Marine Surveyors and Consultants Summit 2001

Offering today's marine surveyor insight to the current state of a fast changing industry through market representative testimonials targeting the marine surveyor's role. In a conference made up of representatives of every link in the maritime chain, the marine surveyor will have the opportunity to debate, defend and define his role, past present & future, in the international maritime industry, while gaining a better understanding of what the industry demands of him.

In the interest of meeting these demands with successful results, the goal of the conference is to design and put into effect a Quality Charter for Marine Surveyors & Consultants.

The Quality Charter will recognise and (attempt to) guarantee that, as a sector, Marine Surveying and Consulting has a crucial role to play in promoting the Quality Culture of Shipping by offering quality services in compliance with internationally agreed training, competence and working standards.

TOPICS:

Increasing complexity of claims will require a different approach

Public demands more information after disasters

The public sector in recent years has required more information after a disaster. How has the surveying industry responded? Has this response produced positive results?

Will the surveyor be asked to play an important role in claims handling

Reliability of reporting

Local law and culture may / will affect the approach taken in handling the claim

Are the public and the private sectors in conflict?

Is there a trend of professionals from other sectors successfully expanding their business beyond the traditional separation of activities?

Is the class society beginning to function as a traditional insurance surveyor, and how do they compare?

How will the general request for transparency have an impact?

Globalisation of activities requires an international approach.

Can there be an industry-wide harmonisation / standardisation of the level of training?

Is the profession changing?

From a legal perspective

Due to the impact of e-commerce

Is there scope for change?

Will the changing insurance industry have an impact?

Are the requirements of the client different from those of the broker.

Can an "industry charter" be designed which will develop and internationalise existing codes of practice?

How can governments supervise and promote compliance with such a charter?

Are there lessons to be learned from other industries or specialist sectors which are worthy of consideration and wider application.

The shipowner´s / ship manager´s point of view

Legal implication of transparent reporting

In light of the ISM Code

In litigious cultures: USA

Proliferation of surveys:

How can existing inspections / surveys be modified in scope with the aim of minimizing the total number?

Have the results of reliably performed inspections / surveys been used by multiple users?

Need within the European Union of Common Standards and Procedures

for those who are appointed by European Governments as official Consultants and/or Investigators for, at least, major marine casualties.

The largest part of the activities of a Marine Consultant & Surveryor have, one way or another, as an ending result the safety of ships and the protection of the environment. Therefore the “Quality” of such a professional should be of highstandards.

Quality standards should be defined and adopted by those who wish to be active within this profession and be accepted and adhered to, on an International basis or at least, as a start, within the European Union.

It is essential that International & National Organizations, the Shipping and Manufacturing Industry become part of this understanding and demand that only the services of professionals who qualify to these standards are accepted.

Definition of the required standards will have be set by an international committee representing regulatory organizations, the industry and the professional organizations or their federation such as FEMAS.

Participation

Conf. Committee