Marine Survey Services

Marine Survey Services at U.S. Ports

Independent surveys of vessels, cargo and bunkers for owners, charterers, cargo interests, P&I clubs and insurers, with surveyor attendance at major U.S. seaports and 24/7 survey inquiries.

What marine survey services does Amica Marine provide at U.S. ports?

Amica Marine provides independent marine surveys for vessels, cargo and bunkers at U.S. ports: bunker, draft, tanker, chemical and dry bulk cargo surveys, loading and discharge supervision, P&I, hull and machinery, cargo damage, project cargo, vessel condition, tally and sampling surveys.

Amica Marine provides marine survey services at U.S. ports for shipowners, operators, charterers, ship managers, cargo owners, commodity traders, P&I clubs, marine insurers and bunker suppliers. Our surveyors attend vessels at major U.S. seaports, and survey inquiries are answered 24/7.

Quantity and bunker surveys

Bunker surveys – quantity, delivery, on-hire and off-hire ROB, sampling and shortage investigation
Draft surveys – initial and final draft surveys for bulk cargo weight
Tanker cargo surveys – ullage, OBQ, ROB, sampling and ship/shore reconciliation
Cargo tally and sampling – tally by hatch and lot, witnessed sampling and chain of custody

Cargo condition and operations

Dry bulk cargo surveys – hold cleanliness, hatch covers and bulk cargo condition
Chemical cargo surveys – tank inspection, wall wash and first-foot sampling
Loading and discharge supervision – continuous records of quantity, condition and delays
Breakbulk and project cargo surveys – condition, lifting, stowage and lashing

Claims, insurance and vessel surveys

P&I club surveys – cargo, dock damage, collision and pollution incidents
Hull and machinery surveys – casualty damage, repair cost and repair supervision
Cargo damage surveys – extent, cause and stage of loss
Vessel condition surveys – on-hire, off-hire and pre-purchase condition

Which marine survey do I need for my vessel or cargo?

Choose the survey by the question you need answered: quantity calls for draft, bunker, tanker or tally surveys; condition calls for hold, condition or project cargo surveys; cause and liability call for P&I, H&M or cargo damage surveys. If unsure, describe the situation and we recommend the scope.

How much cargo or fuel moved? Draft survey for dry bulk, tanker cargo survey for liquids, bunker survey for fuel, tally for breakbulk and bagged cargo.
Is the vessel fit to load? Hold cleanliness inspection for bulk carriers, tank inspection for chemical and product tankers, hatch cover tightness check.
What condition was the cargo in? Loading or discharge supervision, pre-shipment condition survey or project cargo survey.
What changed during the charter? On-hire and off-hire condition and bunker surveys.
What happened and who is liable? Cargo damage, P&I or hull and machinery survey.
Is the quality what the contract says? Witnessed sampling with chain of custody, followed by laboratory analysis chosen by the parties.

Many vessel calls combine scopes, for example a draft survey with hold inspection, or an off-hire condition survey with a bunker ROB survey. Combining them in one attendance reduces cost and gives one consolidated report.

Marine surveys at Houston, Corpus Christi, New Orleans and Mobile

Amica Marine coordinates surveyor attendance at major U.S. seaports, including the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay, Freeport, Corpus Christi, the Sabine-Neches Waterway, Lake Charles, the Lower Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to the Gulf, and Mobile.

The Gulf Coast handles a large share of U.S. crude oil and refined product exports, petrochemicals, grain, coal, petroleum coke, steel imports and project cargo. Each port has its own terminals, pilotage, anchorages and seasonal conditions that affect survey planning.

Texas: Houston, Galveston, Texas City, Freeport, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, Port Arthur, Sabine Pass, Brownsville and Point Comfort.
Louisiana: New Orleans, Port of South Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Plaquemines, Gramercy, St. James, Lake Charles and Port Fourchon.
Alabama: Mobile and Theodore.
California: Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Virginia: Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and the wider Hampton Roads area.
New York and New Jersey: New York Harbor, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Port Newark and Port Elizabeth.

For details on terminals, cargoes and survey conditions at each port, see U.S. ports we serve.

Marine survey engagements compared

Marine survey work falls into three engagement types: a single attendance for a defined task, an operation survey covering loading, discharge or bunkering from start to finish, and an investigation or claims survey. Each is quoted in writing before attendance, after we confirm scope and location.

How marine survey engagements are structured
Package	Deliverables	Timeline	Starting Investment
Single Attendance Survey	One attendance for a defined task: bunker ROB, hold inspection, condition survey, sampling or preliminary damage inspection, with photographs and a written report.	One attendance; timing depends on the port and the ship’s location; report after attendance.	Quote on request – based on port, ship location and scope.
Operation Survey or Supervision	Attendance through a loading, discharge or bunkering operation: draft surveys, gauging and sampling, cargo condition, delays and protests, consolidated report.	Start to completion of the operation; duration follows the terminal schedule.	Quote on request – based on port, ship location and scope.
Investigation or Claims Survey	Damage, loss, contamination or casualty investigation: evidence collection, joint surveys, cause and extent, cost or quantum review, report for insurers and lawyers.	One or more attendances plus document review.	Quote on request – based on port, ship location and scope.

Every engagement is quoted in writing before attendance, with launch hire, travel and extended waiting time shown separately.

How do I request a marine surveyor at a U.S. port?

Request a marine surveyor by calling 404-390-2132 or emailing info@amicamarine.com with the vessel, IMO number, port, ETA, survey type and appointing party. We confirm scope and quotation, assign a surveyor on written instruction and report findings in writing.

Send the inquiry. Vessel name, IMO number, port, ETA, survey type, cargo or bunker details and the appointing party, by phone at 404-390-2132 or email to info@amicamarine.com.
Scope and quotation. We confirm the scope of work, the documents the surveyor needs and a written quotation.
Written instruction. On your instruction, we assign a surveyor suited to the port, vessel and cargo and coordinate access with the agent and terminal.
Attendance. The surveyor attends, measures, inspects and records, and keeps you informed of significant findings during the job.
Report. You receive preliminary findings where needed and a written report with figures, photographs and supporting documents.

Questions about our marine survey services

These answers cover what shipowners, charterers, traders and insurers most often ask before appointing Amica Marine at a U.S. port. For a specific vessel call or incident, contact us 24/7 at 404-390-2132 or info@amicamarine.com.

Are your marine surveyors independent?

Yes. Amica Marine acts as an independent surveyor, records quantities and conditions as found, and reports to the party that appoints us without adjusting figures to suit any commercial position.

Do you issue class or flag-state certificates?

No. We provide independent commercial and insurance surveys. Class and statutory surveys and certificates are issued only by classification societies and flag-state authorities.

Can one surveyor handle several survey types on the same call?

Often, yes. Combining scopes such as draft and hold inspection, or condition and bunker surveys, is common. We confirm the combination when scoping the job.

Do you work for clients outside the United States?

Yes. Many clients are shipowners, charterers, traders and insurers in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. We communicate in English by phone and email around the clock.

How do I get a quotation?

Send the vessel, port, ETA and survey type to info@amicamarine.com or call 404-390-2132. We confirm the scope and send a written quotation before any attendance.

24/7 survey inquiries

404-390-2132
info@amicamarine.com

Need a marine surveyor at a U.S. port?

Send the vessel name, port, ETA and survey type. We respond to survey inquiries 24/7 and coordinate surveyor attendance at major U.S. seaports on the Gulf, Atlantic and Pacific coasts.