Inland & Ocean Marine
Specialty property coverage for goods in transit, scheduled equipment, builders risk, cargo, hull, and P&I exposures — governed by a mix of state regulation, federal admiralty law, and international maritime conventions.
Playbook Overview
- Category
- Property & Casualty
- Common Letter Types
- acknowledgmentreservation of rightsproof of losscoverage investigationpartial denialfull denialpaymentsubrogationstatusclosing
- High Complexity Jurisdictions
- californianew yorktexas
Marine claims correspondence reflects the line's hybrid regulatory posture: inland marine follows state DOI rules, while ocean marine is largely governed by federal admiralty law and international conventions (Hague-Visby, Himalaya, COGSA, York-Antwerp rules for general average).
Jurisdiction Comparison Matrix
Acknowledgment, accept/deny, and payment deadlines alongside the ocean marine ucpa-exempt rule for each state. Click a column header to sort; click a state to see full requirements.
50 of 50 states
| Alabama(AL) | 15 calendar days | 30 calendar days | 30 calendar days | NO (No explicit exemption from UCPA found, though exempt from general Insurance Contract chapter under Ala. Code § 27-14-2(3)) | High |
| Alaska(AK) | 10 business days | 15 business days | 30 business days | No | High |
| Arizona(AZ) | 10 business days | 15 business days | 30 calendar days | No | High |
| Arkansas(AR) | 15 business days | 15 business days | 10 business days | LIMITED (Exempt from commercial P&C minimum standards per Ark. Code Ann. § 23-79-303(a)(3), but not entirely from UCPA) | High |
| California(CA) | 15 calendar days | 40 calendar days | 30 calendar days | No | High |
| Colorado(CO) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 60 calendar days | 60 calendar days | No | Medium |
| Connecticut(CT) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 30 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | Medium |
| Delaware(DE) | 15 business days | 30 calendar days | 30 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | High |
| Florida(FL) | 7 calendar days | 60 calendar days | 60 calendar days | No | High |
| Georgia(GA) | 15 calendar days | 15 calendar days after receiving proof of loss, or 30 calendar days from notice of claim if no proof of loss is required; 60 calendar days absolute maximum (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 120-2-52-.03(3) & (5)) | 10 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found. (Ocean marine is explicitly exempt from the Georgia Insurers Insolvency Pool Act per O.C.G.A. § 33-36-3(2)(I), but no explicit exemption exists in the UCPA) | High |
| Hawaii(HI) | 15 business days | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 30 calendar days | No | Medium |
| Idaho(ID) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 30 calendar days | No | Medium |
| Illinois(IL) | 15 business days | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 30 calendar days | YES. 50 Ill. Adm. Code 919.20(a) expressly exempts ocean marine from the Part 919 claims settlement regulations; 215 ILCS 5/154 exempts marine or transportation insurance from state policy rescission limits. | Medium |
| Indiana(IN) | Promptly (no specific number) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Promptly (no specific number) | No | Medium |
| Iowa(IA) | 15 calendar days | C30 (extendable with notice within the 30-day period) | 30 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | High |
| Kansas(KS) | 10 business days | 15 business days | Promptly (no specific number) | NO (though forms/rates are exempt under K.A.R. 40-3-32 and K.S.A. § 40-955(a)) | High |
| Kentucky(KY) | 15 | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 30 calendar days | No | High |
| Louisiana(LA) | 14 calendar days | REASONABLE (written offer to settle within C30 after receipt of satisfactory proofs of loss) | C30 (C60 for catastrophic residential property claims) | NO (per Steptore v. Masco Construction Co., 643 So.2d 1213); however, exempt from LIGA (La. R.S. 22:2055(12)) | High |
| Maine(ME) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | C30 (for non-fire property claims after proof of loss is received); C60 (for fire policies after proof of loss is received and ascertainment of the loss is made) | Yes | Medium |
| Maryland(MD) | 15 business days | 15 business days | Promptly (no specific number) | No | High |
| Massachusetts(MA) | REASONABLE (Reasonably promptly per Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176D, § 3(9)(b)) | REASONABLE (Within a reasonable time after proof of loss per Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176D, § 3(9)(e); 15 days to notify intention to rebuild/repair per Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175, § 99) | C30 (Within 30 days after statement of loss or executed proof of loss per Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175, § 99) | No | Medium |
| Michigan(MI) | Promptly (no specific number) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 60 calendar days | No | Medium |
| Minnesota(MN) | 10 business days | B60 (after proof of loss) / B30 (after notification of claim, unless delayed and properly noticed) | B5 (from settlement agreement receipt or condition performance); C60 (after proof of loss and ascertainment under Standard Fire Policy) | YES (Exempt under Minn. Stat. § 72A.201, subd. 2(b)) | High |
| Mississippi(MS) | Promptly (no specific number) | REASONABLE (case law) | REASONABLE (case law) | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found (as no UCPA exists to grant an exemption from) | Medium |
| Missouri(MO) | 10 business days | 15 business days | Promptly (no specific number) | No | High |
| Montana(MT) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 30 calendar days to pay or discharge any duty, extendable to 60 calendar days with reasonable request for additional information; interest accrues after the 30/60 day period (Mont. Code Ann. § 33-18-232(1)). Must affirm or deny within a reasonable time (§ 33-18-201(5)). | C30 (extendable to C60 if additional information was requested) | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | High |
| Nebraska(NE) | 15 calendar days | 15 calendar days | 15 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | High |
| Nevada(NV) | 20 business days | 30 business days | 30 calendar days | No | High |
| New Hampshire(NH) | 10 business days | No strict deadline; must decide within 5 working days of receiving requested documentation or send a delay letter (N.H. Admin. Code Ins 1002.05(d)-(e)) | 5 business days | No | High |
| New Jersey(NJ) | 10 business days | 30 calendar days | 10 business days | YES (N.J.A.C. 11:2-17.2 explicitly exempts ocean marine policies) | High |
| New Mexico(NM) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Promptly (no specific number) | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | Medium |
| New York(NY) | 15 business days | 15 business days | 5 business days | Yes | High |
| North Carolina(NC) | 30 calendar days | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 60 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | Medium |
| North Dakota(ND) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Reasonable time (no specific number) | Promptly (no specific number) | NO (No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found exempting ocean marine from N.D. Cent. Code § 26.1-04-03. Note: Ocean marine is exempt from the state Guaranty Association under N.D. Cent. Code § 26.1-42.1-02(7)) | Medium |
| Ohio(OH) | 15 calendar days | 21 calendar days | 10 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | High |
| Oklahoma(OK) | 30 calendar days | 60 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | No explicit exemption from the UCPA was found in 36 O.S. § 1250.2 or § 1250.3; however, 36 O.S. § 710 exempts ocean marine and marine protection and indemnity risks from certain general insurance code provisions. Federal admiralty law generally preempts. | Medium |
| Oregon(OR) | 30 calendar days | 30 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | Yes | High |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | 10 business days | 15 business days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | No | High |
| Rhode Island(RI) | 15 calendar days | 21 calendar days | 30 calendar days | No | High |
| South Carolina(SC) | Promptly (no specific number) | Promptly (no specific number) | 90 calendar days | NO (Ocean marine is subject to the state's Improper Claim Practices Act per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-59-20; however, ocean marine is explicitly exempt from the state's Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association Act per S.C. Code Ann. § 38-31-30(8)) | Medium |
| South Dakota(SD) | C30 (SDCL § 58-33-67(1)); PROMPTLY (SDCL § 58-12-34(2)); C15 to provide forms (SDCL § 58-12-34(13)) | REASONABLE (SDCL § 58-12-34(7)) | PROMPTLY (SDCL § 58-12-34(4)) | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | Medium |
| Tennessee(TN) | 30 calendar days | 60 calendar days | 30 calendar days | No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found | Medium |
| Texas(TX) | C15 (B15 presumed reasonably prompt under 28 TAC § 21.203(2)) | B15 (extendable to C45 with notice) | 5 business days | YES (partially; exempt from Prompt Payment Subchapter B under § 542.053(a)(5)) | High |
| Utah(UT) | 15 calendar days | 30 calendar days | 30 calendar days | Yes | High |
| Vermont(VT) | 10 business days | 15 business days | B10 (C60 for fire insurance) | No | High |
| Virginia(VA) | 15 calendar days | C15 (extendable with notice) | Promptly (no specific number) | NO (No specific statutory or regulatory requirement found exempting ocean marine from the UCPA (Chapter 5). However, Va. Code Ann. § 38.2-300 explicitly exempts Ocean marine insurance other than private pleasure vessels from Chapter 3) | High |
| Washington(WA) | 10 business days | 15 business days | 15 business days | No | High |
| West Virginia(WV) | 15 business days | 10 business days | 15 business days | No | High |
| Wisconsin(WI) | 10 calendar days | Reasonable time (no specific number) | 30 calendar days | No | High |
| Wyoming(WY) | Promptly (no specific number) | 45 calendar days | 45 calendar days | YES (Exempt from Chapter 15 prompt payment and penalties under W.S. § 26-15-101(a)(iii), but subject to general UCPA Chapter 13 good faith standards) | Medium |
Inland & Ocean Marine Case Law
Recent and frequently cited inland & ocean marine decisions across the 50 states. State abbreviation appears after each case name — follow through to a jurisdiction page for the full list.
- Case Law
Great Lakes Insurance SE v. Raiders Retreat Realty Co., LLC (NY)
601 U.S. 65 (2024)
Status UpdatesInland / Ocean MarineThe U.S. Supreme Court held that choice-of-law provisions in maritime contracts (which frequently select New York law) are presumptively enforceable under federal maritime law.
- Status UpdatesGeneral LiabilityInland / Ocean Marine
the Fourth Appellate District reinforced that the failure to communicate dynamically during settlement negotiations is bad faith. In this case, the claimant made a short-fuse policy limits demand. The insurer failed to respond promptly to the arbitrary deadline and failed to communicate the specific terms required (such as a signed declaration from the insured) .
- Case Law
Pinto v. Farmers Insurance Exchange (CA)
61 Cal. App. 5th 676 (2021)
Bad FaithDuty to DefendAutoCommercial AutoCyberGeneral LiabilityInland / Ocean MarineProfessional LiabilityClarified the third-party failure-to-settle standard. Rejecting a strict liability approach, the court held that failing to accept a reasonable settlement demand within limits is not bad faith per se. The plaintiff must explicitly prove that the insurer's failure to settle was unreasonable under the circumstances .
- Case Law
Liang v. Progressive Cas. Ins. Co (NY)
172 A.D.3d 696 (2019)
Bad FaithInland / Ocean MarineStudicata / Justia / CaseMine, Pavia v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 82 N.Y.2d 445 (1993).
- Reservation of RightsCommercial AutoHomeownersInland / Ocean MarineProfessional Liability
the court ruled that the "mere possibility" of a conflict is insufficient; the conflict must be significant and actual, and the coverage issue must be capable of being controlled by the appointed defense counsel in the underlying litigation .
- Case Law
Zubillaga v. Allstate Indemnity Co (CA)
12 Cal. App. 5th 1017 (2017)
Bad FaithAutoInland / Ocean MarineHeld that an insurer cannot rely on the genuine dispute doctrine by citing an expert report that is outdated and fails to consider the insured's subsequent medical treatments. Binding (CA Court of Appeal) Good Law; limits the abuse of expert reliance.
Show 6 more cases
- Case Law
Allstate Ins. Co. v. Miller (NV)
212 P.3d 318 (2009)
Bad FaithStatus UpdatesCommercial PropertyInland / Ocean MarineWorkers' Comp. Prior to Miller, policyholders heavily relied on the Nevada Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act (NRS 686A.310) to penalize insurers for poor communication. The statute explicitly forbids "failing to acknowledge and act reasonably promptly upon communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies" .
- Case Law
McCoy v. Progressive West Ins. Co (CA)
171 Cal. App. 4th 785 (2009)
Bad FaithAutoInland / Ocean MarineAbsence of an Effective Settlement Demand (Third-Party): An insurer cannot be sued for failure to settle if the third-party plaintiff never made a reasonable, clear, and unconditional demand to settle within policy limits, or if the insurer was deprived of adequate time to investigate (Reid v. Mercury Ins. Co., 220 Cal. App. 4th 262 (2013); Graciano v. Mercury General Corp., 231 Cal. App.
- Case Law
St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Onvia, Inc (WA)
196 P.3d 664 (2008)
Bad FaithInland / Ocean MarineInternational Ultimate, Inc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 87 P.3d 774 (Wash. App. 2004)
- Case Law
Wilson v. 21st Century Ins. Co (CA)
42 Cal. 4th 713 (2007)
Bad FaithAutoCommercial PropertyCyberHomeownersInland / Ocean MarineProfessional LiabilityWorkers' CompClarified and limited the "genuine dispute doctrine." The court held that a dispute is not "genuine" (and thus cannot defeat a bad faith claim as a matter of law) unless the insurer's position is maintained in good faith and on reasonable grounds.
- Case Law
LA Sound USA, Inc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co (CA)
156 Cal.App.4th 1259 (2007)
Reservation of RightsInland / Ocean Marineon Buss reimbursement. URL: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1462636.html
- Case Law
Sloan v. State Farm (NM)
85 P.3d 230 (2004)
Bad FaithAutoInland / Ocean MarineBy "dishonest judgment," New Mexico courts mean that the insurer failed to honestly and fairly balance its own financial interests against the interests of its insured. A Stowers-type doctrine exists in New Mexico: an insurer has a good-faith duty to minimize its insured's liability .
Historical court cases are for reference only and may be superseded, distinguished, or abrogated.
Applicable Letter Templates
- FNOL / Intakeacknowledgment
- FNOL / Intakeacknowledgment
- Coverage Investigationstatus
- Denial / Closurefull denial
- Denial / Closurepartial denial
- Payment & Settlementpayment
- Coverage Investigationcoverage investigation
- Coverage Investigationreservation of rights
