Damage and Valuation Surveys Flashcards

A vessel sustains flooding damage after a through-hull fitting failure. Which component should the surveyor prioritize inspecting for secondary damage?

Answer: Electrical systems, bilge pump wiring, and engine ignition components

Flooding causes corrosion and short-circuit damage to electrical systems, bilge pumps, and engine components, which are the most costly secondary effects.

When a vessel is damaged during ocean transport on a ship, the applicable liability framework is typically governed by:

Answer: The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA) or the applicable bill of lading terms

COGSA governs cargo liability for ocean shipments in US commerce, limiting carrier liability and specifying the claim process for cargo damage.

A surveyor finds that a vessel's insurance agreed value is significantly higher than its current fair market value. This situation most directly affects:

Answer: The owner's moral hazard and potential for inflated claims

When insured value exceeds market value, the owner may have financial incentive to claim losses; surveyors must document actual condition and value accurately.

Which tool or technique is most effective for detecting hidden delamination in a fiberglass hull after an impact?

Answer: Systematic sounding with a plastic or wooden mallet to detect hollow resonance

Systematic mallet sounding produces a distinctive hollow sound where delamination has separated the laminate layers, revealing damage invisible externally.

A vessel damaged in a hurricane is found to have broken free from its mooring. Which factor most affects the surveyor's assessment of the owner's responsibility?

Answer: Whether the mooring was adequate for the anticipated storm conditions and properly maintained

The adequacy and condition of the mooring relative to foreseeable storm conditions determines whether the owner exercised reasonable care.

In preparing a damage survey report for litigation support, the surveyor must ensure the report:

Answer: Presents objective findings, methodology, and conclusions that can withstand cross-examination

Expert witnesses and litigation surveyors must provide objective, defensible findings; advocacy that omits unfavorable facts undermines credibility and ethics.

When assessing damage to a vessel's running gear after a propeller strike, the surveyor should inspect all of the following EXCEPT:

Answer: The vessel's registration certificate for owner information

The registration certificate is an administrative document and has no bearing on assessing propulsion system damage from a propeller strike.