What is the Role of the Marine Surveyor?

The Marine Surveyor is the professional that, having experience on the various aspects of the marine transportation business, works investigating, supervising, auditing, giving opinion and ascertaining conditions, procedures and/or methods employed for transportation and handling cargoes and the vehicles used to carry them.

Since the primitive times of the commercial navigation, surveyors were in some way necessary to determine the condition of the cargoes and ships.

The Surveyor must have continued attention on updating himself with latest issues, regulations, standards, work procedures and new matters of the marine transportation industry.

All parties involved in the transportation and handling of goods, as shipowners, cargo insurers, charterers, P&I Clubs, stevedoring companies, storage terminals, agents, cargo shippers and cargo receivers, may eventually need a Surveyor.

The Surveyor, in summary, will be the eyes and ears of his Clients and will act to preserve and protect their interests in any case.

Summary of the Main Types of Surveys Carried out by the Surveyors

1.     Quantity Control

Draft surveys, Bunker/bunkering surveys, Tally surveys.

2.     Vessel Condition Surveys

Structure, machinery & equipment.

Seaworthiness, Cargoworthiness & Suitability.

Technical and operational evaluation.

3.     Cargo Loss Prevention Surveys

Loading, stowage and securing of general cargo, heavy lifts, oversized and special cargoes.

4.     Damage Surveys

Damage to Ship: Hull & Machinery accidents, fire, collision, grounding, etc.

Damage to Cargo: mishandling, bad stowage, material/package defect, heavy weather damage, etc.