Draft survey
Independent determination of bulk cargo quantity by displacement, at load port, discharge port or both. Service 05 — While it moves.
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When you instruct one.
- Bulk cargo is loading or discharging and quantity is the commercial question.
- Shore figures and ship's figures disagree, and someone has to be right.
- A shortage is alleged and the only way to test it is displacement.
- The contract calls for an independent draft survey at one or both ends.
What we do.
- 01Read the draft marks. All six, at both conditions, with the sea state and trim recorded rather than glossed.
- 02Take densities and soundings. Ballast, fresh water, fuel and all deductibles measured, not taken from the ship's figures.
- 03Calculate displacement. Against the vessel's own tables, with corrections for trim, list and density applied and shown.
- 04Establish the constant. And say whether it is credible against the vessel's history.
- 05Present the working, not just the number. A quantity nobody can check is a quantity nobody will accept.
What you receive.
- A draft survey report with the full calculation shown.
- Initial and final displacement figures with every correction itemised.
- A cargo quantity figure, and the tolerance it carries.
- A reconciliation against shore and ship's figures where both exist.
What we need from you
- Vessel's hydrostatic tables and deadweight scale
- Ballast, bunker and fresh water plans
- Load or discharge port, berth and window
- Shore figures, once available
What we hold ourselves to
- 2–24hA surveyor instructed from the network nearest the cargo.
- 24–48hYour update on the appraisal, with photographs and the key information.
- 72hThe detailed preliminary report, after the survey assessment.
- 45 daysExpected turnover per mission. The final report follows the loss mitigation or destruction operation.
Attendance on site depends on distance to the port and on terminal and customs access, so that is confirmed on your file rather than promised as one number for every port on the continent.
Instruct this surveyThey trust us already
Insurers · brokers · traders · logistics providers
26 marks, as listed in the Victor Surveys company profile. They are shown in black and white and return to colour on hover. Written consent to display a client’s mark is worth confirming before launch — several of these houses require it.
Instruct a draft survey.
Fill this in and it sends a complete instruction, already set to this service, straight to the claims desk.
Usually instructed with.
One instruction can carry several of these. They are separate headings, not separate visits.
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