Marine Cargo & Technical Services

IMS offers a full range of commercial survey, inspection, sampling and testing services with supporting Certificates and other relevant documentation, including, but not limited to the following:

1.  Hold and Tank Cleanliness/Condition Surveys - vessel's cargo worthiness, including hold or tank condition and cleanliness and the general suitability to load a particular cargo;

2.  Vessel’s of On/Off Surveys - vessels' hold condition and/or bunker on board at time of "on/off hire";

3.  Compliance Surveys – verifying the Vessel' suitability to carry cargoes governed by rules or codes, such as grain, bulk cargoes, timber deck cargoes and hazardous goods; and the practical application of local laws and customs of the trade;

4.  Cargo Pre-Loading Surveys – to measure and calculate the cargo's cubic feet/meter for freight payment/stowage purposes, and/or verify its condition by recording all visible damage before shipment and/or at the warehouse/dock for insurance purposes, carriers and/or freight forwarders;

5.  Loading, Handling & Stowage Advice - including stability and stress calculations; advice on draft and trim; safe carriage and discharge; to assure the effectiveness of securing; and for recommending and supervising loading, stowage, lashing, blocking & bracing to ensure the safe carriage of the cargoes;

6.  Grain Stability Separations, and Stress Calculation - assisting master in the loading planning and/or calculation to best meet the code.

7.  Heavy-Lift & Project Cargo Surveys - cargo condition/handling/stowage and lashing before and during loading are mostly done on behalf of shippers, underwriters, carriers and/or freight forwarders;

8. Pre-Shipment Surveys - surveys of break-bulk cargo, especially newsprint, wood-pulp and project cargoes to ensure that bills of lading and/or mate's receipts accurately note the apparent condition of cargo when it is loaded, and to comment on the water tightness, condition and ventilation of the vessel's holds.

9.  Out-turn Surveys - surveys of break-bulk cargo, especially steel, on arrival at the discharge port, to establish condition, any damages and/or shift of cargo that may have occurred during the voyage. This survey often requires the Silver Nitrate testing for chloride residues.

10.  Draft Surveys - surveys to determine the quantity of a bulk cargo loaded/discharged by reading the vessel's drafts, measuring the ballast water, fuel & diesel oil and other liquids on board, and calculating the final quantity by using the vessel's approved dead-weight scales and tank tables, etc.

11.  Dead-freight Surveys - to determine by measurement the amount of cargo a vessel could have loaded if all the available space was utilised. This is to determine the loss of freight due to short shipment of cargo.

12.  Hatch Sealing - to ensure that no contamination and/or loss of cargo occur during passage or stopover in other Ports prior to final destination.

13.  Damage Surveys - investigation of cargo damage or loss claims on behalf of P&I Clubs, carriers, shippers, consignee, etc. to determine possible cause and/or extent of any damage that may have occurred during shipment and to assist in mitigating further losses.

14. Stevedore and Terminal Damage - the investigation and survey of damage to vessels, terminals equipment, containers, cargo, cargo hoses, etc. that is alleged to have occurred as the result of handling of equipment, cargo, etc.

Container Surveys

1. Container Surveys - condition and cleanliness for on/off-hire as per IICL5 rules.

2. Sea Containers - CSC condition survey.

3. Container Cleanliness and Condition Survey - for general suitability to load bulk agricultural / food products. IMS made the inspection criteria/guidelines covering the containers for the loading of bulk Malt. These inspection criteria/guidelines have been widely accepted as the standard in the industry.

4.  Container Cargo Surveys - IMS works with shippers, consignees, insurers, as well shipping lines to provide a comprehensive range of cargo surveys and inspections. We specialise in providing on site representation for most major container lines and for a number of major railways. These services include damage cargo surveys, pre-shipment inspections, advice in loss control techniques, and container inspections. We can also assist in mitigating damage loss, arranging salvage sales, and in the disposal of damaged goods.

5. Container Inspections - as well as surveys of damaged containerised cargo, IMS provides stowage, securing, tallying and stuffing inspections of containerised cargo as well as container condition and damage inspections in accordance with owners' requirements and/or international standards.

6. IMDG Surveys - IMS provide surveys for compliance, packaging, stowage and marking/labelling for the shipment of dangerous goods, including radioactive materials.

Cargo Quantity & Quality:

1. Quantity - the determination of the quantity of both dry and liquid bulk cargoes loaded/discharged by draft survey or tank measurement or other means;

2. Quality - verification by representative sampling and testing of the samples, or by other means, that a cargo meets specific parameters;

3. Cargo Measurement - the physical cubic measurement of a particular cargo to determine freight payable and/or for pre-planning stowage.

Marine Technical Services:

1. Flag State Surveys - IMS represents a number of Flag States as inspectors of their ships, including those of The Bahamas, Barbados and Cyprus. We regularly conduct safety inspections, condition survey and marine accident investigations on their behalf on bulk carriers, tankers and also on a number of the cruise ships that call BC each summer.

2.  Condition Surveys - to determine a vessel's general or specific condition (including a number of ballast tanks), and/or its fitness to trade. This survey is usually on behalf of P & I Clubs and Flag States (All Vessels over 12 years old prior to be permitted to enter the Flag).

3.  Hull and Machinery - IMS acts as non-exclusive surveyor for a number of Classification Societies. We have access to highly qualified marine engineers, and we also have consulting arrangements with reputable marine engineering firms;

4.  Pre-purchase Surveys - on behalf of prospective buyers, to determine the actual condition of a vessel and/or its machinery and equipment, including (if required & permitted) non-destructive ultrasonic thickness gauging.

5.  Non-Destructive Testing - ultrasonic thickness gauging of steel plates and pipes using Panametric's 36DL Plus unit.

6.   Hatch Tightness Testing – We can provide tightness testing by ultra sound or by way of hose testing for water ingress. Our ultrasonic equipment is the class approved Sharelog Equipment with data logger.

7.   Railroad Freight Claims - we provide cargo loss services for a number of railroads that operate into Canada;

8. General Average (GA) Consulting - IMS provides consultation by reviewing GA adjustments and/or surveys to assist in claims recovery on behalf of cargo interests;

9.   Foreign Trade Supervision (FTS) - IMS has considerable experience in the field of Foreign Trade Supervision (FTS) and are familiar with required inspections and documentation required;

10.  Fish Farms - IMS can provide investigations into fish farm location, mooring, equipment, operation, losses and damage.

Other Services - IMS can also provide a number of other marine and cargo related services, such as:

Superintendencey and Consultancy:

1. Supervision - and/or overseeing of the entire cargo operation or at various stages, with a view to ensure a smooth and expeditious turn-around.

2. Safety Audits and ISM Consultancy

3. Expert Witnesses - assisting law firms, P&I Clubs, Owners, or other involved parties with investigation, preparation and substantiating their case.