On/off-hire and hold condition survey
An on-hire survey records the state of a ship when a time charterer takes it over; an off-hire survey records it when the ship goes back. The difference between the two decides who pays for bunkers, cleaning and damage. A hold condition survey checks that the holds are fit for the next cargo.
What is recorded
- Bunkers on board. Fuel oil, gas oil and lubricants are sounded or taken from the engine room figures. These quantities are settled between owner and charterer at the bunker price in the charter party, so a small error has a cost.
- Hold condition. Each hold is inspected for cleanliness, residues of the previous cargo, loose rust and paint, wet or oily patches, and the state of bilge wells, ladders, pipe guards and tank tops.
- Hatch covers. Seals, compression bars, cleats and drains are checked. Weathertightness is often tested with an ultrasonic tester or a hose test.
- Damage. Any existing damage is described, measured and photographed, so that it is not later blamed on the charterer's stevedores, and the other way round.
Cleanliness standards
Charter parties usually describe the required standard in a few common terms. Grain clean means free of previous cargo, loose rust and scale, insects and odour, fit for grain or other sensitive cargo. Normal clean or broom clean means swept and free of previous cargo residues, enough for most steel and scrap cargoes. Hospital clean is the strictest: washed, dried and often freshly painted. The surveyor reports against the standard named in the charter party, hold by hold.
On-hire, off-hire and the comparison
The on-hire and off-hire reports are only useful side by side. Damage found at off-hire that is not in the on-hire report is presumed to have happened during the charter. Missing photographs or vague descriptions at on-hire are the usual reason a damage claim cannot be settled. Owners and charterers often appoint their own surveyors, or one joint surveyor whose report both accept.
How long it takes
A hold and bunker inspection on a handysize or supramax bulk carrier usually takes two to four hours, longer if the hatch covers are tested or several holds need a second look after cleaning.
What to prepare
- Access to every hold with lighting, and ladders that are safe to use.
- Bunker figures from the chief engineer and access to sounding pipes.
- The cleanliness standard from the charter party, and the previous cargo.
- The last on-hire report, if this is an off-hire survey.
Finding a surveyor
Choose the port on Portiva to see every authorized company there. To get quotes, send one request and we pass it to companies working in that port. Survey companies abroad looking for a local surveyor to attend on their behalf can use the attending surveyor request.