinary engagement ensures the delivery of resilient, bespoke insurance solutions tailored to the complex risk profiles of his clients.

Get in touch

Contact us to discuss your clients’ Marine Hull and associated insurance requirements and our team will structure a tailored underwriting solution aligned with the vessel’s operations and risk profile.