Who is a Marine Surveyor? – Responsibilities, Qualifications, and Skills

Responsibilities of a Marine Surveyor

A surveyor undertakes a variety of responsibilities. He is responsible for maintaining the overall performance of a ship or cargo. An insurer or insured may approach a surveyor to conduct a survey marine insurance, transit insurance, cargo insurance or any other insurance.

Here are some duties that a surveyor must accomplish. These responsibilities include:

• Examination of vessels: A surveyor is duty-bound to conduct the survey and determine the condition of vessels. Based on his assessment a marine surveyor submits his finding on whether the vessel is in a condition to venture in the open sea.
• Recording ship's details: A marine surveyor records all the necessary information pertaining to the condition of the ship by capturing photos and recording videos of the outer and interior parts.
• Inspect the maintenance records: A surveyor is responsible for reviewing the maintenance record of the cargo by analysing if all the necessary procedures and rules have been followed.
• Test the equipment: A craft surveyor checks if the cargo equipments are functioning without any disruptions.

Qualifications of a Marine Surveyor

In order to become a surveyor, an individual has to accomplish certain certifications, accomplish various training and possess specific skill-set. First, the skills of a craft surveyor need to be certified by the appropriate official bodies. Further, an individual has to undergo numerous trainings and successfully complete certification to qualify as a craft surveyor. If a person has been working in the same field for several years, there is a high probability for him to qualify as a craft surveyor, due to the knowledge and experience of the domain.

In short, an individual should possess a fair knowledge of the field or the working of the industry to be assigned this task. As mentioned above, certification from prestigious universities can also be helpful to become a marine surveyor.

Essential Skills Required for Marine Surveyor

A craft surveyor should possess the following skills:

• Technical skills: Technical skills refer to the knowledge of the equipment. The surveyor should be well-versed with the machinery and operations of the vessel. These technical skills can help the surveyor to perform his duties more effectively and efficiently.
• Communication skills: Communication skill plays a significant role in every profession. It is no different for a surveyor. The surveyor should possess excellent communication skills to explain the findings of the cargo to the clients and smooth functioning of his duties.
• Problem-solving skills: The surveyor must possess problem-solving skills to face the daily challenges at work. He must understand and find ways to overcome a problem that may arise on duty.

Conclusion

A craft surveyor has various kinds of duties and responsibilities to fulfill. He is responsible for conducting the assessment of vessels required before offering Marine, transit and cargo insurance policies. The role of surveyor in marine insurance is extremely crucial and requires excessive hard work and determination.