Club Marine Insurance

What Club Marine Insurance does

CMI Brokers cc, trading as Club Marine Insurance, is a South African short-term insurance brokerage established in 1985 and headquartered in Fourways, Johannesburg, with a regional office in Mount Edgecombe, Durban. The firm operates as an intermediary, placing clients with multiple insurer partners — Santam, Old Mutual (OMART Insure), Bryte, iTOO, Natsure, Consort, KEU, TIC, and Lloyd's of London — rather than underwriting risk itself. It pioneered Watercraft stand-alone insurance in South Africa over 30 years ago and remains positioned as the marine niche leader, while having expanded into six core product lines: Cargo, Watercraft, Business, Car & Home, Hospitality, and Travel insurance, supplemented by add-on modules such as Club Assist (24/7 roadside and emergency medical assistance), the SIS Assist mobile app, Forgot Cover unspecified equipment extension, Safe and Sound transport service, Funds Protect (cyber/funds loss), Launch Site & Slipway Operators Liability Cover, Elite Client Domestic Cover, and Game and Livestock Cover.

The company earns commission income from placed policies through a sales-led distribution model that combines website quote requests, phone consultations (0861 819 219), WhatsApp (082 568 9344), and in-person meetings at its two offices. Pricing is quote-based and tailored to individual risk profiles, with premiums paid on a monthly or annual basis. CMI Brokers is an authorized Financial Services Provider (FSP4430), is POPI Act compliant, and serves individuals and SMBs across leisure/lifestyle, commercial, hospitality, and logistics segments exclusively within South Africa.

The technology stack is described as a brokerage platform with digital quote submission and claims processing, supported by Help247 (Android/iOS) and SIS Assist mobile applications providing roadside, panic-button, GPS location, and accident-scene guidance. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary underwriting models, or external API platform are disclosed. Brand building relies on event sponsorships (Billfish 15000, Umhlanga Festival, Durban Skiboat Festival, bass tournaments), active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube, and quarterly newsletters, with the company having undergone a contemporary visual rebrand in September 2022.

Name

Club Marine Insurance

Legal name

CMI Brokers cc

Website

https://clubmarinesa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CMI Brokers cc, trading as Club Marine Insurance, is a Johannesburg-based South African short-term insurance brokerage founded in 1985 that places watercraft, cargo, business, car & home, hospitality, and travel policies with multiple carriers including Santam, Old Mutual, and Lloyd's of London for individual and SMB clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Short-term Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines) (FSAEADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Commercial Lines Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAB)

Keywords

• Short-term insurance
• Marine insurance
• Insurance brokerage
• Cargo insurance
• Commercial insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Brokerage Commissions: CMI Brokers generates revenue by acting as an intermediary between clients and insurance providers. The company earns commissions from multiple insurer partners including Santam, Old Mutual, Bryte, and others for placing short-term insurance policies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CMI Brokers (Club Marine Insurance) is a South African short-term insurance brokerage that arranges tailored insurance policies on behalf of clients by comparing offerings from multiple insurer partners. The firm specialises in marine and watercraft insurance (where it pioneered stand-alone watercraft cover over 30 years ago) and also distributes cargo, business, car & home, hospitality, and travel insurance products. The brokerage earns commissions by placing policies with partner insurers including Santam, Old Mutual, Bryte, and access to Lloyd's of London.

Product overview

CMI Brokers (Club Marine Insurance) operates as a short-term insurance brokerage offering a portfolio of specialized insurance products. The core offerings include Cargo Insurance (covering all modes of transport), Watercraft Insurance (their historic specialty since pioneering stand-alone watercraft insurance in South Africa over 30 years ago), Business Insurance, Car & Home Insurance, Hospitality Insurance, and Travel Insurance. These products are complemented by value-added programs including Club Assist (24/7 emergency assistance), the SIS Assist mobile app, the Forgot Cover unspecified equipment extension, Safe and Sound transport service, and specialist covers for cyber insurance, funds protection, game/livestock, and launch site operators. The company was established in 1985 and serves as an authorized financial services provider (FSP4430) offering tailored policies through partnerships with leading South African insurers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cargo Insurance Comprehensive cargo insurance covering goods transported by air, sea, road, rail, and post, including annual policies, single-voyage cover, imports/exports, goods in transit, stock throughput, carrier liability, freight forwarder liability, yacht transportation, boat builders risk, and warehouseman's liability, designed for carriers, hauliers, freight forwarders, business owners, and household content moves.
• Watercraft Insurance Extensive watercraft insurance covering private pleasure craft, charter operators, commercial fishing vessels, yacht racing, ocean hull travel, repatriation, excess waiver, extended liability up to R50 million, yacht deliveries, and trailer on-road, with 24/7 emergency assistance for jet skis, pleasure yachts, and sporting equipment.
• Business Insurance Comprehensive business policies for small to large enterprises covering building and fixtures, fire and theft, office contents, electronic equipment, business all risk, business interruption, public liability, accidental damage, theft by employee, personal accident, and specialist risks including motor trade, contractors, events liability, and boat builders.
• Car & Home Insurance Cover for buildings, household contents, motor vehicles, all risks, leisure vehicles, bikes and quads, personal legal liability, legal costs, personal accident, and pet insurance, including the SIS Assist mobile app for roadside assistance, panic button, GPS location, and accident scene guidance.
• Hospitality Insurance Tailored insurance solutions for the hospitality sector covering B&Bs, guesthouses, holiday homes, backpackers, lodges, hotels, resorts, game farms, wedding venues, restaurants, takeaways, cafes, delis, convention centers, golf clubs, wellness centers, spas, banquet halls, and caterers.
• Travel Insurance Travel insurance for local and international travel and business travel, covering accidental death, medical expenses, illness or injury, medical transportation, repatriation, evacuation, journey cancellation, luggage, war and terrorism, and worldwide emergency assistance, plus cover for tour operators, travel agents, tour brokers, and tourism transport operators.

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BrytecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance partner providing commercial and corporate insurance solutions. CMI Brokers offers Bryte products as part of their insurance portfolio.
• iTOOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance partner specializing in various short-term insurance products offered through CMI Brokers.
• NatsurecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist underwriting agency partner providing niche insurance solutions through CMI Brokers.
• SantamcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth Africa's largest short-term insurer providing comprehensive coverage options. CMI Brokers places travel insurance through TIC/Santam and offers Santam Business Assist services.
• Old Mutual (OMART Insure)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormerly Mutual & Federal Risk Financing, now Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Insure Limited. Provides insurance coverage underwritten through CMI Brokers. Name changed effective July 31, 2024.
• Mutual & FederalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFormer partner name; rebranded to Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Insure Limited (OMART Insure) as of July 2024.
• KEUcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance partner providing coverage options through CMI Brokers insurance portfolio.
• ConsortcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance partner offering products through CMI Brokers' distribution network.
• FIA (Financial Intermediaries Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry association affiliation providing network and support for insurance brokers.
• SABBEXminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSouth African Boating and Marine Export Council - industry partner for marine sector.
• Lloyd's of LondoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational market access for placing additional insurance capacity, particularly for African business with specialized risk appetite requirements.
• NovaMarineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarine safety equipment provider offering 10% discount to CMI Brokers policyholders on safety equipment, life jackets, life rafts, and chandlery services in Cape Town and Durban.
• TIC (Travel Insurance Corporation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel insurance specialist providing travel coverage options placed through CMI Brokers for domestic and international travel.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• OUTsurance: Established South African direct-to-consumer short-term insurer. Competes head-on with CMI Brokers in personal lines (car, home) through a broker-bypass model that pressures intermediary commission economics.
• Santam: South Africa's largest short-term insurer and one of CMI Brokers' key carrier partners. Comparable as a short-term market leader for personal, commercial, and specialist lines, though Santam underwrites risk directly rather than as a pure intermediary.
• King Price Insurance: South African short-term insurer competing in personal and commercial lines via a brand-led, low-overhead model. Overlaps with CMI Brokers across car, home, and business cover.
• Discovery Insure: South African short-term insurer using telematics-based behavioural pricing. Targets overlapping personal and commercial short-term customers and is reshaping the intermediated vs. direct competitive landscape.
• Hollard Insurance Group: South Africa's largest privately owned insurance group offering short-term, life, and brokerage products across personal and commercial lines. Overlaps with CMI Brokers' short-term brokerage role across the same customer base, but at significantly greater scale.
• Old Mutual Insure: Major South African short-term and life insurer and a CMI Brokers placement partner. Competes for the same commercial and lifestyle insurance customers, with overlap on car, home, business, and travel cover.

Direct peers

• Aon South Africa: Global insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm with a significant South African presence across commercial and specialty lines. Comparable to CMI Brokers in the brokerage/intermediary role and multi-line product breadth, though at materially larger scale.
• Marsh South Africa: Global insurance broker operating in South Africa with strengths in commercial and specialty risk placement. Comparable to CMI Brokers as a multi-line insurance intermediary advising clients and placing coverage with multiple carriers.

Emerging players

• Pineapple: South African insurtech offering app-based short-term cover with peer-to-peer elements. Targets the same South African personal-lines customer with a digital-first model that pressures traditional broker-led distribution.

Regional players

• BoatUS: U.S.-based specialist in boat/watercraft insurance and member services. Closest functional analogue to CMI Brokers' pioneering watercraft stand-alone insurance niche, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyp_odyUYFWiMh9JZh_FVNw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClubMarineInsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/club-marine-insurance
• Instagraminstagram.com/clubmarinesa
• Xx.com/clubmarinesa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Club Marine Insurance