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Marine Survey Practice

This blog intended to provide information and experience to professionals who work in the
difficult career of Marine Surveyor.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

On/Off Hire Condition Survey

Definitions

On Hire Survey - A complete survey of a vessel to determine its condition prior to it being
placed On-Hire.

Off Hire Survey - A complete survey of a vessel to determine its condition prior to it being taken
Off-Hire.
 On/Off Hire Vessel Condition Surveys
On-Hire Surveys / Off-Hire Surveys of vessels or marine structures
undertaken either before the vessel or structure is delivered into a charter, or
redelivered from a charter. The survey report should include a detailed
description of a vessels cargo spaces/deck areas structural condition, cargo
space cleanliness, bunkers on board, listing of the vessels statutory
certificates, portable securing equipment, etc.

When discrepancies differences arise in a bunker delivery operation, the

experience of the Surveyor should be able to find the error, if any, or to give
out the right figures for third party agreement.

The purpose of these On-Hire Surveys / Off-Hire Surveys is principally to

determine the extent of damage, other than fair wear and tear, which may
have occurred to the ship between two dates, usually those of the
commencement and termination of charter. Whilst the determination of
damage is the principle purpose of the two requisite reports, one being at
the on hire survey and the other at the off hire survey, there are often
three other requirements. These are generally:

The checking of documents and certificates

The establishment of quantities of fuel and stores on board

Sometimes the establishment of the cleanliness of the cargo spaces

Visual inspection conducted at the time of delivery or re-delivery of a vessel

to/from a time charter.

On-Hire Surveys / Off-Hire Surveys is very important for a client when hiring
a vessel to limit their liability, by ensuring they have the correct information
on the condition of the vessel and work required in respect of the Charter
Party. Hence it is in the interest of a Client to get an independent survey
carried out on their behalf which will then be used as evidence for their
liabilities for the Charter period.

When attend to check the condition of the vessel when it is chartered from or
redelivered back to the owner which usually includes in part the structure,
document and bunker, Vessel survey to get a general impression by
inspecting selected areas:
Accommodation
Passenger areas
Safety equipment
Cargo areas
Machinery spaces etc.
Planned Maintenance System for outstanding items
Sample of any prearranged open spaces (tanks etc).
Certification and Classification records to be inspected
Brief interviews with some of the crew members

On Hire Survey and Off Hire Survey alternative choice:

On/Off Hire Condition Survey
On/Off Hire ROB Bunker Survey
On/Off Hire Condition and ROB Bunker Survey

On/Off hire vessel condition.

Its a visual inspection of vessel holds, main deck and cargo working areas
are performed to identify any damage present prior to the vessel going on/off
hire. This survey is carried out by us and after the completion we issue an
attestation certificate.

This survey is compared with the previous condition survey carried out to the
vessel, in order to determine if new damage have occurred to the vessel
from cargo operations and/or stevedores damage.

On/Off hire vessel rob bunker survey.

This Bunker Survey must be done, taking care to sound all tanks and correct
for temperature and density, consumption of D.O, F.O to vessel delivery at
Pilot station of a Nation.

The survey goals are:

ascertaining the condition of the vessel prior to delivery,
recording any damage to hull or cargo spaces,
certifying holds suitability for loading of the intended cargoes,
validity of class and statutory certificates, etc.

At re-delivery, the surveyor is to ascertain whether during the time charter

the vessel the vessel sustain any damage.

The Survey

1. On or Off Hire Surveys are conducted to the extent requested by the client. If the client has
not detailed the specifics of the survey, Attachment A - On/Off Hire Survey Checklist
furnished as part of this instruction is to be used as a general guide for what is to be surveyed and
recorded.
2. The information required is generally the same for On or Off Hire so a comparison can be
made prior to and after hiring a vessel out. Therefore, Attachment A - On/Off Hire Survey
Checklist can to be used as a guide for either an On or Off Hire Survey.

3. Spares, loose items and consumable stores, to the extent required by client, are to be surveyed
and recorded.

4. During the course of an Off-Hire survey, the On-Hire survey report is to be referred to in
order to determine any differences in condition (normal wear and tear excepted).

5. The Off-Hire survey shall be conducted subject to the same (or simulated) limitations
encountered during the conduct of the On-Hire survey, as set forth in the On-Hire survey report.