Services > Marine Surveys > On/Off Hire Survey

In marine trade, vessels are generally hired from owners by buyers of cargoes or by transportation companies.  Obviously at the time of taking delivery of a vessel (On-hire) or at the end of the period of charter when the vessel will be delivered back to the owner (Off-hire) it is imperative that the condition of the vessel should be exactly determined so that both sides to the charter know where they stand.Thus, at such a time the two sides request a survey firm to carry out such an inspection.  Such a survey invariably includes inspection of the physical condition of the vessel (the vessel’s hull, holds, deck, equipment used during the hire etc), and determining the amount of fuel on board etc.The survey report, which is accompanied by photographs, determines the damages sustained by the vessel, if any, during the period of charter as against the details given in the on-hire report.Clearly, having an on-hire report will allow the owner to demand reparations for the damages sustained according to a comparison with the off-hire report.  The on-hire report will also protect the charterer at the time of redelivery or off-hire.