Dry cargo surveys are arranged according to the question that must be established: cargo quantity, condition, suitability of the carrying space, or what occurred during loading, discharge or storage. Baltic Kontor attends bulk, reefer and general cargoes in Latvia, with the survey scope agreed for the cargo and operation.
Dry cargo survey scope
Depending on the instruction, attendance may include warehouse inspections, checks of stowage, lashing and securing with certificates where applicable, or segregation of hazardous cargo under the IMDG Code. Pre-shipment findings may also lead to recommendations on clauses for bills of lading.
For a weight or quantity discrepancy, see cargo quantity control; for a count of individual units, see cargo tally surveys. Cargo hold inspections address the fitness of the carrying space, while loading and discharge surveys or pre-shipment surveys document handling and condition at the relevant stage.
Where damage or a quality dispute arises, see cargo damage surveys and the sampling and laboratory analysis process. Container surveys address the container and accessible cargo where instructed.
What these surveys typically find
For dry bulk and agricultural cargo the recurring issues are moisture and water ingress, contamination and foreign material, disputes over quantity, and the condition of the holds themselves. For timber and forest products — physical damage, wetting, damage during handling, and quantity. For containerised and ro-ro cargo the claims are more often about impact damage, cargo that has shifted, handling damage, and damage to trailers, vehicles and containers.
