Marine Survey
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This inspection is conducted to the vessel at the beginning and/or end of the chartering and aims at checking the overall condition of the vessel.
The on/off hire condition survey is an inspection of vessel’s holds, main deck, cargo working areas and external shell plating. It is performed in order to identify any damage present prior to the vessel going on/off hire.
By doing it repetitively for many years, our surveyors became experts in analyzing a vessel. The eyes of an experienced professional inspect every bulkhead, ladder, pipe, corrugate, lower and upper hoppers, bilge, tank top plating, manhole, hatch coming, hatch covers and many other structures.
Seatech Marine & Cargo Surveys start the attendances of on/off hire condition surveys at berthing time, before the commencement of loading operation, or, at the end of a discharging operation, in order to inspect the holds without cargo inside to be more precise.
Our company details the findings of the inspection in the Survey Report that includes the anomalies found, general particulars of the vessel, relevant documents and a photography list showing the actual condition of the vessel. Seatech works to issue the Survey Report within three days after the completion of inspection.
This survey is compared with the previous condition survey carried out to the vessel, in order to determine if new damage have occurred to the vessel from cargo operations and/or stevedores damage.
Bunker Survey (BQS) is carried out during barge to ship bunkering operations. The purpose of the bunker survey is to assure that the ship is receiving the full quantity of fuel or diesel, according the nomination and the bunker delivery note (BDN).
It is a documented evidence of the actual received quantities of fuel oil and diesel oil and support possible shortage claims and disputes.
The service consist on sounding the bunker barge and the receiving vessel’s tanks before the start of bunkering operation. At the end of the bunkering operation, tanks on both ships are again sounded to check the difference of volumes and to determine the quantity of Fuel or Diesel delivered.
The report includes the statement of bunkers delivered, and the possible differences between shipgoing vessel, bunker barge and quantity stated in the BDN.
Gard is frequently involved with machinery damage/claims related to fuel quality. The purpose of this circular is to emphasise the importance of the fuel ordering, delivery procedures, bunker delivery receipts and bunkering samples including the correct procedures for taking and handling of the samples.
- Inspection of cargo holds, deck areas and lifting equipment
- Inspection of the intended dunnage and lashing material
- Monitoring the loading and securing process
- Issue of lashing certificates
- Inspection of cargo condition upon arrival and monitoring of discharge operation
- Analysis of cargo and vessel’s drawings to identify possible lashing patterns and securing arrangements
- Calculation of the required lashing forces
- Execution of a pre-loading survey to ascertain the pre-shipment condition
The amount of cargo placed in the holds in foreign trade transactions should not change in any way during the course of the ship. If any deficiency is observed during the unloading operations of the loaded goods at the destination port, this may be the subject of dispute between the parties. In order to avoid such an undesirable situation, it is generally preferred to seal the hatch covers and manhole covers. In this way, the amount of goods loaded is secured.
In practice, it is requested that the sealing and removal of the seals be observed by international surveillance and inspection organizations. Such a request can be made by the buyer or seller, who are the parties to the foreign trade, or even by the ship owners in some cases.
The supervision of sealing and dismantling is carried out not only for hatch covers or manhole covers, but also for tanks and containers. All these transactions are carried out under the supervision of the auditors and are determined by a report. Since surveillance organizations provide impartial and independent services in the international arena, the minutes and reports issued are valid all over the world.
As in other surveillance services, sealing and removing the seal under the supervision of an auditor guarantees the parties that the goods are transported safely and completely. Insurance companies and P&I clubs (protection and indemnity clubs), namely protection and indemnity clubs, also demand these services for the safety of the transported goods and to avoid unexpected discussions in the future.
Generally, after the loading process is completed, ship holds are sealed and the number of seals and the places where they are hit are recorded in the minutes. In the case of container transport, the transport company delivers the container to the owner and does not accompany the loading process. After the container is loaded, it is sealed and brought to the port with seal and loaded onto the ship. In this case, the transport company does not check the details written on the bill of lading and assumes no responsibility.
However, the sealing of holds or containers in any way is considered to be proof that the loads therein are complete.