What is the purpose of the pre-loading survey?

Pre-loading survey is organized/recommended under situations by the instruction of ship’s owner/operator. Surveyors have the duty to act prudently and take necessary steps to organize pre-loading surveys to ensure that the Bill of Lading is correctly endorsed/claused wherever appropriated by the Ship’s Master. (Sometimes, Master receipts and/or other cargo manifests by the Master.)

Pre-loading surveys are entirely depending on the vessel’s Master and his cargo officer/chief officer’s experience and the company insurance department advice to order pre-loading surveys at the right time for sensitive/lightly valued cargo under doubtful circumstances.

A pre-loading survey must be paved to the company insurance department at anytime before the cargo is to be loaded. Pre-loading survey can prevent huge claims to the company or make it much easier to defend claims. It is in the interest of the company’s P&I club to notify the company insurance department if a Master or his cargo officer suggests a preloading survey.