What Is a Marine Survey? Types, Uses and When You Need One

What Does 'Marine Survey' Mean?

Four different kinds of work are called marine surveys. They have little in common apart from the word 'survey', and mixing them up is a common reason for confusion:

• Commercial ship and cargo surveys: independent inspections of ships, cargo, fuel and equipment, usually instructed by an owner, charterer, buyer, insurer or cargo interest. This is the work our surveyors do, and the subject of this guide.
• Class and statutory surveys: inspections by a classification society, or by the flag administration or a recognised organisation on its behalf, to check that a ship meets the rules for its class and the requirements of conventions such as SOLAS and MARPOL. They lead to certificates, and they are part of how ships are regulated.
• Yacht and small craft surveys: condition and valuation surveys of pleasure craft, usually for a purchase or for insurance.
• Hydrographic and offshore surveys: measuring the depth and shape of the seabed, and locating objects and hazards, for charts, ports, dredging, cables and pipelines. These are carried out by survey vessels and specialist teams.

Types of Commercial Marine Survey

On commercial ships, marine surveys fall into a few groups according to the question they answer.

• Condition surveys: what state is the ship in? These include on-hire and off-hire surveys at the start and end of a charter, and pre-purchase inspections for buyers.
• Damage surveys: what happened, how bad is it and how should it be repaired? A hull and machinery survey investigates collision, grounding, heavy weather and breakdowns.
• Cargo surveys: what condition is the cargo in, and was it handled and secured properly? See cargo surveys, container surveys and cargo and container certification.
• Quantity surveys: how much cargo or fuel was actually loaded, discharged or delivered? A draught survey weighs bulk cargo by the change in a ship's displacement, and a bunker survey checks fuel deliveries.
• Audits and inspections: is the ship following the rules? Internal ISM audits, MLC inspections and harmonized ISM, ISPS and MLC audits check a ship's systems and records.
• Equipment surveys: for example magnetic compass adjustment, which corrects a ship's compass for the deviation caused by the ship itself.

What Does a Marine Surveyor Do?

A marine surveyor attends the ship or cargo, inspects it, measures what can be measured, takes photographs, checks the relevant documents and records, and then writes a report. The report states what was found and, where the instruction asks for it, the probable cause, the extent of any damage and recommendations.

A good surveyor is independent of the other parties and reports only what the evidence shows. Many marine surveyors started as ship's masters, deck officers or marine engineers, because the work depends on understanding how ships are built, operated and maintained. Qualification requirements differ by country and by type of survey, so it is reasonable to ask a surveyor about their background, experience of your type of ship or cargo, and any professional memberships.

When Do You Need a Marine Survey?

• Buying or selling a ship, or lending against one.
• At delivery and redelivery of a chartered ship.
• After a collision, grounding, fire, heavy weather or machinery breakdown.
• When cargo is damaged, short or contaminated, or before loading to check that holds and containers are fit.
• When quantities of bulk cargo or fuel need independent confirmation.
• Before an external audit, port state control inspection or charterer inspection, to find and fix gaps in advance.
• When an insurer, bank, charterer or contract asks for an independent report.

Class and statutory surveys are different: they are required of ships by their flag and class rules, whereas an independent marine survey is usually instructed because a contract, an insurer or a dispute calls for one.

How a Marine Survey Works

1. Instruction: you tell the surveyor what the survey is for, the ship or cargo, the place, the date and who else will attend.
2. Preparation: the surveyor reviews the documents, such as the charter party, class records, bills of lading or the sale contract.
3. Attendance: the surveyor goes on board or to the cargo, agrees a plan and safe access with the master or the other parties, and carries out the inspection.
4. Recording: findings are photographed, measured and noted at the time.
5. Report: the surveyor issues a written report, sometimes with a short preliminary report first if the decision is urgent.

What a Survey Report Contains, and What It Cannot Do

A report normally gives the details of the ship or cargo, the date, place and instruction, who attended, what was inspected, what was found, photographs and the surveyor's conclusions or recommendations.

A survey is a record of what the surveyor could see and measure at the time. It is not a guarantee that nothing else is wrong, and it does not decide who is legally responsible or whether insurance will pay. Those questions are for the parties, their insurers and, if necessary, the courts.

Who Pays for a Marine Survey?

Usually the party who instructs the surveyor. A buyer normally pays for a pre-purchase survey. For on-hire and off-hire surveys, who pays and who appoints the surveyor depends on the charter party, and some are joint surveys with the cost shared. In a claim, the party bringing or defending it, or its insurer, usually pays. Check your contract, because it may say who must pay.

What Affects the Cost of a Marine Survey

• The type and size of the ship or cargo, and the number of containers, holds or tanks.
• How long the surveyor has to attend, and how much of it falls outside normal hours.
• The location, including travel and access, for example an offshore anchorage.
• How urgent the request is.
• The scope, including whether a detailed report, a preliminary report or attendance by more than one surveyor is needed.

Ask for a quotation that states what is included, and send the surveyor as much detail as you can, since that is what allows an accurate price.

How to Choose a Marine Surveyor

• Experience of the type of ship, cargo or problem you have.
• Independence from the other parties to your transaction.
• Clear reports that show the evidence, readings and photographs, not just a conclusion.
• Availability at the port you need, at the time you need.
• Professional indemnity insurance and clear terms of engagement, which you can ask to see.
• Responsiveness. A surveyor who answers quickly and asks the right questions before attending is usually one who writes a useful report.

Marine Surveys in Sri Lanka

Earndeck Shipping carries out marine surveys at Colombo, Galle, Trincomalee and Hambantota, and at offshore anchorages on request. Our surveyors are former masters and engineers. Browse our marine survey services, read our guide to bunker surveys, or contact us with the vessel, port and type of survey you need.

Frequently Asked Questions