AVANTE QUALITY SERVICES has a very strong background in the Marine Surveying sector, providing world wide highly skilled surveyors for any kind of cargo operations. While doing our best in order to ensure the good development of the works, safety and HSE standards and aiming for overall good practice at all times for your peace of mind, we offer tailor made solutions and adapt our role to the needs of our clients while attending onboard.
Swift communications and prompt actions are always taken from our side, which avoids undesirable damages to the cargo, loss of time and of course, major incidents. Being all this information properly detailed in our professional and thorough reports, we are able to cover and document each relevant fact of all the process under the most professional approach.
The main purpose of a preloading or out-turn supervision is to ensure that cargo is handled, stowed or stored safely and correctly during operations. Our mission is to detect and measure every possible damage or incident to the cargo plus avoiding or documenting any delay or problem to the operations.
We carefully inspect every stage of these processes, describing completely every area of concern in our report, following a strict technical procedure, and always provided with plenty of illustrating pictures:
When performing a lashing supervision, we ensure that all fastening and chocking applied to the cargo is correctly disposed in an even and correct manner according to the indications of the IMO Cargo Securing Manual Regulations and the IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing.
The proper stowage, securing, and handling of sensitive or out of gauge (OOG) cargoes can present many issues and challenges. When fastening these kind of goods onboard open-top containers, flatracks, mafis, SPTMs, truck platforms or ship’s holds or deck, most companies require the operative supervision by a competent cargo surveyor in order to provide a lashing certificate to confirm a safe loading, lashing and protection of the cargo against the normal risks of sea transportation.
A general inspection of the cargo unit or hold is always carried out. Apart from this, we carefully focus on the following stages:
In order to avoid future problems when stuffing a container, an inspection and supervision of the loading operations is highly recommended. In first place, our assistance can make the difference in order to achieve a good quality stowing, stuffing and securing of the goods, preventing damages and future claims.
Also, our survey report and print dossier will become the best argument against possible claims or non-conformance reports issued after discharging the container at destination.
On the other hand, when unloading a container carrying sensitive cargo, just before breaking the lashing and stowage, a deep inspection of the cargo can point out hidden damages, contamination or any other remarkable condition. In both situations, the correct supervision and documentation of the handling will be very useful.
LOADING & UNLOADING
Supervision during stuffing/unstuffing, quality and condition of the cargo and packaging before loading/unloading, correct handling procedures, structural condition and cleanliness of the container, as well as checking of documentation.
CARGO CONTAINER INSPECTION
Structural inspection and in-service verification, off-hire/on-hire surveys and sea worthiness condition.
PROJECTS
Our company is capable of managing all kind of projects. For large amounts of containers to be loaded, lashed and shipped our goal is not only to provide a competitive quotation, but also to develop a complete customized assistance that will grant the desired control and quality to the operations plus a continuous improvement of the whole procedure.
As a result of an unforeseen or unexpected event, a cargo damage survey can be requested in order to establish nature, cause and extent of the damage.
We provide among other information:
Controlling and supervising during the loading / unloading operations of heavy-lift and oversized cargoes onboard ships is a complex and challenging task that will require a survey planning containing the following extra considerations:
Our wide experience in the industrial sector is extremely valuable for this kind of operations: we are conscious of all the work and value behind a project, the sensitive areas and the importance of each detail. In addition, sometimes our company is already familiarized with the equipment to be shipped from previous industrial inspections.
We also offer our services as “Warranty Surveyors” for any kind of operation, checking at all times the proper execution of the handling, stowage and lashing procedures. As developed in all of our inspections, we document and review all the sensitive elements of the operative.
A Full Condition survey consists in determining the condition of a vessel at the time of delivery or redelivery, usually followed by a bunker survey. This is carried out inspecting all cargo spaces, holds, hatches, hatch covers, water tightness, cranes, and windlasses. We develop a detailed survey report describing the condition of all inspected elements along with the result of the remaining on board fuel quantities.
Also, before the loading or discharge of cargo, we can carry out a full inspection of all cargo spaces in order to detect any possible damage or contamination, to determine the suitability of the hold for subject cargo to be loaded or to perform a structural inspection.
In order to ascertain the supplied quantity of fuel onboard by means of truck, barge or other vessel, we carry out a bunker survey previously and after the supply. Controlling at all times the supply, timing and supervising the sampling. Also carried out as a part of the Full Condition Survey of an OFF-HIRE / ON-HIRE inspection or as a spot quantity inspection.
We carefully sound and measure each tank onboard, finding real R.O.B. and duly reporting to our principals with our findings.
We are also highly experienced in the Pleasure Yacht and Commercial Yacht market. Our inspector can assist you in a wide range of services.
PRE-PURCHASE SURVEY:
Before investing a big amount of money in a pre-owned yacht, it is highly recommended to obtain a pre-purchase survey in order to assess the real condition of the boat.
One of our experts (recognized Marine Engineers and Marine Surveyors) will perform a deep inspection of the boat focusing on the following elements:
Furthermore we also carry out a functional test of:
During the visit our Engineer will also check the reports and dossiers of maintenance and damage (if any) history
At the end of our assessment, we will issue a detailed technical report with pictures; it will help our Client (the potential purchaser) evaluate the condition of the boat and establishing if the price of the boat is adequate.
ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTING DURING REPAIRING / RE-FITTING / MODIFICATION:
There are plenty of shipyards all along Spanish coast especially in the Mediterranean. Many of them are specialized in repairing, re-fitting and modification or just in ordinary periodical maintenance of pleasure yachts.
All of the aforementioned activities are very complicated and expensive: Spanish shipyards crews are highly skilled for those tasks but in any case it is always better to have an expert Marine Surveyor or Naval Architect monitoring and reporting all the Shipyard activity the Owner is paying for.
According with Client specification and budget we can perform periodical visits to the shipyard during the repairing, re-fitting or modification works in order to:
At the end of our surveillance job, we will issue a detailed technical report with pictures; to be carried onboard as a quality certificate.
ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTING FOR CLASSIFICATION:
Classifying your boat with a recognized IACS Member Classification Society (ABS, BV, DNV, RINA, LR…) can be very interesting especially in case you are going to employ your boat as a “charter yacht”.
Dealing with such processes of Classification can be very annoying: a big amount of drawing and calculation shall be submitted for approval and must be demonstrated that the boat complies with many national and international regulations.
Our technical office and out inspector can help you with those issues in order to get your boat ready to be enjoyed by you and you guests without any undesirable concern.