Marine Surveys

Marine Surveys / Pre Purchase Survey

Our Marine Survey - Pre Purchase Survey is a comprehensive out-of-the-water inspection (see scope) and is recommended to protect your investment when purchasing any ocean sailing yacht, motor cruiser, sports boat, canal narrow boat or broads cruiser etc.  A pre purchase marine survey will almost certainly be required by your marine insurance company for older vessels, and in addition an insurance valuation may well be required. A marine surveyor is a trained professional who acts as your eyes, ears and agent / adviser in any assessment, survey, contractual situation or accident investigation. He is someone who makes sure that accurate information is gathered professionally, efficiently and impartially Marine surveys are usually required at the setting up of a new marine insurance policy and thereafter at regular intervals.
  • As in all our survey reports we highlight and detail all items inspected and defects found and make recommendations.
  • Recommendations being graded from 'improve maintenance' to  'implement (action) without delay'
  • Optional - Market Valuation - for insurance / finance purposes.  Additional Fee Applies
  • Optional - River / Engine Trials.  Additional Fee Applies
Important A Pre-Purchase Survey (out-of-the-water) covers the major structural, engine installation & propulsion, steering, fuel, batteries, windows and safety issues (and much more besides) required by buyers and insurance companies alike. We do not comment on such as canopies, soft furnishings, white goods & domestic installations etc. as we believe that you have already formed an opinion on these. Engines & Stern Drives are expensive to repair - EMS are not qualified marine engineers and therefore we always recommend a comprehensive inspection by a qualified engineer or alternatively an engine oil sample analysis from which inherent 'engine problems' may well be determined in advance - tells you plenty about the engine's internal condition As marine surveyors, not qualified electrical or electronic engineers, we are unable to report upon electrical, electronic or navigation systems being 'fit for purpose' or their satisfactory installation We undertake a Navigational / Electrical equipment  'Switch Function Test  ie.  On / Off '  and make comments accordingly. However the equipment is NOT operated and we are therefore unable to guarantee or provide an opinion that such equipment is 'fit for purpose' We always recommend inspection by a duly qualified electrical / electronic engineer prior to purchase should there be concerns River / Vessel performance trials: As most inspections are conducted out-of-the-water it is also strongly recommended that vessel performance & engine trials are undertaken prior to completing any purchase, allowing the client to satisfy himself as to the satisfactory operation of installed systems, propulsion, steering, electrical, electronic and navigation equipment, domestic plus water and waste installations and deck equipment etc etc.   EMS offer a river / sea (vessel performance) trials service - Additional Fees Apply We take between 200-300 photographs of every inspection, a limited number being included in report as considered necessary.  All photos being retained on file for future reference See below for Pre-Purchase Scope - Principal items being included in our Pre-Purchase Survey Your professional Marine Surveyors for the Norfolk Broads, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Cambridgeshire & Lincolnshire and throughout the UK & Europe - We travel Anywhere at Any time

Marine Insurance Surveys - All vessel types & materials

European Marine Services undertake marine surveys / inspections / valuations for Insurance Purposes, plus accident damage surveys and loss adjusting reports for several leading marine insurance companies, covering both leisure and commercial vessels to to approx 30m in length. When instructed by clients this report meets all the usual requirements for Marine Insurance Companies and Bank / Finance Houses conditions. As in all our reports we highlight and detail all items inspected and defects found and make recommendations. Recommendations being graded from 'improve maintenance' to  'implement without delay'

Hull Marine Survey / Inspection & Osmosis Reports

External (out of water) GRP hull inspection for Osmosis and visual / external damage to underwater appendages. Inspection for osmosis / wicking with associated hull moisture meter levels Fees from £9 / ft - When an ocean yacht, motor cruiser, canal narrow boat, broads cruiser are nearly new or the purchaser does not have concerns, we are regularly requested to carry out a below waterline - hull inspection only. This includes underwater appendages eg. keels, extended skegs, rudders, propeller shafts & shaft brackets, bow thruster, anodes etc etc. Equally insurance companies may also require assurance that the motor yacht / sail boat / steel barge / broads yacht is a favourable risk. Please note insurance companies do vary as to the extent of the hull inspections undertaken. In many cases an out of the water hull inspection is sufficient.  For older vessels insurer's may well require a Pre Purchase Survey (PPI) report. For a steel hull vessel / hull this may include an ultra-sound hull survey for plating thickness, this can be undertaken in-water but we will discuss and make recommendations as necessary. Wood hull yachts the inspection includes both Tramex Skipper Plus Moisture meter readings plus hammer testing and pricking at any doubtful features etc. Internal scantling inspection being subject to additional instruction and fee. Hull Inspections - Scope     The items covered below are detailed for GRP hulls,  however a similar scope applies for both Steel and Wood construction Your professional Marine Surveyors for the Norfolk Broads, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Cambridgeshire & Lincolnshire

Marine Valuation Reports for Marine Insurance / Finance or Probate

Fees from £7 / ft  plus travel - European Marine offer marine valuation services for both commercial and leisure craft. To include but not limited to large motor boats, sailing yachts, steel barges, narrow boat, broads cruisers etc. We currently act for several leading marine insurance, banks and finance companies. As CPR 35 Accredited Experts we also undertake client's instruction to value vessels of all types for reasons of dispute and legal settlement. Valuations are carried out on an As-Seen / Walk Through basis, and the vessel can be afloat or ashore. Your professional Marine & Yacht Surveyors for East Anglia, Norfolk Broads, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Cambridgeshire, & Lincolnshire

Static / Sea / River Trials & Report

Optional Fee £80.00 / hour - Following (or prior to) a survey it may be necessary to undertake static, river or sea trials covering satisfactory running and speed performance of engines. Transmission & propulsion vibrations etc, Engine overall performance, temperature and pressure readings / measurements when engines are warm. Vessel handling and satisfactory operation of steering installations. The following speed / engine trials are undertaken:
  • Max rpm / speed trials run in both directions / against wind & tide
  • Satisfactory operation of forward and reverse gears
  • Emergency stop – passing from full ahead through neutral to full reverse
  • Steering response / handling – Figure of eight steering performance
  • General steering, control and gear operation
  • All engine gauge readings photographed at determined RPM - for file reference
It may well be acceptable to perform engine trials underload, whilst the vessel is moored alongside a suitable quay heading or mooring We also perform 'speed trials' in the derestricted zone on the river with GPS speeds recorded Please note we of course require the brokers / owners attendance and authority We often have to wait around for the yard / broker to make their own launching arrangements etc in respect of boat / engine trials. As a consequence we charge a minimum fee of 2 hours.
  •  Important to note that this is not the time spent on the water testing and includes launching & transit time etc

Engine Oil Sample Analysis & Smoke Generation

Oil Analysis Fee £90.00 inc. per engine     -    If undertaken at time of Survey Attendance Oil  Analysis Inspections    -   Carried out to ISO 9001: 2008 standards Oil is the life blood of all machinery - To protect yourself from potentially expensive repairs why not get an engine health check at the same time as the inspection. Engine(s) visual only inspections are carried out on yachts and power boats As surveyors (not qualified engineers) we visually inspect engines and generator installations during our inspections, when instructed / arranged the engine is run up to access its general running characteristics, vibration levels etc.  No dismantling of the engine or associated equipment is carried out within the scope of a condition survey so no detailed comment upon the internal parts is possible. As we are unable to comment on the internal condition of the engine(s). It is therefore always strongly recommended that the engines(s) are examined and further tested by a qualified marine engineer familiar with the make and type of machinery installed. On larger power vessels the engine represents a large part of the vessels value and is fundamental to safety. The above visual examinations will be carried out where possible but we will probably recommend a full engine trial to put the engine(s) through their paces. On most marine engines an oil analysis is a worth while investment and considerably less expensive than attendance by a qualified marine engineer as it can tell a lot about the engines internal condition. Attendance Only - Oil Analysis Sample Fee £ 150.00 inc  per engine  -  plus 60p per mile travel It represents very good value compared with the cost of rectifying damaged engines We will if requested recommend qualified marine engineers to undertake a more in depth engineering report Oil Analysis is one of the most useful and important maintenance support programs available.
  1. Detects problems early, so actions can be taken  before they become major failures.
  2. Helps schedule downtime to fit the workload.
  3. Monitors positives as well as negatives, so you won't have to pay for repair of components that are not worn out.
  4. Allows you to monitor maintenance schedules to verify that routine maintenance has been performed.
  5. Enables you to better manage budgets by predicting repairs, downtime, and equipment life.
  6. Helps you develop a complete service history for each machine. This proves invaluable when evaluating performance and planning replacement purchases.
  7. Documents service history for a higher price at trade-in or sale.
For maximum protection, you need oil sampling for all major oil lubricated systems (engine, transmission, hydraulic system and final drives) and coolant sampling for your cooling systems. By pinpointing trouble early, you can avoid unplanned repairs or catastrophic failures. Our Marine Engine Oil Analysis Laboratory operates to ISO 9001:2008 standards and meets all manufacturer warranty requirements. The Laboratory can provide analysis for all types of synthetic, mineral & bio-degradable oils ,engine oils, gas engine oils, hydraulic oils, transmission oils, gear oils, transformer oils, coolants, grease, cutting fluids, water based oils, glycols emulsions, diesel fuel, fuel and biodiesel etc.  We would expect the marine engine oil analysis sample report return (by email) within approx four working days.

Mast & Rigging Surveys information

As surveyors (not sail-makers or riggers) European Marine Services are regretfully unable to provide a full written report or opinion of standing / running rigging, sails, mast and spars, associated equipment, winches and fittings etc. We do however offer comments of equipment / fittings - viewed at deck level and discuss our ‘general opinion’ with the client. We therefore work with messrs Jeckells of Wroxham Sailmakers & Riggers to offer a full comprehensive service and provide a written report for our clients A mast and rigging inspection is always recommended prior to any extended coastal or offshore trip The inspection policy varies between insurance companies but nevertheless a period of no more than ten years is recommended between inspections In association with messrs Jeckells (rigging department) a rigging survey / inspection will involve 'climbing' the mast - which saves the problem and cost of unstepping the mast to inspect the cap and tange. An electric current will be passed through the standing rigging to detect 'potential failures' in rigging terminals etc etc, For a Quotation please call us Plus much more......

Ultrasound Hull Thickness Surveys - Steel & Alloy

Hull Thickness Testing / Examination of Steel and Alloy construction Save Money - No need to lift your vessel out of the water - We can measure the hull thickness with the boat afloat as long as we can get access to the important areas in the bilge spaces
Ultrasound examination of hulls to determine accurate plate / substrate thickness is undertaken with a Cygnus 4 multiple echo ultrasonic thickness gauge. The Cygnus 4 ultrasonic thickness gage is small, tough and accurate. Designed for the harshest of environments with a simple to use keypad and intuitive menus and a color LCD display which can be viewed in all lighting conditions. The twin shot injection molded enclosure has a soft but durable TPE outer skin which is both comfortable and robust while the inner shell is strong, keeping the electronics totally sealed from the outside world. Having passed the stringent US Military Standard 810G environmental tests, this new housing represents toughness and reliability. The Cygnus Multiple-Echo, single crystal probe, technology means you can measure through thick coatings and only the remaining metal thickness is displayed.
This gauge enables us to undertake numerous inspections without the removal of paint / corrosion present on the surfaces = Non Destructive Testing (NDT) We are not only limited to determining the thickness of steel but can readily use the Cygus 4 multiple echo instrument on such as Aluminium (Alloy) and GRP if required - up to 20mm of thickness Call us to discuss your requirement    

Machinery & Systems Inspections

British Registration - Tonnage Surveys for Part 1 Registration

British Registration of Yachts – Part 1  The following notes may be of assistance. Choosing a name for your yacht: Your choice of name need only be restricted by the following criteria:
  • You may not register a name which may cause confusion or offence;
  • You may not register a name which is the same as, or similar to, the name of a boat which is already registered;
Names beginning with initials which might be confused with a vessel type or a signal or code, such as, “SOS”, “my”, “HMS” or “Mayday” would not be allowed; Names beginning with the definite article, i.e. “The Boat” will not be registered. If the name “Mandy” is available, you may also register “Mandy 2” or “Mandy 47”. If “Mandy” is not available, “Mandy 2” will not be available either. However, if you already own “Mandy”, you may also register “Mandy 2”. It is advisable to submit several alternatives in order to ensure that early approval of the proposed name is obtained. One option is to include, as your second choice of name, the name plus a place name. For example, should your first choice be "Mandy", your second choice could be "Mandy of Hamble". Any place name can be used but if that place is one of the Ports of Choice (listed in the schedule to the questionnaire) it must be the Port of Choice selected for the vessel. In other words, if your Port of Choice for the vessel is Southampton, then "Mandy of Southampton" would be acceptable as a name, but "Mandy of Portsmouth" would not. Port of Choice You must select a Port of Choice for the vessel from the list attached to the questionnaire. The choice is entirely arbitrary and the vessel needs to have no particular connection with that port. However, the port selected will need to be marked on the vessel in due course (see section 2 overleaf). Joint Ownership If the vessel is to be owned by joint owners, registration will be completed as joint owners of all 64 shares (unless nationality precludes this.) Procedure - If you have not already done so, we may require you to sign the application forms which we prepare on your behalf;
  1. We will apply to register your yacht on Part 1 of the Register of Ships;
  2. We will normally notify you when we have received approval of one of your choices of name;
  3. We will make arrangements for a measurement survey to be undertaken. We will contact you if the cost of the survey exceeds the fees you have given us. The survey can normally be carried out within a two weeks, or slightly longer if the vessel is abroad;
  4. You will need to make sure that the EMS surveyor can gain access to the yacht to carry out the measurement. We will contact you to arrange a convenient time and place to do this, unless you tell us that someone else (for example, marina staff) can arrange this for you;
  5. We will check and submit the title documentation in support of the application;
  6. When the Registry of Shipping have approved all the documents, including the measurement survey, they will issue a carving and marking note, which we will send to you;
We will order a “tonnage board” for you. This will show the Official Number of the yacht, and the Net Tonnage.        We will send this to you
  1. You will need to arrange for the name and port of choice to be marked on the yacht, and for the tonnage board to be affixed. The instructions for doing so are on the carving and marking note. An example (UK mainland) is attached.
  2. When the yacht is marked, you will need to sign the carving and marking note and send it to us. For Channel Island Registry, and yachts over 24m the carving and marking note will need to be signed by a surveyor or Registry official; we can advise you of the procedure and any additional fees;
  3. We will complete the registration and send the Certificate of Registry to you.
Title documentation – The completion of your registration depends upon us receiving title documents for the yacht. This means: A builder’s certificate to you OR A builder’s certificate to the first owner and bills of sale showing the transfer of the yacht through subsequent owners to you OR Bills of sale dating back at least 5 years.  If the vessel is currently registered with a foreign registry a transcript of that register must be obtained, translated and notarially certified. The Registry of Shipping will reject documents that are not properly executed or contain errors. This occasionally occurs and we will endeavour to resolve any problem which arises. Certificate of Registry - We will forward this to you when the registration is complete. It should be kept aboard the vessel. It is your evidence that the vessel has been registered. It contains details about the ship and its owners and establishes the ship's nationality and tonnage. Time – The registration process normally takes around 6-8 weeks for a vessel in the UK. However, at busy times of year the Registry of Shipping deal with hundreds of applications. In the event of such delays, difficulties in measuring the vessel or problems with title documentation it can take longer to complete the registration. You should not make any plans to move your yacht outside UK waters or use it in foreign waters until you have your certificate of registry, as we cannot guarantee to complete registration within a given timescale. A note about Small Ship Registration (SSR) – Small Ship Registration (also known as Part 3 Registration) is a simplified form of registration. It takes only a few days to complete but it is not a “register of title”. This means that the Registry of Shipping do not check title documents or require official measurement of the vessel. If you have a marine mortgage your lender may require you to have “full registration” or “part one registration”, and SSR will not suffice for this purpose. If the vessel is already SS Registered, the SSR must be cancelled before the Part 1 registration can be completed. We may need to ask you to confirm cancellation of an SSR in writing. Commercial vessels – There are limited circumstances in which it will be desirable to register a yacht as a commercial vessel. Unless otherwise requested all applications made on our client questionnaire will be treated as registrations for pleasure vessels. These notes apply to pleasure vessels – owners of commercial vessels will also need to provide proof that the vessel complies with applicable codes of safety and should note that the requirements for carving and marking are more onerous. Registration of commercial vessels may take longer and is not covered by our standard fee structure. IMPORTANT: Your registration is not complete until you have received your Certificate of Registry. Many foreign authorities require vessels to produce a certificate of registry and your yacht may be impounded if it enters foreign waters or ports without a valid certificate on board.