Surveys, Inspections and Audits
LOC undertakes a wide variety of surveys, inspections and audits. Whilst instructions are usually for work on a specific vessel or facility, we also undertake assignments involving multiple vessels or even the entire fleet of a particular owner or operator. In these latter instances, our extensive network of offices allows us to perform the individual inspections anywhere in the world in a timely and cost efficient manner.
The survey, inspection and audit services we offer cover the following:
Surveys and inspections of hull, machinery, equipment, safety and security procedures, management systems and certification, undertaken to ascertain the overall condition of a vessel. This type of survey is generally on behalf of insurance interests, as part of their ongoing loss prevention process for tonnage about to be or already covered by them.
Surveys and inspections of vessels, equipment or locations to assess suitability and fitness-for-purpose to carry out, or be host to, a specific task or operation. These types of surveys are generally performed on behalf of underwriters and their assureds. They are used to establish whether:
- the vessels and equipment proposed for a specific marine operation are appropriate both for the nature of the actual work tasks and the seasonal environment in which the operation will take place or:
- the location proposed to host the specific marine operation is appropriate for the nature of the actual work tasks and has the necessary facilities, environment and logistical support to enable the operation to be safely and successfully undertaken
Surveys and inspections performed on behalf of prospective purchasers of vessels to confirm that the subject vessel is of the condition and status advertised. The work normally requires Class record searches, inspection of the vessel’s structure and machinery, and may also include a vessel valuation.
Surveys documenting the exact condition of a vessel at the time it is taken on charter, or at the time it is taken off charter. Includes physical condition of the hull, condition and operability of machinery and amount of bunkers and other consumables on board.
Surveys and inspections carried out on behalf of banks, finance houses, insurance companies and other third parties to confirm that the condition and the operation of a vessel or other asset (such as a ship repair facility, or pipe storage yard) is in accordance with its claimed status and/or operations and maintenance procedures.
Audits, inspections and trials of vessels fitted with DP systems, including annual audits, trials prior to working in close proximity to high value assets and FMEAs of DP systems.
Audits and assessments of vessel management systems including ISM and ISPS. As well as audits of individual vessels, can include audits of operations offices and company headquarters to confirm that company policies and systems are effective throughout the organisation.
Surveys of vessels utilised by the offshore oil and gas industry using IMCA’s “Common Marine Inspection Document”, which aims to reduce the number of audits carried out on individual marine vessels through the adoption of a common auditing standard for the offshore industry.
Integrity testing of hatch covers on bulk and general cargo ships using ultrasonic testing equipment to establish the tightness (or otherwise) of the hatch covers and other cargo hold fittings.