SC 13G

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. ___)*

American Safety Insurance Holdings Ltd.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock

(Title of Class of Securities)

G02995101

(CUSIP Number)

June 29, 2006
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

     Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

           o Rule 13d-1(b)
           þ Rule 13d-1(c)
           o Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

CUSIP No. G02995101

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
 
HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
 
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions)      (a)   o      (b)   þ

3. SEC USE ONLY
 
 

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH	5.	SOLE VOTING POWER   0
	6.	SHARED VOTING POWER   890,600
	7.	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER   0
	8.	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER   890,600

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
890,600

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
  o

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
8.47%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
HC

2

Item 1.

     (a) Name of Issuer

     American Safety Insurance Holdings Ltd.

     (b) Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices

44 Church Street
PO Box HM 2064
Hamilton, HM HX
Bermuda

Item 2.

     (a) Name of Person Filing

     HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.

     (b) Address of Principal Business Office

13403 Northwest Freeway
Houston, Texas 77040-6094

     (c) Citizenship

     Delaware

     (d) Title of Class of Securities

     Common Stock

     (e) CUSIP Number

     404132102

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant §§240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

     (a) o Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

     (b) o Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

     (c) o Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

     (d) o Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

     (e) o An investment advisor in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

     (f) o An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

     (g) o A parent holding company or control person in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

     (h) o A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

     (i) o A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

     (j) o Group, in accordance with §240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

3

Item 4. Ownership.

     (a) Amount beneficially owned:

     890,600

     (b) Percent of class:

     8.47%

     (c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

     (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0

     (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 890,600

     (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0

     (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 890,600

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the class of securities, check the following: o

Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

     Not Applicable.

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person.

See Exhibit A for the identity of the subsidiaries which directly beneficially own the securities reported herein.

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

     Not applicable.

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.

     Not applicable.

Item 10. Certifications

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

4

SIGNATURE

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: June 29, 2006

By:	/s/ Christopher L. Martin
	Christopher L. Martin,
	Executive Vice President

5 

EXHIBIT INDEX

     Exhibit A            Information Required by Item 7

     Exhibit B            Joint Filing Agreement between HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc and Houston Casualty Company

EX-99.A

Exhibit A

The securities being reported by HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc. (“HCC”), as a holding company, are beneficially owned by the following direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of HCC:

Subsidiary	Number of Shares Beneficially Owned
Houston Casualty Company		890,600

EX-99.B

Exhibit B

JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

The undersigned hereby agree that the statement on Schedule 13G filed herewith and any amendments thereto, relating to the common stock, $0.01 par value, of American Safety Insurance Holdings Ltd., is, or will be, filed jointly with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on behalf of each such person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Joint Filing Agreement.

Dated: June 29, 2006

HCC Insurance Holdings, Inc.
By:	/s/ Christopher L. Martin
	Christopher L. Martin
	Executive Vice President
Houston Casualty Company
By:	/s/ Christopher L. Martin
	Christopher L. Martin
	Executive Vice President