Marine Damage Survey

The purpose of a Marine Damage Survey is to assess the extent of the damage sustained by the hull, rig, systems, or elsewhere on the vessel. The report presents information on the probable causes of the damage, recommendations on repairs, and estimates the costs for such work. Boats get damaged. Sometimes requiring only minor work to be done, other times it is completely beyond repair.

Surveyors are typically hired by insurance companies to investigate claims. Sometimes a surveyor is hired by a boat owner directly to investigate out of the ordinary degradation or damage, especially on newer boats.

Some of the typical types of damage investigations include:

Boat Trailer Accidents
Leaking Fuel Tanks
Fire / Arson
Pollution Mitigation
Severe Weather
Sinking

Collision
Allision
Groundings
Striking Submerged Objects
Mechanical Problems

A damage survey report typically includes:

Reported circumstances of the damage
Statements from owners, operators and witnesses
Identification and description of the vessel and its condition
Description of damages
Opinion as to the cause of loss
Review of repair estimates for reasonableness
If no estimates, Preparation of a Damage Appraisal
Pre-Loss and Post-Loss valuation of the vessel

If necessary, the surveyor will identify and recommend any third party experts needed to further evaluate damage and help define suitable repairs.

Such expects are usually needed in cases of:

Fire investigations
Complicated mechanical problems
Large areas of hull damage
Electrical problems in complex systems