OneBeacon Insurance Group has signed an agreement with Southern Marine & Aviation, to represent its International Marine Underwriters division. Under the agreement, IMU will assume the new and renewal business written under a primary marine cargo program managed by Southern Marine & Aviation, effective January 1, 2008.

International Marine Underwriters (IMU) is headquartered in New York City and offers ocean marine solutions for hull, marine liabilities, and private-pleasure yachts, as well as ocean cargo.

Robert Gallagher, president of IMU, said: This partnership with Southern Marine & Aviation will provide synergies and complement the other lines of business we write. In addition, combining the two books of ocean cargo business will position IMU as a market leader in the US.