Cargo Surveys
CARGO SURVEYS
It may be necessary to carry out surveys and inspections of many kinds in connection with chartering and cargo.
The persons carrying out surveys are usually independent surveyors who are either employed by a firm or association of surveyors or are self- employed. They include government inspectors employed by the agricultural or food inspectorate of the port or flag State, who inspect ships prior to loading cargoes such as grain.
The surveyors or inspectors will do the following:
- Carry out on-hire and off-hire surveys at the start and completion of a time charter period, to determine responsibility for damage during the charter, and for taking over the stocks of fuel on board. The surveyor may be hired jointly by the owner and the charterer.
- Carry out condition surveys of ships on behalf of prospective charterers.
- Carry out draft surveys, particularly on ships carrying dry or liquid bulk cargoes to determine the amount of cargo loaded or discharged.
- Carry out pre-loading surveys of various kinds on vessels carrying sensitive cargoes, to ensure that cargo spaces are fit for loading, and pre-shipment surveys on cargoes such as steel, while on the quayside.
- Carry out post-loading surveys of various kinds to determine that sensitive cargoes have been properly stowed, before issue of a certificate of stowage/loading. These are useful in resisting claims, and may therefore be required by the owner/carrier.
- Carry out post-discharge inspections/surveys before issue of an empty hold/tank dry certificate.
- Carry out ullage surveys to determine quantities of liquid cargoes loaded.
- Carry out grain surveys to verify that a grain cargo has been safely loaded in accordance with international regulations. In this case the surveyor may be a government representative.
- Carry out hatch surveys to determine the condition of a cargo at the end of a voyage, before discharge.
- Carry out damage surveys to determine the nature, cause and extent of damage to a ship or cargo, usually on behalf of insurers of both parties.
- Carry out sale and purchase inspections and valuations before a transfer of ownership.