{"id":4326,"date":"2026-09-05T09:02:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/?p=4326"},"modified":"2026-09-05T09:04:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T02:04:18","slug":"the-role-of-marine-surveying-in-vessel-redelivery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/the-role-of-marine-surveying-in-vessel-redelivery\/","title":{"rendered":"THE ROLE OF MARINE SURVEYING IN VESSEL REDELIVERY"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Recording the Actual Condition. Preserving the Evidence.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">When a charterparty comes to an end, vessel redelivery is not simply a handover procedure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">It is the point at which the actual condition of the vessel, the remaining fuel onboard and any changes during the charter period may need to be established and compared.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Later, these records may become relevant to a claim, cost allocation or contractual dispute.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">This is where a Full Off-Hire Survey becomes important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">A proper survey is not simply about answering:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>\u201cWhat condition is the vessel in?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The more useful questions are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">What exactly did the Surveyor observe?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Where was it observed?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">What was the measured extent?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">How was it measured?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Was the condition already recorded during On-Hire?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">What photographs, timestamps or supporting records are available?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">That is where the practical value of a survey report lies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">WHAT IS A FULL OFF-HIRE SURVEY?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">In practice, a Full Off-Hire Survey is generally carried out at or around the time of vessel redelivery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The exact scope depends on the charterparty and the agreed instructions, but it commonly covers two main areas:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Bunker Survey<\/strong> \u2013 determination of the remaining fuel onboard (ROB).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Condition Survey<\/strong> \u2013 recording the vessel&#8217;s observable condition at the time of redelivery.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Bunker Survey<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">ROB is not simply a number taken from a sounding tape.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The Surveyor needs to consider factors such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Sounding \/ Ullage;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Temperature;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Density;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Trim \/ List;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Tank calibration tables;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Fuel condition;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Time of measurement;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Relevant bunker documentation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">In actual operations, surface turbulence, entrained air, thermal stratification and incomplete settling may affect the reliability of measurements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Therefore:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>An ROB figure without the measurement method and measurement conditions is only a number. It is not, by itself, a complete measurement record.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The objective is not simply to produce a figure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The objective is to produce a figure that can be <strong>traced, checked and properly understood by the parties involved<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">CONDITION SURVEY \u2013 MORE THAN FINDING DAMAGE<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Depending on the agreed scope, a Condition Survey may cover areas such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Deck;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Cargo Holds;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Hatch Covers;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Machinery spaces;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Accommodation;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Anchoring and mooring equipment;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Safety-related equipment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">But the first question should not simply be:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>\u201cIs there damage?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The more useful question is:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>\u201cWhere is the damage, what are its characteristics, and can it be compared with the condition recorded before the charter?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">For example: <\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\u201cDent observed on starboard bulwark.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">That is an observation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">But it does not tell us:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">which frame the dent is located at;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">its dimensions;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">the condition of the surrounding area;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">whether there are indications that it is recent or pre-existing;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">whether it was already recorded during On-Hire.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Where possible, the record should include the <strong>frame number, exact location, dimensions, photographs, timestamp and relevant surrounding observations<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">That turns a simple observation into a much more useful technical record.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">OBSERVATION IS NOT ALWAYS EVIDENCE<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">This distinction matters in marine surveying.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">A Surveyor may observe a scratch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">That is an observation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">But the observation alone does not establish:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">when it occurred;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">how it occurred;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">who caused it;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">or whether it constitutes a breach of a contractual obligation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">If there are technical indications such as <strong>unoxidized scraping marks<\/strong>, these should be recorded carefully, together with the location, dimensions, photographs and surrounding condition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The Surveyor should always distinguish between:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What was observed<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">and<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What can actually be established.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">A report should not turn an observation into a conclusion that goes beyond the available evidence.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">ON-HIRE AND OFF-HIRE \u2013 THE VALUE IS IN THE COMPARISON<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The On-Hire Survey records the vessel&#8217;s condition when the Charterer takes delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The Off-Hire Survey records the vessel&#8217;s condition when the Charterer redelivers her.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Together, these records provide an important baseline for identifying and assessing changes during the charter period.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Without a reliable baseline, determining whether a condition found at redelivery is new or pre-existing becomes much more difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The discussion can then become dependent on:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">memory;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">isolated photographs;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">incomplete records;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">or different interpretations of the same damage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">A properly prepared survey record brings the discussion back to measurable facts:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Where exactly?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What size?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Was it already there?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Is there a difference from the On-Hire record?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What evidence supports the observation?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">THE ROLE OF THE SURVEYOR<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">A Surveyor does not replace the Owner, Charterer or their legal representatives in determining contractual liability.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The Surveyor&#8217;s role is more fundamental:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">OBSERVE<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Record what is actually present at the time of attendance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">MEASURE<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Measure dimensions, quantities or other relevant parameters where practicable and appropriate.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">RECORD<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Build a structured record supported by photographs, locations and relevant data.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">REPORT<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Present the findings objectively, without extending the conclusion beyond what the available evidence supports.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">A good survey report should allow someone who was not present onboard to understand <strong>what the Surveyor actually saw on that day<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">CONCLUSION<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">The value of a Full Off-Hire Survey is not measured by the number of pages in the report.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Its value becomes clear later, when a claim arises and the parties need to go back to the record and establish:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What was observed.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What was measured.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What was recorded.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What can be compared with the On-Hire condition.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">And, equally important:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What the available evidence does not allow us to conclude.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">Because when a dispute arises, the important question is no longer:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>\u201cWho remembers what?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">It is:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>\u201cWhat can actually be established from the records made at the time?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">At VM CONTROL, our approach is built around four basic principles:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>OBSERVE \u2013 MEASURE \u2013 RECORD \u2013 REPORT<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">We do not determine contractual liability on behalf of the parties.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">We focus on recording the actual condition onboard, collecting relevant technical data and producing an independent survey record that can be traced, reviewed and relied upon by the parties involved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>\ud83d\ude9b\u2693EVERY GATEWAY \u2013 ONE SPEED<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\ud83d\udccd\u00a0Ho Chi Minh City \u2794 Ba Ria \u2013 Vung Tau \u2794 Cai Mep \u2794 Quy Nhon \u2794 Da Nang \u2794 Hai Phong\u2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\u26a1\u00a04 HOURS: On-site Attendance\u00a0\u26a1\u00a012 HOURS: Survey Completion\u00a0\u26a1\u00a024 HOURS: Certificate Issuance<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>CONTACT INFORMATION<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\"><strong>VIET MARINE CONTROL JOINT STOCK COMPANY \u2013 VM CONTROL<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\ud83d\udccd Address: 1831\/10\/9 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Quarter 2, Nha Be Commune, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\ud83d\udcde Hotline: +84 981 600 440 \/ +84 918 114 742<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\ud83c\udf10 Website:\u00a0www.vietmarinecontrol.com.vn<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\ud83d\udce7 Email: survey@vietmarinecontrol.com.vn<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 120%;\">\ud83d\udd35 Linkedin:\u00a0www.linkedin.com\/in\/vm-control-234252386<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We focus on recording the actual condition onboard, collecting relevant technical data and producing an independent survey record that can be traced, reviewed and relied upon by the parties involved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4325,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4326"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4329,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4326\/revisions\/4329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vietmarinecontrol.com.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}