Cargo Inspection & Draft Survey

Cargo inspection and draft surveying are the commercial safeguards that protect the value of your cargo at every hand-off point in the supply chain. When cargo changes hands — from shipper to carrier, or from carrier to receiver — the quantity and condition at that moment determine who bears the cost of any loss, damage, or shortage. At Unified Maritime Services, our cargo inspection team provides independent, impartial assessments that protect our clients' financial exposure and provide the documentary evidence needed to resolve disputes quickly.

Cargo Hold Cleanliness Inspections

Before any bulk cargo can be loaded, the vessel's cargo holds must meet the cleanliness standard specified by the charterer or the cargo's quality requirements. A grain cargo requires holds that are free from all previous cargo residue, rust scale, moisture, and infestation. A fertiliser cargo has specific requirements around hold coating condition and moisture ingress. A failure to pass the hold inspection before loading can result in the vessel being placed off-hire while remediation is carried out — a significant financial penalty for the shipowner. Our hold inspectors attend the vessel before presentation for loading, assess each hold against the required standard, and issue a formal Cargo Hold Inspection Certificate accepted by all major grain superintendents and charterers in the region.

Cargo Tank Inspections

Liquid cargo tanks — carrying vegetable oils, chemicals, petroleum products, or molasses — must be inspected for cleanliness, coating condition, and the absence of any previous cargo residue or contamination that could compromise the quality of the next cargo. Our cargo tank inspection service covers visual inspection, residue assessment, and wall wash testing (where required by the charterer or cargo specification) for both stainless steel and coated cargo tanks. We issue tank cleanliness certificates that satisfy the requirements of the most demanding chemical cargo charters.

Condition Surveys at Loading & Discharge

A condition survey at loading establishes the condition of the cargo as it is received on board — the "shipped condition" as noted on the Bill of Lading. A condition survey at discharge establishes the condition of the cargo as it is delivered to the receiver. The difference between the two is the basis for any cargo claim. Our condition surveys document physical damage, moisture content, temperature, contamination, and packing integrity for all cargo types. We work alongside the vessel's officers to ensure that any pre-existing damage or condition at loading is noted in the Mate's Receipt and reflected on the Bill of Lading, protecting the shipowner from claims for damage that occurred before shipment.

Pre-Shipment Commodity Inspection

Before loading, commodity interests — the shipper or the buyer — often require independent verification that the cargo presented for shipment meets the specification of the sale contract. This may include sampling and analysis for moisture content, protein or nutrient levels (for agri-bulk), ash and sulphur content (for coal), or impurity levels (for minerals and ores). We arrange sampling on behalf of the party instructing us, coordinate delivery of samples to accredited regional laboratories, and forward the laboratory analysis reports to all relevant parties before the vessel's Bill of Lading is issued.

Outturn Weight & Quality Reporting

At the discharge end, the complete picture of the cargo's commercial performance is established by combining the draft survey out-turn weight with the condition survey findings. Our comprehensive outturn report provides the cargo quantity received (compared to the Bill of Lading), the cargo condition at delivery, any observed damage or contamination with photographic documentation, and our assessment of the likely cause. This report is the primary document used by P&I Clubs, cargo underwriters, charterers, and receivers to assess liability and formulate claim strategy. It is prepared to the standards required for use in maritime arbitration proceedings.