June 18, 2020
Marine Surveyor
This is a prestigious position where you are required to be highly qualified with a sound technical background, as vessels are approved based on your judgement, competence, and integrity. Interestingly surveyors are not required to be licensed or qualified, but membership of the International Institute of Marine Surveyors, a professional body is well regarded.
There are different types of surveyors, and you will probably need to identify early on in your career which type of surveying you would like to do:
• Government Surveyor who enforces ship safety standards.
• Cargo Surveyor appointed by a cargo owner, generally for bulk goods.
• Classification Surveyor who does inspections during the construction of a vessel to ensure compliance to classification society rules.
• Independent Surveyor who does a wide range of tasks e.g., cargo, on board conditions, fuel quality, accidents at sea and more.
• Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor who inspects boats used for pleasure and under 24 meters in length.
There are different reasons for surveys, such as
pre-purchase evaluation, insurance eligibility, insurance claim requirements
and regulatory compliance.
You need to have a working knowledge of ships electrical and
mechanical systems and a fundamental understanding of boat design and
construction. Importantly you need to be good at observation, methodical and
accurate in your work. Surveyors are either employed by government of hired on
a fee basis by customers or marine insurers.
Key tasks:
• Conduct surveys to ensure standards are maintained.
• Perform inspections.
• Witness tests and the operation of safety equipment.
• Measure ship tonnage and survey load lines.
• Attend court as an expert witness.
• Investigate marine accidents.
• Determine fair market value of a vessel.
• Assess damage repair costs and replacement costs.
Entry requirements/training:
A number of marine surveyors in South Africa have entered the profession after a successful career at sea as a Ships Master, Chief Engineer, or other senior ranking positions, but this is not the only way to gain the necessary knowledge and expertise. There are, however, many paths to becoming a Marine Surveyor. You could use your prior experience as senior seagoing personnel, or you could work under an experienced surveyor and take correspondence courses. The International Institute of Marine Surveyors offers a professional Diploma course by distance learning. The Lloyd's Maritime Academy also offers a Diploma course and an MSc in Marine Surveying by correspondence.
Career advancement:
With marine surveying being such a broad field, you have an opportunity to branch out into several types of surveys as your expertise increases. You will build your own reputation and take on more and more complex jobs as your gain more experience. There is an opportunity to become self-employed and act as a surveyor for insurance companies or Flag States.
Associated job opportunities:
Marine surveyors, with their expertise in inspecting and assessing marine vessels and cargoes, may find associated job opportunities in various sectors within the maritime and insurance industries. Here are some potential associated job opportunities for individuals with experience as marine surveyors:
• Specialised Surveyor
• Senior Marine Surveyor
• Risk Engineer (Marine)
• Underwriter (Marine Insurance)
• Port Risk Manager
