Inland Marine Claims Management

Comprehensive solutions for loss, damage, and recovery

When cargo is lost, damaged, or delayed, businesses need more than a claims administrator. They need specialist expertise to establish what happened, determine liability, minimize disruption, and maximize recovery.

Through W K Webster, a Gallagher Bassett company, we provide specialist inland marine and cargo claims management for insurers, brokers, logistics businesses, manufacturers, and organizations managing retained risk.

Our global team combines specialist marine and transportation expertise, claims technology, and recovery capabilities to manage claims from first notification through to settlement and recovery.

Managing claims across complex inland supply chains

Inland marine claims can arise whenever goods, equipment, or property are transported, stored, or moved through a supply chain. These claims can involve multiple parties, transport modes, jurisdictions, and contractual responsibilities. From the initial notification of a loss through to settlement and recovery, we provide a structured approach designed to improve claims outcomes and reduce the operational burden on insurance carriers and businesses.

Our specialist team helps clients manage claims involving:

Cargo lost or damaged during transit
Goods damaged during loading or unloading
Cargo stored temporarily away from its usual premises
Equipment transported between locations
Damage involving logistics providers, carriers or warehouses
High-value and specialist goods in transit
Multimodal transportation claims
Claims involving multiple parties and potential sources of recovery.

Specialist claims-handling across inland transport

Our services also cater to a wide range of industries that rely on marine and cargo transport. These industries include:

Road and trucking claims

Managing cargo loss and damage claims involving road transportation, trucking companies, freight carriers, and logistics providers.

Rail and intermodal claims

Handling claims involving rail transportation and intermodal movements where responsibility may pass between multiple carriers and transportation providers.

Air cargo claims

Managing claims involving air freight, including loss, damage, delay, and issues arising throughout complex international logistics networks.

Inland waterways

Supporting claims involving cargo transported through rivers, canals, and other inland water systems.

Multimodal transportation

Managing complex claims where cargo has traveled across multiple modes of transport and liability may involve several parties.

Temporary storage and logistics

Handling claims involving cargo and property held temporarily in warehouses, distribution centers, and other locations throughout the supply chain.

End-to-end inland marine claims management

We support clients throughout the claims lifecycle, providing:

First notification of loss (FNOL)

Efficient intake and triage of new claims, with the information required to determine the appropriate next steps.

Investigation and adjustment

Technical investigation and assessment of the circumstances, cause, and extent of the loss.

Coverage and liability assessment

Support in assessing policy coverage, contractual responsibilities, and the potential liability of carriers, logistics providers, and other third parties.

Claims settlement

Efficient and commercially focused settlement, supported by specialist technical expertise and appropriate delegated authority arrangements where applicable.

Recovery and subrogation

Pursuing recovery opportunities against responsible third parties, including carriers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, warehouse operators, and other liable parties.

Data and analytics

Management information and data insights to help clients understand claims performance, identify trends, and make better decisions.

Supporting industries across complex inland supply chains

We support insurers, businesses, and supply chain operators managing cargo, goods, equipment, and property across complex inland transportation networks.

Whether managing a single complex cargo loss or a large portfolio of transportation claims, our specialists understand the operational and financial impact that loss or damage can have on a business.

Our specialist inland marine and cargo claims expertise supports:

We support insurance and risk partners with claims management, technical expertise, recovery, and portfolio insight across inland marine and cargo risks. This includes:

Insurance carriers
Managing General Agents (MGAs)
Brokers
Captive insurers
Marine insurance

We manage claims involving cargo loss, damage, delay, and liability across road, rail, air, inland waterways, and multimodal transportation networks. We partner with:

Marine and cargo operators
Transport, logistics, and freight providers
Freight forwarding
Global supply chain operators

We support claims involving finished goods, consumer products, technology, electronics, vehicles, components, machinery, and other commercial cargo. Clients in this sector include:

Large corporates
Industrial and manufacturing
eCommerce
Retail
Automotive
Technology and electronics

Our expertise includes claims involving sensitive, high-value, and specialist cargo, including pharmaceuticals, food and agricultural products, energy and commodities, fine art, construction equipment, and property held in temporary storage. Organizations we support include:

Pharmaceutical
Agriculture and foods
Oil and gas
Commodities
Luxury goods and art
Construction and engineering
Self-storage

Reduce disruption. Improve claims outcomes. Maximize recovery.

Inland marine claims can create operational disruption, financial exposure, and uncertainty across the supply chain.

Our specialist approach helps clients:

Resolve claims efficiently
Reduce the administrative burden on internal teams
Identify potential liability and recovery opportunities
Improve visibility across claims portfolios
Access specialist technical expertise
Manage complex, high-value, and multi-party claims
Reduce the impact of claims on customers and business operations

Specialty inland marine claims expertise

Through W K Webster, a Gallagher Bassett company, clients benefit from:

What we deliver	Client benefit
Deep marine and transportation expertise	Specialist expertise focused on marine, transit, and transportation-related claims.
Global capability	Global claims management supported by hub offices and a wider international survey network.
Specialist recovery expertise	Dedicated recovery and subrogation specialists with experience pursuing claims against carriers, logistics providers, warehouse operators, and other responsible parties.
Technology-enabled claims management	Claims technology supporting claims management, data visibility, and system integration.
Flexible claims support	From ongoing outsourced claims management to short-term support during staffing shortages, seasonal volume increases, or major incidents.
Data-driven insight	Claims technology supporting claims management, data visibility, and system integration.

Inland marine and cargo Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What types of inland marine claims do you handle?

We manage claims involving cargo, equipment, and property transported or stored across road, rail, air, inland waterways, and multimodal supply chains.

Do you manage cargo claims involving multiple transport providers?

Yes. Our specialists can manage complex claims involving multiple carriers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, warehouse operators, and other parties.

Can you manage claims for self-insured businesses?

Yes. W K Webster provides claims management and recovery services for organizations with retained risk, including self-insured retentions, annual aggregate deductibles, and captive insurance programs.

Do you manage recovery and subrogation?

Yes. Our specialist recovery teams pursue recovery opportunities against responsible third parties, including transport operators, logistics providers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, and other liable parties.

Can you support claims during periods of increased volume?

Yes. Short-term claims management support can be provided during staffing shortages, seasonal increases in claims, or significant incidents.

Connect with our marine claims team

Anthony Smith

CEO — W K Webster & Co Ltd

George Willett

President — Head of US Operations

Kelly Jarosz

Senior Vice President — WKW Marine

Brian Stout

Senior Vice President — W K Webster & Co Ltd