A marine survey is a service intended to provide a prospective buyer with information on the overall condition, safety and performance of a vessel. A surveyor inspects the hull , machinery and navigation equipment to determine the vessels value for the prospective buyer to make an informed purchase Decision. The survey includes a signed written report as verification of the surveyor’s findings.
The surveyor uses many resources other than the physical inspection to determine value. The research includes finding information on current base values determined by industry standards for similar vessels sold or currently for sale. Values have to be specifically assigned based on a wide variety of options a vessel has installed including engines, navigation equipment, safety devices, upgraded quarters and options for fishing and other recreational uses.
The three key objectives are Condition, Safety and Performance.A survey does not imply Seaworthiness of a vessel. The term Seaworthiness implies many things including the capability of the Captain and crew of which the surveyor can not determine based on his inspection of the vessel. However, a surveyor can and many times do declare vessels unseaworthy based on condition of the vessel alone.
