Services · Draft Surveys
Draft Surveys for Bulk Carriers
A draft survey calculates how much cargo a vessel has loaded or discharged from how deep it sits in the water. On a large bulk carrier, it is how the cargo quantity is settled between shipper, receiver and owner.
i4Survey carries out draft surveys and issues the certificate. Most of this work is mineral and ore cargoes on large bulk carriers; we also survey coal, scrap and other dry bulk.
How the Survey Works, and Where
Readings
Draft marks
Read forward, midships and aft on both sides, before and after loading or discharge.
Water density
Dock water sampled at the vessel's side and its density measured.
Ballast, fresh water and fuel
Tanks sounded, so that weights other than the cargo can be deducted.
Calculation and certificate
Displacement
Calculated from the vessel's hydrostatic tables, corrected for trim, hogging or sagging, and water density.
Cargo weight
The difference between the initial and final surveys, after deductions, certified for shipper, receiver and owner.
Where we attend
Turkey
Every port, from Iskenderun to Istanbul
Spain
Including Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Huelva, Tarragona and Valencia
Italy
Including Augusta, Bari, Marghera, Milazzo and Ravenna
United Kingdom
From our base in Newport
France and Greece
Fos-sur-Mer, Marseille, Volos, Thessaloniki and Chalkis
Egypt and Morocco
Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said, Casablanca and Jorf Lasfar
China and Hong Kong
Shanghai, Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao and other Chinese ports; Hong Kong
Southeast Asia and Taiwan
All ports in Malaysia and Vietnam; Jakarta and Bahodopi (Morowali) in Indonesia; Prachuap in Thailand; Kaohsiung in Taiwan
Common Questions
- Who orders a draft survey?
- The shipper, the receiver or the shipowner. Each wants an independent figure for the cargo quantity, and on large bulk carriers the parties often settle on that figure.
- How is the cargo weight calculated?
- Before and after loading or discharge, we read the drafts, measure the water density, sound the ballast, fresh water and fuel tanks, and calculate the vessel's displacement. The difference between the two displacements, less the other weights on board, is the cargo weight.
- Which cargoes do you survey?
- Mostly minerals and ores on large bulk carriers; also coal, scrap and other dry bulk.
- Do you issue a certificate?
- Yes. The draft survey result is certified for the shipper, the receiver and the owner.
- Which ports do you cover?
- Every Turkish port; Europe from our hubs in Spain, Italy and the UK; France, Greece, Egypt and Morocco; and the Far East from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. Our surveyors travel from these hubs to other ports.
- What should I send to book a draft survey?
- The vessel's name, the port, the cargo and the expected loading or discharge dates.
Book a Draft Survey
Email e.sirtas@i4survey.com with the vessel, the port, the cargo and the dates, or use the contact form.
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