8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
September 6, 2005

HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-13790	76-0336636
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

13403 Northwest Freeway Houston, Texas	77040-6094
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 690-7300

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 8.01 Other Events.

     The Company issued a press release dated September 1, 2005 announcing its anticipation of claims from hurricane Katrina.

     A copy of the press release filed by the Company is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference and is also available at HCC’s website at www.hcch.com.

     The information contained herein shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

No.	Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated September 1, 2005

SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	HCC INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.
Date: September 6, 2005	By:	/s/ Christopher L. Martin
		Christopher L. Martin,
		Executive Vice President and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

No.	Exhibit
99.1	Press Release dated September 1, 2005

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Press Release

HCC COMMENTS ON HURRICANE KATRINA

HOUSTON (September 1, 2005) . . .
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (NYSE symbol: HCC) announced today that the Company anticipates claims from Hurricane Katrina coming from aviation, onshore and offshore energy, property and marine lines of business. The Company has only just received its first claims notifications and it will be some time before we are able to estimate the overall loss to HCC.

Stephen L. Way, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Katrina is a catastrophe of huge proportions and we fear that the loss of life and property will continue to escalate for some time to come.” Mr. Way added, “HCC has substantial reinsurance for catastrophe losses and we are confident that our net loss on Katrina will be within our self imposed maximum expected loss.”

HCC subsidiary Continental Underwriters (www.cultd.com) is based in Covington, Louisiana and insures tugs, barges, crew vessels and other “brown water” marine business. All employees are accounted for although several have major damages to their personal properties. The office survived the onslaught but will not be back in operation for several weeks. Any enquiries should be directed to the Houston office at (713) 744-9686.

HCC is an international insurance holding company and a leading specialty insurance group since 1974, based in Houston, Texas with offices across the USA and in Bermuda, England and Spain. HCC is traded on the NYSE (symbol: HCC), has assets exceeding $6.0 billion and is rated AA (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor’s and A+ (Superior) by A. M. Best Company.

For more information, visit our website at www.hcch.com.

Contact:	L. Byron Way, Vice President
	HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
	Telephone: (713) 690-7300

Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made under “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The types of risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company are set forth in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.