What Is Surveillance?
Discharge surveillance means the surveyor attends while the goods are unloaded from the vehicle or vessel at destination, establishes the quantity, records damage and verifies seal integrity.
Why Is It Done?
The aim is to document shortage and damage independently at the moment they are found. In insurance claims and recourse against the carrier, the survey report drawn up at discharge is the decisive evidence.
Who Requests It?
- Importers and buyer companies
- Insurance companies and adjusters
- Carriers and logistics companies
- Warehouse and terminal operators
- Commodity traders
Scope of Surveillance
- Verification of seal number and seal integrity
- Count of the unloaded quantity
- Comparison with the loaded quantity and determination of discrepancies
- Determination of packaging damage and goods damage
- Findings of wetting, crushing, contamination and cross-contamination
- Retrieval of data logger outputs for temperature-controlled cargo
- Condition of the stow prior to unloading
- Separate recording of damage occurring during unloading
- Unloading location and conditions
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 17020
- IMO/ILO/UNECE CTU Code
Method and Equipment
- Counting and recording equipment
- Photo and video recording equipment
- Temperature and humidity measuring devices
- Data logger reading equipment
- Access to calibrated scales
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
- Unloading location, date and time range
- Seal verification result
- Unloaded quantity and discrepancy with the loaded quantity
- Damage list, location and photographs
- Observation as to whether the damage occurred before transport or during unloading
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
Can it be determined whether the damage originated from transport or from unloading?
The surveyor records observations based on the nature and location of the damage, and separately documents damage that occurs during unloading. However, the final determination of fault is a matter for an adjuster or arbitrator assessment; the survey report serves as an input to that assessment.
Should unloading be stopped to establish the damage?
In the case of serious and widespread damage, the correct approach is to stop unloading and document the situation as it stands. Once unloading is complete, it becomes significantly harder to establish the source of the damage.
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.