Ocean Underwriting has launched a Complex Risks Liability (CRL) facility for Australian brokers placing higher‑hazard and non-standard liability risks, reflecting continued demand for capacity and tailored terms in the complex risks segment.
The CRL facility is structured for complex or hard‑to‑place liability risks where exposures fall outside typical public and products liability appetites. These include higher‑hazard operations, niche activities, and businesses whose risk profiles are not readily accommodated by standard liability wordings. The facility provides capacity of up to $20 million for any one occurrence, with higher limits available by request. Capacity is supported by A+ rated Lloyd’s security and is aimed at risks with annual revenues of up to $100 million. Deductibles can be structured in different ways, depending on the characteristics of the account. Cover is available for public and products liability, with options to add errors and omissions and contractual liability extensions. The facility also offers specific extensions, including Queensland electricians liability, a driving extension, and drone use coverage, addressing operational features that may not be fully captured in more generic wordings.
The CRL appetite spans a range of occupations that have often presented placement challenges in the Australian liability market. Target sectors include agricultural contractors (excluding aerial spraying), asphalt surfacing, concrete batching and blending plants, concrete tilt‑slab construction, demolition contractors, drain construction and repair, and land‑based and exploratory drilling. Additional trades within scope include harvesting contractors, handyman and property maintenance, height safety system installation, pest control services, playground equipment installation, plumbers, rigging contractors, steel fixing contractors, sign erection and installation, traffic control and equipment hire, and waterproofing contractors.
The CRL product is managed by Ocean Underwriting’s head of liability, James Tuitavuki, who has more than 24 years of underwriting and product management experience and has been with the business since its establishment in 2023. “We’re excited to bring a dedicated complex risks facility to market. Many brokers see risks that fall outside standard appetites, and the CRL product allows us to work closely with them to find solutions for clients with more challenging insurance needs,” Tuitavuki said.
Tim Fairbrother, CEO of Ocean Underwriting, said the facility is intended to increase the range of liability options available to intermediaries. “The launch of Complex Risks Liability is another step in our commitment to being a true one-stop shop for brokers, giving them more solutions across a broader range of risks,” Fairbrother said. Ocean Underwriting is an Australian-based managing general agent that writes financial lines, cyber, property, and liability business for small and medium-sized enterprises. The firm uses an integrated technology platform to support underwriting, policy administration, and broker interaction.
The launch of the CRL facility comes as hard‑to‑place risks are increasingly seen in mainstream sectors rather than being confined to distressed accounts or fringe occupations. In the current environment, established businesses without obvious loss triggers are encountering reduced capacity, tighter wording, and more detailed information requests at renewal. “The hardest risks to place are no longer niche or fringe; they’re increasingly mainstream Australian businesses operating in tougher environments,” James Still, managing director of Still Insured Insurance Brokers, said.
Brokers report that a key issue is the gap between a client’s perception of its own risk and the level of documentation, loss data, and controls evidence that underwriters expect at submission. Insurers continue to focus on claim severity, extended settlement tails, and litigation costs across liability lines, which has influenced decisions on limits, attachment points, and coverage scope. Commentary from intermediaries such as Adroit Insurance and Risk has highlighted that businesses considered “hard‑to‑place” often operate in sectors such as mining, energy, meat processing, waste recycling, and amusement operations, where suitable capacity may be limited or available only at higher price levels.
