Pre-Shipment Surveys of Steel Cargoes

Pre-shipment surveys of Steel cargo are held to determine the apparent condition of such steel cargo immediately before loading to fully and accurately determine such conditions at that time. This is necessitated due to increase in claims related to poor outturn of such cargoes;
Rivers and Waterways surveyors may be requested to remain in attendance throughout the loading operation to monitor the apparent condition of the cargo being loaded, advise on stowage and dunnaging; as well as standards of securing; safe load within load strength limits of compartments, proper lashing & securing to avoid shifting, chafing and to ensure ease of discharge.
Advice the Master on clausing the Bills of Lading properly incorporating the survey report.

Rivers and Waterways surveyors use the International Group of P&I Clubs’ terminology as follows:
  • Partly rust stained
  • Wet before shipment
  • Some rust spots apparent
  • Rust on metal envelopes
  • Some top sheets rusty
  • Rusty
  • Rusty ends
  • Edges bent and rusty
  • Rust and oil spotted
  • Rust spots apparent
  • Wet bars
  • Top sheets rusty
  • Pitted
  • Some rusty edges
  • Goods in rusty condition
  • Rust spotted
  • Rust stained
  • Wet steel tubes
  • Some rust spots apparent on top sheets
  • Covered with snow
  • Rusty edges
  • Rust with pitting
  • Some rusty ends
  • Partly rusty
When packed sheet iron is shipped the following two clauses may be used:

Covers rusty/wet
Packing rusty/wet”