About Sunderland Marine
To help you navigate challenges and stay ahead of the curve, our industry-leading, expert teams provide a range of valuable resources, actionable insights, and in-depth analysis – all in one easily accessible place.
About us
Sunderland Marine provides Hull and Machinery, Protection and Indemnity (P&I) and Personal Accident insurance for fishing, coastal and other small and specialist vessels.
For more than 140 years, we have worked with people whose livelihoods depend on the water. Today, as part of NorthStandard, we combine specialist experience and personal service with the resources of a global marine insurer.
Our story began on Wearside
In 1882, a group of local shipowners came together on John Street in Sunderland to establish the business that would become Sunderland Marine. In a town shaped by shipbuilding and maritime trade, they understood how much depended on a vessel returning safely.
As the fishing industry grew and changed, Sunderland Marine grew with it. By 1916, we had become the UK’s largest insurer of fishing vessels. Expansion into the Netherlands in the 1970s, followed by Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s, brought our experience to new fishing communities around the world.
Some of our relationships now span generations of fishing families. That experience continues to shape how we work today.
People who understand your business
Whether you are arranging cover or dealing with a claim, we take the time to understand your business and what matters to you.
Our underwriters, claims specialists and support teams are based in Newcastle, London, Australia and New Zealand. They combine local knowledge with practical experience of the industries we insure.
We explain your options clearly and provide advice that reflects your operation, helping you make informed decisions about your cover.
About NorthStandard
Sunderland Marine joined North P&I Club in 2014. In February 2023, North merged with Standard Club to form NorthStandard, one of the world’s largest P&I insurers.
Today, NorthStandard underwrites our insurance products. For our Members and brokers, this means personal support from Sunderland Marine, backed by the group’s financial strength and international reach. Our teams can also draw on wider expertise in claims, technical matters and loss prevention.
Supporting our industry and communities
Our relationships extend beyond insurance. We support training, local traditions and practical projects in the communities where our Members live and work.
Encouraging the next generation
In New Zealand, we are the founding sponsor of the Sunderland Marine Young Fisher of the Year Award. The award recognises young commercial fishers and helps winners further their maritime training.
In the UK, we sponsor the Sea Fishing Apprentice of the Year award at Whitby and District Fishing School, celebrating students’ commitment to learning and personal development.
Recognising maritime traditions
In Nelson, New Zealand, the annual Blessing of the Fleet brings families and the wider fishing community together at Sunderland Marine Pier. It is a time for remembrance and reflection, honouring those lost at sea and offering a blessing for the safety of the working fleet and its crews. We are honoured to support a tradition that holds such deep meaning for the community and those whose lives are shaped by the sea.
In 2025, we supported the release of The Lifeboat, an RNLI fundraising single written by a co-founder of Skipinnish who is also one of our Members. Recorded by the band with The Fisherman’s Friends, the song pays tribute to lifeboat volunteers. It celebrates the connection between fishing communities and the people who help keep them safe.
Bringing people together
We support the Fishing News Awards and are regular exhibitors at the Scottish Skipper Expo, where we also sponsor the Show Reception. These events are opportunities to meet colleagues and friends, share experience and recognise achievement.
Our involvement in community life also includes sponsorship of Buckie Thistle Football Club, a local institution in one of Scotland’s fishing towns.
Caring for our coastline
Through the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme, we have helped fund fishing line recycling facilities along the North East coast. These give anglers and local communities a practical way to reduce plastic waste and protect wildlife from discarded line and tackle.
Sharing knowledge across the industry
In 1992, Sunderland Marine helped establish EFICA, the European Fishing Vessel Insurance Companies Association. It brings insurers together to exchange knowledge about markets, claims and loss prevention.
Sharing this experience helps us better understand the challenges facing fishing businesses and how we can support them.
Get in touch
Whether you are looking for cover, need advice or would like to speak to someone who understands your sector, our team is here to help.