Working on behalf of insurance underwriters, GL Noble Denton’s staff of expert and experienced surveyors evaluates operational risks, assessing the feasibility projects by reviewing the technical literature and undertaking on-site inspections. Typically, a warranty survey may cover the towage of an offshore platform or FPSO, the loading and stowage of drilling pipe bundles or verifying that the location is suitable for the proposed installation. Although the surveyor works on behalf of the insurer, he is appointed by either the operator or main contractor – routinely the installation company – ensuring they provide independent verification of procedures and design calculations.
Once appointed, the surveyor will mark up the document register, which is then delivered to the client for review before approving the operation. Finally, the marine surveyor signs off the Certificate of Approval (CoA), accompanied by a full site-of-job assessment giving details of data provided and analyses performed.
Multi-discipline Team
GL Noble Denton’s team of marine warranty surveyors is a multi-discipline team of engineering and marine expertise. A team routinely consists of master mariners, marine and offshore engineers, subsea and pipelines engineers, structural and civil engineers, and naval architects.
The surveyor’s role is to protect an underwriter’s interests by ensuring that good industry practice and proper procedures are followed and proper preparations are made before a critical offshore or marine operation.
Typically, the subject will involve surveying and assessing plans and procedures ahead of granting towage approval, assessing a shipyard’s facilities surveys and checking fire precautions and firefighting arrangements or ensuring cargo loading and stowage is done safely.
Other warranties may require inspection of an FPSO’s condition or the safety during work at an offshore construction or repair facility.
Setting the Standards
GL Noble Denton, a global independent provider of technical services and software to the oil and gas industry, also sets industry guidelines for marine warranties, such as the installation and transportation of offshore platforms. Adhered to by the majority of marine contractors and adopted by many of the Group’s competitors, these guidelines are well regarded and referenced by most major operators in tenders for marine transport and installation activities.
