Marine Surveying

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The field of General Marine Surveying involves virtually anything of a marine nature from canoes to bulk carriers, cargoes, marinas, ship-yards, docks and bridges. Surveyors generally specialize in either one or more of the three basic categories - Hull, Machinery or Cargo. With ever increasing changes in technology, surveyors have become more versatile, and areas have overlapped to incorporate each category.

Preferred areas of practice used by surveyors now include hull, machinery, engineering, cargo, containers, underwater, facilities, liability and consulting. The entire field can be subdivided into two very broad areas - condition and damage.

Condition surveys are carried out for banks, insurance, ship-owners, buyers and cargo interests. These surveys generally deal strictly with the condition of the subject at the time of the survey and may include recommendations to improve the situation.

Damage surveys are usually carried out on behalf of underwriters. Surveyors of damage must be familiar with the particular subject at hand, whether it be a yacht, machinery, cargo or a bridge. An understanding of salvage, repair costs and procedures, legal and insurance terminology, and investigation techniques is invaluable for a surveyor involved in this field.