NAICS UNIVERSITY · Free research for insurance agents
Other Support Activities for Water Transportation
NAICS 488390 · United States · 2022 edition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing services to water transportation (except port and harbor operations; marine cargo handling services; and navigational services to shipping).
Start with the work promised to the client.
For Other Support Activities for Water Transportation, clarify the services, contracts and consequences of an error. Review marine liability, care, custody, and control of vessels, worker injury in maritime environment. Confirm which professional activities and additional services the proposed coverage actually addresses.
Questions to ask
- What specific services are performed — hull scaling, drydock maintenance, cargo surveying, or a combination?
- Do workers board vessels or work from shore or dock facilities only?
- Are any workers potentially subject to Jones Act or LHWCA obligations versus state workers' comp?
- What are the typical vessel sizes and values involved in operations?
- Does the operation handle, generate, or dispose of regulated waste streams in proximity to navigable water?
- What contractual indemnity obligations are included in typical client service agreements?
- For Other Support Activities for Water Transportation, what should the underwriter know about drydock operations involving structural or major mechanical repairs to vessels (may overlap with shipyard classification)?
- For Other Support Activities for Water Transportation, what should the underwriter know about work on military or government vessels with specialized contractual requirements?
Activities described by this code
- Floating drydocks (i.e., routine repair and maintenance of ships)
- Ship scaling services
- Marine cargo checkers and surveyors
Other activities to examine
- Ship painting: 238320 — Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
- Providing ship janitorial services: 561720 — Janitorial Services
- Operating port, harbor, or canal facilities: 488310 — Port and Harbor Operations
- Providing dredging services: 237990 — Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
- Providing stevedoring and other marine cargo handling services (except warehousing): 488320 — Marine Cargo Handling
- Providing navigational services to shipping: 488330 — Navigational Services to Shipping
- Providing ship overhauling or repairs in a shipyard: 336611 — Ship Building and Repairing;
- Providing towing services on inland waters: 483211 — Inland Water Freight Transportation
Census classification reference
For educational purposes only. AI-generated insurance research and automated logic can contain errors. Independently verify classification and coverage decisions.
Compare another operationInsurance operations research — draft
Establishments in this class provide a range of support services to vessels and marine operators — including routine repair and maintenance work performed from floating drydocks, hull scaling and cleaning, and independent marine cargo checking and surveying. Workers typically operate in waterfront, dock, or vessel environments, often aboard or immediately adjacent to commercial ships. The work is generally contract-based with commercial shipping lines, port operators, or cargo interests.
Questions to investigate
- What specific services are performed — hull scaling, drydock maintenance, cargo surveying, or a combination?
- Do workers board vessels or work from shore or dock facilities only?
- Are any workers potentially subject to Jones Act or LHWCA obligations versus state workers' comp?
- What are the typical vessel sizes and values involved in operations?
This insurance research was generated in April 2026. It has not received a complete human review. The October 12, 2026 audit checked codes and titles only, not descriptions or coverage assertions.