What Is Surveillance?
Marine survey is the general name for surveillance services in maritime transport. Its most common application is the hold inspection: establishing, before loading, whether the vessel's holds are clean, dry and fit for the cargo to be carried.
Why Is It Done?
The aim is to prevent cargo damage arising from hold conditions before loading begins. An unsuitable hold cannot be put right once loading has started; the outcome is contamination or wetting damage on arrival.
Who Requests It?
- Cargo owners and commodity traders
- Shipowners and ship operators
- Charterers
- P&I clubs and insurance companies
- Shipping agents
Scope of Surveillance
- Hold cleanliness: previous cargo residue, rust, paint flaking
- Hold dryness and moisture condition
- Watertightness of hatch covers (light or ultrasonic test)
- Cleanliness of bilge wells and their strainers
- Operability of the ventilation system
- Condition of dunnage materials
- Hold paint and surface condition
- Condition of loading equipment and cranes
- Loading plan and weight distribution
- Record of weather conditions and loading interruptions
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 17020
- IMO bulk cargo codes of practice
- P&I club surveillance guidelines
Method and Equipment
- Ultrasonic hatch cover leak test device
- Hygrometer and thermometer
- Lighting and photographic equipment
- Sampling materials
- Personal protective equipment (including confined space entry)
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
- Vessel information and hold numbers
- Suitability assessment per hold
- Hatch cover watertightness test results
- Photographic records
- Fit / unfit decision and its rationale
- Weather conditions and loading interruptions
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 happens if a hold is found unfit?
Loading does not begin; cleaning or drying of the hold is requested and a re-survey is carried out. This may incur demurrage costs for the vessel; however, the cost of loading into an unfit hold is far higher.
How is hatch cover watertightness tested?
It is tested using the ultrasonic method: a transmitter placed inside the hold generates sound, and the seals are scanned from outside with a receiver. Water will also leak from the point where sound leaks. Alternatively, a chalk test or a hose water test can be applied, but the ultrasonic method is more sensitive.
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.