| With decades of experience, our marine services are known to be industry leading. Our team approach effectively puts the resources of our entire organization at your disposal. With SGS, you will get local service that connects you seamlessly to the SGS global network. With our knowledge of the fertilizer industry, we are constantly alert to the circumstances that could effect your business needs.
Our marine services experts minimize your commercial and contractual risks by ensuring that the fertilizer quality actually shipped is the fertilizer quality that arrives. SGS' marine services include but are not limited to:
Bunker and Conditional Survey
During change of ownership or time charter, a bunker survey or condition survey is needed to document the condition of the vessel prior to change of ownership. A bunker survey will establish the amount of bunker and lube oil onboard the vessel at a given time.
Bunker surveys are also used as a loss-prevention measure. Proper documentation of bunker operations are required if a dispute or claim is anticipated. Improper collection and distribution of bunker samples will risk a subsequent claim in the event of a dispute. Our technical experts will conduct a bunker survey is done prior to and after a time charter period.
Conditional surveys are usually done in association with a bunker survey. The purpose of a conditional survey is to inspect and record the condition of the loading gear, cargo holds and hatches of the vessel. With the assurance of our SGS personnel, our findings and report will allow you, the owner or operator of the vessel, to file claim for any potential damages caused during the time charter period.
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Weight and Quantity Verification
SGS provides bankable weight and quantity verification services at ports and major inland trans-shipment points worldwide. Whether you are trader, distributor, blender, or integrated fertilizer producer, SGS is ready to independently verify your shipment to ensure compliance with contractual documents. The bankable inspection certificate or report issued by SGS upon completion is your assurance of our inspection services.
SGS inspectors use great caution during the inspection process. We understand that many factors can influence the weight determination of both bulk and bagged fertilizers. Throughout the inspection process, SGS monitors the performance of the weighing system and checks it with both items of known weights and recent calibration data. Detailed field records are kept of the data used to determine the final declared weight. We also supply a certificate of weight to you after a complete and successful weighing process is completed.
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Draft Survey
Draft surveys are used to determine the weight of cargo loaded onto, or discharged from, a vessel. Our global network of highly qualified draft surveyors work to a defined draft survey protocol, resulting in accurate draft weights for you at load and discharge points. Dependable and consistent draft weights allow you to monitor and control shrinkage while limiting the financial risks associated with bulk cargo transactions.
In principle, draft surveys require only a measurement of the water displaced by the vessel before and after the cargo is transferred, along with a measurement of the water’s density. Water displacement is measured through draft marks on the ship and converted to a volume using draft tables. The weight of displaced water is calculated by multiplying its volume (displacement) by its density.
The difference between the weights of water displaced before and after the cargo transfer will equal the weight of the fertilizer within measurement accuracy limits.
In practice, draft surveys are complicated procedures that require a highly qualified draft surveyor. Overall accuracy will depend on the surveyor’s skill in dealing with:
- The varying density of sea or river water
- Changes in quantity of ballast between initial and final draft readings
- Changes in consumables on the vessel between initial and final draft readings (fuel oil, potable water, etc.)
- Allowance for trim, list and deformation corrections (SGS uses data from the vessel’s draft tables)
- Accuracy of the ship’s draft tables
- Condition of the vessel’s draft markings
Weather and sea conditions at the time of reading (pitch and swell)
- Weight of the cargo loaded when compared to the total capacity of the vessel
- Weather and day-light
SGS use only SGS trained draft surveyors. These personnel follow the approved SGS Standard Operational Procedures for the determination of weight by draft survey. This will provide you with trusted draft weights at ports worldwide. Our experienced professionals feed the raw data into a spreadsheet, which then calculates the weight loaded or discharged. This result is reviewed before release to you and the raw data is retained should it be required. Depend on SGS for your draft survey requirements and let our skilled professionals minimize your fertilizer transaction risks.
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On-Hires and Off-Hires
On-hires and off-hires are vital to the shipment of fertilizer because it allows for the determination of the vessels’ present structure condition. At the beginning of the charter agreement, our staff will inspect the condition of the vessel as well as the maintenance of all equipment on board. This data will be then used to determine any discrepancies at the end of the charter agreement. At the conclusion of the charter agreement, the vessel used for shipment is then re-examined. The condition of the vessel as well as the maintenance of the equipment is all inspected again. SGS’ experienced staff will provide detailed reports to all parties involved for the on hire and off hire. These reports, filled out by reliable SGS staff, can then be used to settle any potential disputes concerning the condition of the vessel after the charter agreement has expired.
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