The role and requirements of a Marine Surveyor in a Cargo Claim Process

Introduction

The role and requirements of a surveyor in a cargo claim process is important aspect to understand. Cargo claims are becoming an ever-increasing problem for both importers and exporters. Cargo surveyors at Kraken Offshore can offer independent, pre and post validation of cargo conditions to enable the prevention and settling of cargo damage cases.

Every cargo has its value, ensuring securing arrangements are correct prior to shipping are paramount — Ensuring securing arrangements are correct prior to shipping are paramount

Who is a Cargo Surveyor?

A cargo surveyor conducts inspections, surveys, or examines cargoes prior to, or after being transported by sea, rail, or road, to certify compliance with national and international regulations in cargo handling and storage for transportation, as well as inspect damage caused to vessel, container and cargo and report on their condition.

What is the role of a cargo surveyor and exactly who, is the surveyor working for?

The surveyor’s role varies from checking the conditions of the cargo as it is being loaded/discharged or determining the actual cargo condition loaded on board the means of transportation. While confirming that the cargo’s securing and or segregation arrangements agrees to specified standards and requirements or in accordance with best practises and is within the loadable limits.

The surveyor can be employed by individual or several interested parties, all of whom will have a stake in the cargo; however, an independent Surveyor should remain impartial. Generally, the cargo owner assigns a cargo surveyor or an insurer, shipowner, cargo receiver or any other stakeholders in the cargo may assign him.

Damaged Cargo Inspection

The defending party, the injured party or their underwriters will assign a cargo surveyor to inspect and investigate the subject or fact of the claim on receipt of damaged cargo, hopefully the surveyor will be the one of the first people to look inside the Cargo transport Unit (CTU) or hold on arrival at its destination.

Vehicle damage front and rear due to incorrect shipping securing arrangements

The surveyor will collect and record the facts of the case in an independent capacity and present it to his principal who will use this report to prove or refute the claim. This will depend on where they stand as a claimant or defendant. Ship owners, shippers, charterers, underwriters, P&I clubs, carriers, consignees, or lawyers may assign the surveyor.

The cargo surveyor uses his knowledge and skills in the carriage of cargoes to conduct damage surveys. The surveyor’s practical knowledge of lashing, storage, segregation, and securing of cargoes is vital in assessing the cause, nature and extent of cargo damage is invaluable in these circumstances when damage to cargo occurs, which could also include contamination or loss.

It is always advisable should there be more than one surveyor, they should conduct a joint survey so that at least the damage or the extent of damage can be agreed upon at an early stage of the claim process.

Also, the surveyor’s role will be to mitigate any potential further loss to the matter at hand. This may include separating the damaged cargo from the sound cargo to avoid further contamination. This can make assessing the damage much easier for the surveyors involved.

Having an experienced independent surveyor representing you and your precious cargo both at the loading and unloading stage of the transportation process, to ensure the integrity and condition of your cargo is not compromised is a prudent step in the right direction.

Types of cargo inspection

Cargo Pre-Shipment Inspections and Pre-Loading Surveys

Chocked wheels and single point lashing is a minimum standard that should be accepted — Chocked wheels and single point lashing are a minimum, when securing a vehicle within a container.

The time of loading is when the shipper or ship owner’s responsibility always begins in the contract of carriage. At this stage it is especially important for the surveyor to inspect the cargo at this stage to document and verify the conditions of the cargo before it is handed over to the shipper. This inspection is named a pre-shipment inspection and must be undertaken by the surveyor.

Pre-loading surveys can be conducted by the owner’s representatives, cargo surveyors instructed by the owner or ship’s Master and officers depending on the nature of the cargo, location and means of transportation. The cargo must be as described on the shipping document. This will help the cargo interested parties decide; whether to accept or to reject the cargo. Any differences in the documentation, receipts, and bills of lading appertaining to the cargo should be accurately described at this time.

Cargo Loading and Discharge Surveys

During either loading or discharging of the cargo, Kraken Offshore surveyors inspect and monitor the loading and unloading process. Their observations will be reported, detailing condition of cargo pre and post shipment, commenting on stowage and protection arrangements and confirm cargo has or is being shipped in accordance with industry standards and best practises.

The surveyor may be the last person to look inside the Cargo transport Unit (CTU) or hold until it is opened at its final destination. Consequently, a great many people in the transport chain will rely on adherence to procedures and best practices and skill of the persons who packed and secured the cargo into the hold or cargo transport unit (CTU) with compliance verified by the surveyor; such persons, including:

Road vehicle drivers and other road users when the unit is transported by road.
Rail workers, and others, when the unit is transported by rail.
Crew members of inland waterway vessels when the unit is transported on inland waterways.
Handling staff at terminals when the unit is transferred from one transport mode to another.
Dock workers when the unit is loaded or unloaded.
Crew members of a seagoing ship during the transport operation.
Those who have a statutory duty to inspect cargoes; and
Those who unpack the unit

All persons, such as the above, passengers and the public, may be at risk from a poorly packed cargo such as a freight container.

During the loading cargo survey, the onsite surveyor would complete the following activities.

This is how not to secure a vehicle in a container..... — Poor securing arrangements!

Inspect cargo that has already transported to establish that the regulations of cargo handling have been observed and assess the condition before loading.
Means of cargo transportation Inspection, vessel, vehicular transportation, and railway.
Inspect all cargo handling devices, such as hoists, boom, and derricks, to identify if fit for purpose or in need of maintenance.
Condition of cargo during loading.
Ensure cargo stowage is i.a.w regulations, agreed procedures or best practices.
Samplings according to international standards if required.
Ensure securing equipment is suitable.
Determination of weight by means of Survey and/or weighing scale.
Relay advice on possible cargo maintenance if required during transportation to maintain cargo integrity.
Control on reloading of merchandise towards the final destination (trucks and railway wagons).
Sealing/unsealing.
Ensure that cargo matches cargo manifests.
Completion of loading report to include photographic evidence of loading.

In the Unloading/discharging cargo survey, the onsite surveyor would complete the following activities.

Inspect means of cargo transportation, vessel, vehicular transportation, and railway.
Inspect all cargo handling devices, such as hoists, boom, and derricks, to identify if fit for purpose or in need of maintenance.
Condition of cargo inspection prior to unloading, if possible, to establish that the regulations of cargo handling have been observed and assess the condition before unloading
Monitor cargo during unloading.
Samples prior to, during and after according to international standards.
Determination of weight by means of Survey and/or weighing scale.
Relay advice on possible cargo maintenance if required during further transportation to maintain cargo integrity.
Control on reloading of merchandise towards the final destination (trucks and railway wagons) and ensure that the cargo matches cargo manifests.
Unsealing/ sealing.
Issue letter of protest to Master, shipper and/or interested parties on loss/damage arising.
Prevention of further loss/damage to cargo, goods, products.
Completion of unloading/discharge report to include photographic evidence.

Container damage and losses

There may be many reasons cargo damage occurs. One area of cargo damage which is concerning is the increase in container losses at sea has been a very costly issue for the insurance industry over the years. An average of 1,382 containers lost at sea yearly (World Shipping Council 2019). Container stack collapses as depicted in the picture, pose a significant risk to the industry and environment.

To envisage the forces acting on your cargo is not easy to comprehend. Our surveyors are all Master Mariners who have experienced the severe weather conditions and understand the forces cargoes are susceptible to — When securing valuable cargo, it is always better to plan for the extremes

Container vessels can encounter unfavourable combinations of rolling period, vessel speed, heading and wave conditions, which can trigger sudden and extremely rapid increases in the vessels roll period in adverse sea states, this extreme rolling is called parametric or synchronous rolling. This can cause a ship to roll at ever extreme angles, which may cause a container stack to collapse due to strong forces acting upon the container securing arrangements, with the loss of containers overboard.

IMO MSC.1 / Circ.1228 provides guidance to the Master for avoiding dangerous situations in adverse weather and sea conditions, which may cause capsizing of the vessel or heavy rolling with a risk of damage.

Synchronous rolling occurs in beam seas, when the roll period of the vessel matches the wave period. The vessel heels over with ever larger successive roll angles.

Parametric rolling occurs due to changes in vessel stability as the vessel moves in waves. It is most common in heavy head seas but can occur also in following seas. It is a sudden phenomenon with large and rapidly increasing roll angles experienced over a short period of time.

When parametric or synchronous rolling occurs, bridge personnel must take swift action. A simple adjustment in the speed and or course of the vessel may be enough to quickly remedy the situation.

To envisage the forces acting on your cargo is not easy to comprehend. Our surveyors are all Master Mariners who have experienced the severe weather conditions and understand the forces cargoes are susceptible to. It is with this in mind we have explained the extremes your cargo can experience above. When securing valuable cargo, it is always better to plan for the extremes, ensuring the cargo arrives safely at its destination and that’s what Kraken Offshore cargo surveyors have in mind. There are no short cuts as sea………