About AEU

We understand the importance of partnering with the right USL&H provider. AEU provides services to members of ALMA including claims handling, loss control, underwriting, longshore consulting, and leadership training.

About AEU

We understand the importance of partnering with the right USL&H provider. AEU provides services to members of ALMA including claims handling, loss control, underwriting, longshore consulting, and leadership training.

At AEU, we do things differently.

The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU) is the program administrator of the American Longshore Mutual Association, Ltd. (ALMA), a group self-insurance fund authorized by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide USL&H coverage for the liabilities of its members under the United States Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. 

With decades of experience in the maritime industry and a strong commitment to our members, AEU is the leading specialist in USL&H. We’ve helped make safety a priority for waterfront employers for more than 20 years — and we’re determined to help our members continually reduce risks for the benefit of their employees and our industry as a whole.

When you become an ALMA member, you join a family of industry experts with decades of experience and a passion for longshore. In addition to our unique claims, loss control, and underwriting services, our members are provided with the resources and services they need to stand out as leaders — and as a result, we stand out as the preferred USL&H provider. 

Shipbuilders, ship repairers, marine terminal operators, stevedores, marine contractors, and other waterfront employers may apply for ALMA membership through their insurance broker.  

The leader in longshore for more than 20 years.

1600+

Waterfront employers trust AEU with their USL&H needs

$4.8 billion

Total payroll (including State Act) of members

97.8%

Member retention rate

20+ years

providing USL&H to waterfront employers

$180 million

Total annual premium contributions

#1

Provider of USL&H coverage by member count

Longshore is in our DNA.

AEU was originally a wholly-owned subsidiary of a large and well-established U.S.-based maritime service company. At a time when insurance companies were steadily increasing costs while decreasing services that would help control those costs, we at AEU believed the maritime industry would be more justly served by an insurance provider that operated under a mutual structure, designed to protect and strengthen the membership rather than serve stockholders.

1997

ALMA bound its first policy on October 1, 1997.

2000

We introduced our loss divisor program, allowing members to control their rate through safety and claims performance rather than being tied to a guaranteed cost.

2003

We introduced online claims management to bring a new level of transparency to the claims process for ALMA members.

2005

In 2005, we formed the AEU Safety Committee, comprised of ALMA members, which held its first meeting. This small meeting would later grow to become the AEU Safety & Claims Forum (and later the AEU National Forum), a highly regarded event for maritime safety and claims professionals.

2006

Jack Martone, former U.S. Department of Labor Chief of Financial Management and Insurance and Acting Director of the Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation, joined AEU as a valuable resource for members and brokers. We also launched our continuing education classes this year.

2007

AEU was acquired by Amwins Group, Inc., one of the largest and most well-respected specialty insurance distribution firms in the world. Also this year, we launched an online claims report tool and formed a dedicated subrogation department to review every open claim for subrogation potential. Lastly, the AEU Safety Awards program was launched to recognize ALMA members with industry-leading safety programs.

2008

Our loss control team introduced monthly Safety Bulletins and we launched our Longshore Blog (now Longshore Insider). Our headquarters in Mobile, Alabama moved into a new home at the RSA Battle House Tower (where we still are today). We also formed a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama as the first company in Mobile – and one of the first nationwide – to become a Big Brothers Big Sisters Corporate Sponsor.

2012

American Equity Risk Services (AERS), a dedicated claims unit formerly housed within F.A. Richard & Associates, officially joined the AEU family.

2013

To better serve ALMA members across the country, we opened offices in Metairie, LA, Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC. We also launched Advantage by AEU, designed to provide small- to mid-sized waterfront employers with loss control and claims services that most insurance providers only provide to larger policyholders.

2014

The ALMA Member Advisory Council was founded as a group comprised of forward-thinking ALMA members who help AEU align both current and future products and services with member needs.

2015

We introduced the AEU Safety Benchmark® as a way to help individual ALMA members’ compare their safety programs to that of their peers.

2016

The AEU LEAD® program launches a series of workshops for ALMA members. We also launched a dedicated medical management unit to seek new ways to drive down the costs of claims through contract negotiations, provider management and more.

2017

We realigned our teams to ensure that underwriting, claims management, loss control and other services provided to members and brokers meet AEU’s high standards of performance. Also this year, we were named to the MarineNews 100, an annual list recognizing excellence in the workboat, offshore, inland and coastal marine sectors.

2018

AEU received the coveted Hot Streak award from Great American which signifies excellence in underwriting and partnerships with insureds that are committed to safety. Also this year, we received the Outstanding Culture Award from Amwins (our parent company) in recognition of their service to ALMA members who suffered damage related to Hurricane Michael.

2019

AEU was named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama in an annual ranking compiled by Business Alabama and Best Companies Group. We were also once again named to the MarineNews 100.

2020

We launched a new claims management platform through a partnership with Origami Risk, hosted our first-ever virtual events amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and were once again named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama in an annual ranking compiled by Business Alabama and Best Companies Group.

2021

We resumed in-person events, saw record attendance at our annual ALMA Conference, were again named to the MarineNews 100, received recognition as a "5 Star Program Administrator" by Insurance Business America, and for the third year in a row, we were named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama by Business Alabama and Best Companies Group.

2022

2022 was a year of change at AEU! Our new underwriting system, Atlas, was launched, providing increased efficiency. A new mobile application was introduced, making it easier for members to report claims. AEU’s Loss Control Advisory Council held its first-ever meeting. For the fourth year in a row, we were named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama by Business Alabama and Best Companies Group.

Leadership

AEU's leadership team is comprised of seasoned professionals from both the maritime and insurance industries.

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Careers

Named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Alabama for the past three years, AEU has proven that the culture and leadership of our organization are among the best.

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