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Small
Craft Surveys Code of Practice
Statement
It is the purpose of this Code to clearly define the rules of professional conduct
to be followed by all practicing "Small Craft Surveyor Members" of
this The International Institute of Marine Surveyors. This Code
must be used in conjunction with the Institute's general Code of Conduct, the
Constitution and Disciplinary Code which apply to all members at all levels. |
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Definitions
Small Craft..... "any vessel less than
150 feet LOA (or metric equivalent) which is
private, pleasure, inland, river, coastal or
commercial".
Surveyor Member........"a member who has been duly elected
under the Institute's criteria as laid down in the Constitution
and is actively practicing small craft surveying"
Preamble
Only Full members are permitted to use the Institute
logo.
The Institute logo may only be used in the permitted format,
colour and size as directed by the Institute.
The Surveyor member will ensure that at all times the Institute
has full and up to date communication details
The Surveyor member shall at all times maintain in force Professional
Indemnity Insurance at a realistic level in accordance with the
Surveyor's work and professional status.
A Surveyor member will discharge his professional responsibility
with integrity and shall at all times advise or report in a fair
and factual manner without prejudice or favour.
Advices written or verbal to a Client are to be confidential
to that Client and disclosure to a third party requires the permission
of the client such permission to be in writing. All details held
with regard to the Client are to be considered as protected under
the Data protection act.
A Surveyor member shall not accept or offer any commission or
other hidden payment from or to a Client or the vendor, broker
or any boatyard.
The Surveyor member must disclose to the Client any pecuniary
or other interest with regard to the craft prior to accepting
any instruction.
If a Surveyor member is acting in a consultative capacity he
must disclose any possible conflict of interest whether or not
he considered this would be advantageous or detrimental to that
Client's interest.
A Surveyor member shall not agree to undertake a survey of any
craft unless he can be reasonably satisfied permission has been
obtained from the Owner or broker or other agent.
Contract
of Survey
On receipt of an initial enquiry for a survey
the Surveyor member shall ascertain the client's
detailed requirements and should draw attention
to the types of survey available in accordance
with the institute's Code of Practice for "Small
Craft Surveys".
The Surveyor member should advise the Client
of any opening up or pressure washing of the
craft required prior to survey and the possible
limitation that could apply if this was not possible.
The Surveyor member should advise the Client
of his fee rates detailing exactly what these
rates include or exclude (in the currency agreed)
plus any V.A.T. (or equivalent national tax liability)
which may apply.
The Surveyor member should advise the Client
that in the event of cancellation of the survey
by the Client or due to circumstances beyond
the control of the survey e.g. craft not ready
for survey, changes of plan, stress of environmental
conditions, the Surveyor member is entitled to
make a reasonable charge.
The Surveyor member shall not forego any part
of his agreed fee on the grounds some parts of
the craft were not accessible at the time of
survey.
The Client should be informed of ALL charges
that will or could be incurred and would be to
the Client's account with regard to transport
of the craft and removal of the craft from the
water and any opening up required by the Survey
or the Client should be advised to obtain the
Owner's permission for this to be done and by
which boatyard- Prior to survey.
The Surveyor member is strongly advised not to
become involved in instructions to or from a
boatyard on behalf of a Client unless such instruction
is received from the Client in writing.
The Condition Survey Report
The report should contain the following minimum
information:
a - The Client's name, type and purpose of survey
b - Vessel's identification, including the following
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1.
Name
2. Builder's and designer's names
3. Year of build
4. Registration number and tonnage
5. Dimensions |
c - Date
(s) and place of survey
d - A description of the extent of limitations of the survey
and reason of non inspection of any section or area of craft
e - Identification and classification of defects found
f - Recommendations
g - A conclusion, summarizing the principal findings
Further observations may be contained within the report at
the Surveyor's discretion or by agreement with the Client:
a - Any comment with regard to design, stability or performance
b - Recommendations for the further examination of parts unseen
c - General maintenance comments including defects
d - Comments with regard to the suitability of the vessel for
the Client's intended purpose and recommendations for any modifications,
equipment or layout.
Types of Survey
1. Pre-purchase/Condition Survey
2. Damage Survey
3. Valuation inspections,
4. Machinery, electrical and ancillary equipment inspections,
these are undertaken only by Surveyors with a specialist knowledge,
experience and qualification of such equipment. It would be
expected of the Surveyor member to report in a general manner
with regard to the condition of these items.
5. Consultancy, comprising, preliminary inspections, part survey
within agreed terms of reference in writing, trials and supervision
of new build.
Pre-purchase
Condition Survey
This is by far the most common survey and will
in most cases, be the most detailed and in depth
survey where the Client, frequently, is a first
time buyer with little or no previous knowledge
in this field and has total reliance on the Surveyor's
expertise.
This survey is normally but not exclusively required
by the Owner or prospective Owner of the craft
for the purpose of obtaining insurance, finance
or as security for a loan, or indeed just for
the Owners use. The Client's requirements should
be clearly discussed and agreed prior to accepting
instructions to ascertain the exact purpose of
the survey and the possible duty of care and
to whom.
N.B. A pre-purchase and condition survey is considered to ascertain
the structural condition of the craft. All other items are inspected
on a non-intrusive, visual basis only unless specifically agreed in the
contract of survey.
The following list is considered to be the minimum
areas/items that should be covered by the Surveyor
undertaking and carrying out this type of survey:-
| Bilge
Pumps |
Keel |
| Cathodic
Protection |
Machinery |
| Decks,
deck equipment |
Mast,
rigging & sails |
| Equipment
levels |
Plumbing |
| Electrical
Installations |
Rudders & Hangings |
| Davits,
boarding ladders & accesses |
Steering
gear |
| Fastenings |
Stem
Gear |
| Fire
Equipment |
Superstructure |
| Fresh
Water installations |
Safety
equipment |
| Fuel
tanks & pipe-work |
Stem
glands |
| Gas
systems |
Shafts
and couplings |
| Guard & Handrails |
Skin
fittings/sea cocks |
| Ground
Tackle |
Toilet
installations |
| Hatches & openings |
Ventilation
systems |
| Hull
bottom coating |
Windows & Port-lights |
The
survey should at all times be undertaken in accordance
with the Code of Practice published by the Institute
with regard to the hull structure.
The survey shall contain recommendations as to
work required and the Client should be advised
in writing to obtain several estimates for this
work prior to purchase.
Damage Surveys
This type of survey is required if the craft
has suffered any form of damage from what ever
cause.
This type of survey will be restricted to surveying
and reporting on the extent and nature of the
damage.
It is possible that the Surveyor may be asked
to give an opinion or investigate into the cause
of the damage. This should not be given unless
the Surveyor is working under specific agreed
instructions and that any opinions stated can
be fully substantiated and supported by evidence
that would stand in any possible litigation.
The Surveyor maybe asked for recommendations
for repair, this should only be done with the
express instruction from the Client.
Valuation Inspections
Valuations are often requested by the Client
to obtain insurance and/or finance or required
by solicitors or financial institutions with
regard to probate or other matters.
The purpose of the valuations and so dictating
the limits of the inspection should be clearly
defined.
The valuation document is a separate entity unless
specifically agreed with the Client as an integral
part of a full pre-purchase survey.
Machinery Surveys to fee rates to be charged
for any particular survey or service, relying
on market forces to maintain a competitive edge.
It is expected that individual Surveyor members
giving a professional service should quote professional
standards of fees.
General guidance may be obtained as to fee rates
from the Institute's secretary with regard to
specific groups within the Institute and current
practice.
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