Pre-purchase ship inspection
Know what you are buying before you sign. A Master Mariner inspects the ship’s nautical and general condition, checks her records, and gives you a photo-evidence report with findings referenced to SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM and MLC.
Hull, decks & cargo areas
Visible condition, corrosion, coatings, hatch covers, access and housekeeping.
Mooring & anchoring
Winches, windlass, ropes, fairleads and mooring stations.
Safety equipment
Lifesaving and fire-fighting equipment, escape routes, drills records.
Bridge & navigation
Navigation equipment, charts and ECDIS, passage planning, bridge records.
Accommodation
Living conditions, galley, hospital, against MLC 2006.
Safety management & crew
ISM system on board, crew certificates and manning, maintenance records.
Records we review
- Statutory and class certificates, and what falls due
- Outstanding conditions of class and memoranda
- Port state control history
- Maintenance and safety management records
What you receive
- PDF report with a photo for every finding
- Findings ranked by severity, each referenced to the regulation
- Short summary for the buyer and the broker
- Draft built on site with ShipCheckAI, for a fast turnaround
Prefer to fill in a checklist yourself, without AI? Use our desktop pre-purchase inspection form.
A pre-purchase inspection is not a class survey, and it does not replace a technical machinery survey. If you need one, we will tell you when quoting.
Master Mariners on every job
- Captains with command, DP, audit and fleet management experience
- Qualified ISM, ISPS and MLC internal auditors and STCW assessors
- Partner surveyors across Europe and Asia
Where
Base: Riga, Latvia. Latvian ports (Riga, Ventspils, Liepāja) and the Baltic Sea region. Worldwide on request, with partner surveyors in Norway, the Mediterranean and Asia.
Vessel types
What is a pre-purchase ship inspection?
An independent inspection of a ship before the sale is agreed. It shows the buyer the ship’s real condition, her records and the deficiencies that will cost money or time after delivery.
Does it replace a class survey?
No. Class surveys are done by the classification society. We review the class records and inspect the ship’s nautical and general condition. A technical machinery survey can be arranged separately.
How long does it take?
It depends on the ship’s size and access on board. We confirm the time on board and the report date when we quote.
Where can you inspect?
From Riga across Latvian ports and the Baltic Sea region, and worldwide on request. Partner surveyors can cover jobs in Norway, the Mediterranean and Asia.
How much does it cost?
We quote per request, based on the ship, the port and the dates. Send the details below and we reply within one working day.