Unique Surveys

Condition and valuation and subsequent suitability for tow survey for 105’ ocean going tug in Guatemala purchased by a client and brought back to the US for reflagging.

Suitability for tow survey on a 120’ inland steam powered paddlewheel passenger vessel documented for inland waters only. Vessel was towed from San Francisco Bay to Seattle without incident. Stability was accessed by a Naval Architect and found to be adequate for limited weather conditions. Tow plan specified short legs with weather windows obtained using 1.5 safety factor.

Surveyor of record for the at sea disposal of the Southwest Marine San Pedro dry dock. Dry dock was a 3-section unit constructed with wood pontoons and steel wing walls and measuring 535’ length overall by 130’ beam and 15’ depth. The wood pontoons had been treated with arsenic over the years, presenting a potential pollution issue. Shoreside disposal was ruled out as cost prohibitive. One of the smaller sections was in poor condition and was not suitable for towing. This section was disassembled and the wing walls scrapped. The pontoons were floated onto the remaining sections and secured. The EPA permit required that the USCG “Certify” both that the sections were seaworthy and pollution free. By obtaining a detailed pollution study, and demonstrating adequate hull condition of the pontoons, the USCG issued the required certifications and the drydock sections were disposed of without incident. This project had been declared to be an impossible feat by the prior surveyor of record.

Surveyor of record for the at sea disposal of the Bay Ship & Yacht Co. Small dry dock. Dry dock was a single section unit constructed of concrete hull and wing walls and measuring 140’ length overall. Shoreside disposal was ruled out as cost prohibitive. The EPA permit required that the USCG “Certify” both that the sections were seaworthy and pollution free. By demonstrating adequate hull condition and that the unit was pollution free, the USCG issued the required certifications and the drydock was disposed of without incident, even though it had to cross through an environmentally sensitive area prior to disposal.

Machinery damage survey on $22,000,000 Feadship Mega-yacht which sustained a shaft failure in Mexico. Followed the vessel up to San Diego and continued survey activities on behalf of Interested Underwriters, requiring attendance for approximately a 2 week period.

Attended as a CAT-Team member during Hurricane Ivan aftermath in Grenada in 2003. Had to charter a vessel and arrive by water due to lack of any shoreside facilities or transportation. Teamed up with another surveyor and jointly inspected approximately 50 vessels during a 10 day period.