Third party liability insurance frequently asked questions

Any events outside of normal day-to-day operations taking place at Harbour Authority (HA) managed sites should be referred to the insurer broker. The HA shall complete the special events form and send it to their Small Craft Harbour contact, who will provide the form to SCH HQ prior to the event taking place (festivals, meetings, festivities, etc.). SCH HQ will then send to the insurance broker who will review the information regarding the special event taking place on HA property and advise if additional insurance is required.

Yes, this is highly recommended. HAs and SCH staff should be advised of any commercial operation, contracting or event held at SCH sites. The HA must ask the organisers to provide proof of a third party liability insurance (TPLI). The TPLI certificate must extend additional insured status to the HA and to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and include a provision that a notice of 30 days must be provided in advance of cancelling a policy. In case of cancellation, this notice should be given by the third party’s insurer to the HA and SCH prior to the event taking place. It is recommended that HAs have a contract, or user license in place with the third party outlining the requirement for insurance. For more information, please consult the detailed procedure for special events and corresponding forms available on the SCH website at the following address: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sch-ppb/toolbox-boiteaoutils/insurance-assurance/index-eng.html

Yes, the TPLI policy will defend the HA if a claim is made against it. The policy will respond as excess over the primary limits of the outside organization’s insurance policy.  HAs must receive appropriate certificates of insurance from any outside organization authorized to conduct business or activities on HA property prior to the event.

No. This policy only responds to claims for damage to third parties. Damage to an HA property must be insured separately by the HA.

Yes, as long as the employee or the volunteer was in the course of performing his or her duty at the harbour.

No, they must have their own liability insurance. The HA should ask contractors to provide proof of a third party liability insurance (TPLI). The TPLI certificate must extend additional insured status to the HA and to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and include a provision that a notice of 30 days must be provided in advance of cancelling a policy. In case of cancellation, this notice should be given by the third party’s insurer to the HA and SCH prior to the event taking place.

No, commercial fishing vessels should be insured by their respective owner. The TPLI policy will only cover claims brought against the HA for damages to third party commercial fishing vessels if the vessel was in the care, custody or control of the HA and the HA is found to be at fault.

If employees, volunteers, directors or officers are not on harbour duty and are acting as a separate legal entity than yes, the policy should respond. However, all vessels should be insured by their respective owner. The TPLI policy will only cover claims brought against the HA for damages to third party vessels resulting from actions or the lack of, whilst otherwise in their care, custody and control of the HA and the HA is found to be at fault. 

The HA is covered against liability claims arising from incidents that stem from the operations of the HA. The grounding would have to be as a result of HA negligence for the policy to respond.

Yes, but only under certain conditions. This insurance excludes bodily injury or personal injury or loss of, damage to or loss of use of property, directly caused by seepage into or onto or pollution of or contamination of air, land, water or any other property, however caused and whenever happening. This insurance also excludes any liability in respect of disposal or dumping of any waste materials or substances. The words "loss of", "damage to" or "loss of use" as used in this policy with respect to the word "property" includes, but shall not be limited to:

1. the cost of containing, evaluating, monitoring, controlling, removing, nullifying or cleaning-up any seepage, polluting or contaminating substances
2. loss or damage to or loss of use of property directly or indirectly resulting from subsurface operations of the Insured
3. removal of, loss of or damage to sub-surface oil, gas or any other substance

The exclusion of the Seepage and Pollution Clause shall not apply where such seepage or pollution or contamination:

1. was accidental and neither expected nor intended by the HA; and, 
2. the occurrence is detected within 72 hours of the commencement of such seepage, pollution or contamination; and,
3. the occurrence is reported to Insurer within 90 days of the occurrence becoming known.

On the basis that Items 1, 2 and 3 above are complied with, a), b) and c) above are covered hereunder including bodily injury or personal injury or loss of, damage to or loss of use of property directly caused by seepage into or onto or pollution of or contamination of air, land, water or any other property.

The TPLI policy will provide and pay for the defense of the legal action arising from this event, subject to the policy limits, terms and conditions. Third party property would be covered under the TPLI liability policy if the HA is at found to be at fault and the cause arises from an insured peril. 

The HA will be covered for third party liability, as long as the installation of the docks is considered normal day-to-day operations of the HA.

Day-to-day operations include, but are not limited to:

• explaining harbour rules and policies, regulations and rate structures to harbour facility users
• controlling parking areas
• ensuring trash and used oil are disposed of in appropriate containers
• ensuring the facilities are clear of personal property and spare gear
• ensuring that users of harbour equipment comply with operating instructions and restrictions
• reporting, in writing, the details of all incidents (e.g., fires, damage to property, etc.)

No, this policy does not cover volunteers, directors nor officers for liability arising from wrongful acts (i.e., any breach of duty, neglect, error, misstatement, misleading statement or omission in the administration of the HA). This must be insured by a separate policy. The HAC, a federally incorporated body working on behalf of HAs, offers optional accidental death and dismemberment, and bodily injury insurance as well as directors and officers liability insurance to HA volunteers, directors and officers. This policy excludes employees of the HA. For more information, email the HAC at duplessis.management@gmail.com or phone 1 (506) 625-4556.

No, this is not a group accident policy. The HAC, a federally incorporated body working on behalf of HAs, offers optional accidental death and dismemberment, and bodily injury insurance as well as directors and officers liability insurance to HA volunteers, directors and officers. This policy excludes employees of the HA. For more information, email the HAC at duplessis.management@gmail.com or phone 1 (506) 625-4556.

No, separate coverage is required. The HAC, a federally incorporated body working on behalf of HAs, offers optional accidental death and dismemberment, and bodily injury insurance as well as directors and officers liability insurance to HA volunteers, directors and officers. This policy excludes employees of the HA. For more information, email the HAC at duplessis.management@gmail.com or phone 1 (506) 625-4556.

HA employees are not covered under these insurance policies. If an employee becomes injured while performing their duties as an employee of the HA, provincial Workers Compensation may be available. Workers Compensation is a provincially regulated entity and will vary by province.

A volunteer, defined as a person who offers his services to the HA voluntarily and without payment and who is not an elected official, may be eligible for medical payment for bodily injury caused by an accident while performing work for the HA. The TPLI policy will cover the cost to investigate the incident and the defense of a legal action against the HA. The Insuring Agreement and Exclusions relating to medical expenses can be found in the current policy in "Section C: Medical Payments Clause".

If HAs are aware of a situation that is hazardous within their boundaries, every step should be taken to fix it. Following a claim, the insurer can also make a recommendation for improvement of a site and advise the HA that if it does not proceed with the recommendation, the insurer can review its position on the entire account. If recommendations are made and not implemented a claim may be denied and/or the cost of coverage could increase. This is not likely to happen without repeated claims issues being attributed to one HA in particular.

Changes have been made to the TPLI policy. The insurer, Continental Casualty Company (CNA), confirmed that as of September 21, 2020 the deductible are now being waved.

No. HAs that have questions should communicate with their SCH contact. If the SCH contact is unable to answer the question, they ask SCH HQ for support. In the event SCH HQ does not have the answer, the question is sent to the insurance broker. When an answer is received, SCH HQ will inform the SCH contact who shall then inform the HA.