Blue River Underwriters D. Scott Tramel and John Searles Launch USL&H and Maritime Employers Liability Insurance Program

KENNESAW, GA, November 6, 2014 — Blue River Underwriters, a division of Breckenridge Insurance Group, has introduced a new United States Longshoreman and Harbor Workers Act (USL&H) and Maritime Employers Liability (MEL) Insurance Program with Zurich in North America, an A.M. Best “A+ rated” carrier*.

The new program is led by well-respected workers’ compensation and longshore industry insurance executives D. Scott Tramel and John Searles based out of New Orleans, Louisiana.

“The commercial maritime space is one that is complex and fraught with unique risk exposures. Having the proven team experience of Scott and John is a huge benefit to our clients as the laws are complex and claims can be costly,” said Stephen J. Kelley, SVP of Blue River Underwriters.

D. Scott Tramel, CPCU, ARM, has been in insurance for over 25 years as broker, marketer, underwriter and company leader. His experiences on all sides of the table—with a heavy emphasis in workers’ compensation—give him the unique perspective to understand and address the needs of diverse stakeholders. Tramel can be reached at stramel@blueriveruw.com or 504.330.5593.

John Searles has an equally impressive tenure and resume having worked on a variety of insurance lines and account sizes. He has focused exclusively on longshore accounts since 1990 and has been working closely with Tramel since 2002. Together, the team has written Fortune 500 accounts in some of the most daunting coastal geographies. Searles can be reached at jsearles@blueriveruw.com or 504-330-7116.

Currently, Blue River Underwriters offers USL&H and MEL in 17 states that span the eastern seaboard and great lakes regions. Some of the insureds the program covers include shipbuilders and repair workers, marina operators and construction workers, dock and pier contractors, marine terminal operators, ship cleaners and stevedores. The program covers the traditional longshore risks to those with more substantial USL&H exposures. More information on the program can be found on the company website.

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Pictured: D. Scott Tramel(L), John Sealres(R)

BlueRiver

About Blue River Underwriters
Blue River Underwriters is a national program administrator with over three decades of supporting retail and wholesale insurance agents with specialized offerings for diverse insureds. With managing general underwriting and managing general agent authority for ten lines in partnership with international top-rated carriers, Blue River Underwriters continues to build its reputation for quality programs, competitive rates, and unparalleled service.Blue River Underwriters has offices in nine cities across the country and is part of the Breckenridge Insurance Group. CA Insurance License #0G13592.

About Zurich
Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. With more than 55,000 employees, it provides a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services. Zurich’s customers include individuals, small businesses, and mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in more than 170 countries. The Group is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1872. The holding company, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN), is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information about Zurich is available at www.zurich.com.

In North America, Zurich is a leading commercial property-casualty insurance provider serving the global corporate, large corporate, middle market, specialties and programs sectors through the individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company. Life insurance and disability coverage issued in the United States in all states except New York is issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company, an Illinois domestic life insurance company. In New York, life insurance and disability coverage is issued by Zurich American Life Insurance Company of New York, a New York domestic life insurance company. For more information about the products and services it offers and people Zurich employs around the world go to www.zurichna.com. 2012 marked Zurich’s 100-year anniversary of insuring America and the success of its customers, shareholders and employees.

* Rating as of November 6, 2014. A.M. Best’s Ratings are under continuous review and subject to change and/or affirmation. For the latest Best’s Ratings and Best’s Company Reports (which include Best’s Ratings), visit the A.M. Best website at www.ambest.com. The rating represents the overall financial status of the individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company, and is not a recommendation of the specific policy provisions, rates or practices of each issuing insurance company.