Marine surveyor

This occupation is found in the commercial and leisure maritime sectors, including maritime regulators, classification societies, small commercial vessel certifying authorities, port authorities, marine insurers, brokers, survey companies and consultancy companies, including large, medium-sized and small employers.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide independent verification, by inspection or examination of a subject ship or other vessel, its structure, machinery, equipment and systems, to ensure compliance with established and known standards of, and regulations and rules for: construction, stability, outfitting, equipping, safety and operation. The purpose of the marine survey is to establish the condition of the subject ship or vessel (or parts, machinery, equipment or systems) and any potential or actual damage or repairs required thereto, and verify the subject ship's or other vessel's suitability and fitness to operate, including appropriate certification for same. The value of a subject ship or other vessel (or its constituent parts, machinery, equipment or systems) is also established through marine survey commissioned for such purpose.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of marine professionals, including: the Master (Captain), Chief Engineer and crews of ships or other vessels; client or subject company representatives (such as Marine Superintendents, Brokers, Administrators and Managers); maritime regulators (such as Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) officials, Classification Society staff, naval architects and marine engineers and Certifying Authority specialists); insurance loss adjusters; and commercial or private clients and their representatives, including legal professionals. While much of the planning for a survey is undertaken in an office environment, the surveys themselves are undertaken onboard the subject ship or other vessel, either in port (alongside a quayside or in a dry dock) or, from time-to-time, during operations. A Marine Surveyor is expected to maintain a level of personal drive and fitness to work outside in all weathers, and to inspect all parts of a ship or small vessel, including safe working at heights and in confined spaces.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for providing professional services of expert survey (including close examination and inspection for verification of standards, regulations and rules) of ships or other vessels, constituent parts, machinery, equipment and systems, including planning for and safe conduct of the survey itself, and production and presentation of written and oral reports of the survey's results and outcomes. Such reports and presentations will require production of high-quality documents that will provide evidence, imagery, conclusions, recommendations and, where required by the purpose, relevant valuations. Marine Surveyors may work alone, jointly with equivalent Surveyors from other interested parties, or in company with other surveyors for whom they could be responsible. Working to the instructions provided and from their own professional knowledge, the Marine Surveyor will have significant autonomy for the planning, completeness and safe conduct of, and reporting of the survey. In conduct of a survey, Marine Surveyor may have to manage their own work with due consideration of the environment and of other persons, including ship's staff or technical contractors.