What Is Surveillance?
Cargo survey is the independent monitoring and documentation of the condition of the cargo and of the way it is handled. It may be applied before loading, during carriage or at discharge; the scope is set by the instruction.
Why Is It Done?
The aim is to record the condition of the cargo at each stage of the transport chain and to see the risk of damage in advance.
Who Requests It?
- Cargo owners and carriers
- Insurance companies
- Ship agents and shipowners
- Terminal operators
- Project cargo carriers
Scope of Surveillance
- General condition of the cargo and visible damage
- Packaging type, strength and suitability
- Marking and labelling
- Stowage arrangement and weight distribution
- Adequacy of securing (lashing)
- Handling method and suitability of equipment
- Hold and storage conditions
- Temperature, humidity and ventilation conditions
- Dangerous goods declaration and segregation (if applicable)
- Risk of loss, shortage and contamination
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 17020
- IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code
- IMDG Code (if dangerous goods are present)
Method and Equipment
- Photo and video recording equipment
- Humidity and temperature measuring instruments
- Measuring and counting equipment
- Data logger
Surveillance Process
- 1Appointment and InstructionsThe survey instruction is received in writing: scope, method to be applied, sampling plan, specification and reporting expectations are clarified. The scope of the instruction also sets the limits of the report.
- 2Collection of Shipment DataContract or letter-of-credit terms, the proforma invoice, the packing list and earlier analysis reports are reviewed; the date and place of the survey are planned.
- 3Site PreparationThe surveyor attends the location; warehouse, terminal or vessel conditions and the suitability of weighing and measuring equipment are assessed.
- 4Carrying Out the SurveyQuantity determination, sampling, inspection and the required measurements are performed by the defined method; every step is documented with photographs and records.
- 5Sample HandlingWhere samples are taken they are sealed, labelled and distributed between the parties; a witness sample is retained. If analysis is required, samples are dispatched to the laboratory.
- 6Recording of FindingsAny nonconformity, damage or shortage found is recorded on the spot and reported to the principal.
- 7ReportingThe survey report is issued; its scope and the time and place of the survey are stated explicitly. Where a letter of credit so requires, a survey certificate is issued in the format demanded.
Surveillance Report
- Details of the survey company, the surveyor and the principal
- Date, time and place of the survey
- Description of the goods, batch/lot and reference documents
- Survey method applied and the sampling plan, if any
- Measurement and weighing results, equipment used and its calibration data
- Condition of packaging, marking and stowage
- Nonconformities, shortages or damage found
- Photographic records
- Sample seal numbers and retention details
- Statement of the limits of the survey's scope
- Surveillance stage and scope
- Cargo description and quantity
- Assessment of packaging, stowage and securing
- Ambient condition measurements
- Photographic records and risk observations
Limits of the Report
A survey report records the condition of the goods AT THE TIME and AT THE PLACE of the survey, and no further. It is not a quality guarantee, a certificate of conformity or an insurance cover. Where the survey is based on sampling, the result represents only the sample drawn; it gives no absolute assurance for the whole lot. Changes arising during handling, transport or storage after the survey fall outside the scope of the report.
Accreditation
Surveillance activities are carried out under ISO/IEC 17020, which requires the impartiality of the survey body, the competence of its personnel and the validity of the survey methods. The impartiality rule is decisive: a survey body may not be a party to the trade in, or the manufacture of, the goods it surveys. EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation under ISO/IEC 17020, granted by accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC mutual recognition arrangement; because accredited scope is defined per type of surveillance, it is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.
Scope and authorisationsRelated Surveillance Services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between cargo surveillance and damage survey?
Cargo surveillance is mostly preventive: it documents risks and condition before damage occurs. Damage survey, on the other hand, investigates the extent and cause of damage after it has occurred. Both can be requested consecutively for the same shipment.
Is the surveillance report a quality guarantee?
No, it is not. The report documents the condition found at the time and place of the survey. Changes the goods undergo during subsequent transport, handling and storage are outside the scope of the report, and the surveillance body is not responsible for them.
How is the surveyor's independence ensured?
Surveillance is carried out under ISO/IEC 17020, which requires impartiality and the prevention of conflicts of interest. The surveillance body cannot be a party to the buying or selling of goods it surveys.
How long does it take to issue the report?
Preliminary findings are communicated the same day the fieldwork is completed. The final report depends on the arrival of laboratory results if analysis is required; the timeframe is specified in writing at the quotation stage.