Vessel Inspections, Surveys & Pre-Vetting Inspections
Deep Blue Marine Services provides vessel inspections and surveys, pre-vetting inspections, maritime audits, port captaincy, and P&I investigations for shipowners, operators, charterers, and P&I clubs across the globe.
Pre-Vetting Inspections
Pre-vetting inspections are designed to identify and resolve deficiencies before your vessel undergoes a formal SIRE or CDI vetting inspection, thereby protecting your approval status and your commercial program. Our pre-vetting inspection service covers all areas of the SIRE2 and CDI questionnaires, providing a detailed written report with corrective actions so your crew and management team can address the findings before the official inspection takes place.
Pre-CDI Inspections
CDI (Chemical Distribution Institute) inspections are a mandatory requirement for chemical tankers calling at many terminals worldwide. Our pre-CDI inspection service prepares your vessel to the CDI standards, reviewing procedures, documentation, equipment condition, and crew familiarization ahead of the formal assessment. We give your management team confidence that the vessel will pass.
Pre-Purchase Condition Surveys
Acquiring a vessel is one of the most significant investments a shipowner makes. Our pre-purchase condition surveys provide an independent, expert assessment of a vessel's physical condition, machinery state, and documentary compliance. We give buyers the information they need to negotiate with confidence or walk away from a bad deal. We cover all vessel types including tankers, bulk carriers, chemical carriers, and LPG vessels
Pre-Fixture Condition Surveys
Before fixing a vessel, understanding its actual condition is critical. Our pre-fixture condition surveys provide charterers and owners with an independent baseline assessment of the vessel's state at the point of fixture and provide essential documentation for any subsequent claims or disputes.
ISM Audits
The International Safety Management (ISM) Code requires shipping companies to demonstrate a functioning Safety Management System (SMS) through regular internal and external audits. Our ISM audit service provides an independent assessment of your SMS against the ISM Code requirements, identifying non-conformities and observations with clear corrective action recommendations. We help you maintain flag state compliance and prepare for PSC inspections.
ISPS Audits
The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code mandates that vessels and port facilities maintain and verify their ship security plans through regular audits. Our ISPS audit service reviews your Ship Security Plan (SSP), records of drills, and security officer familiarization to ensure compliance with SOLAS Chapter XI-2 requirements and flag state expectations.
MLC Audits
The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) sets out comprehensive requirements for seafarers' employment conditions, accommodation, health, and welfare. Non-compliance can lead to detention, reputational damage, and significant commercial disruption. Our MLC audit service assesses your vessels against MLC requirements, identifying gaps in documentation, crew agreements, rest hour records, and onboard living standards.
Dedicated Compliance Programs
For shipowners and managers operating fleets of multiple vessels, a piecemeal approach to compliance auditing is inefficient and creates coverage gaps. Deep Blue Marine Services designs and manages bespoke compliance programs covering ISM, ISPS, MLC, and vetting requirements specifically tailored to your fleet composition, trading areas, and flag state obligations. We act as your external compliance team, scheduling audits, tracking findings, and reporting to management on fleet-wide compliance performance.
P&I Investigations
When incidents such as cargo damage, pollution events, personal injury, or collision occur, P&I clubs and their members need a rapid, independent on-site investigation before evidence degrades. Our P&I investigation service provides fast-response attendance, thorough documentary and physical evidence gathering, and expert witness reporting for use in arbitration and legal proceedings. Our team's operational background means our investigation findings carry weight with both clubs and courts.
Cargo & Bunker Quantity Surveys
Quantity disputes are among the most common and commercially significant issues in bulk and liquid cargo shipping. Our cargo quantity survey service provides independent measurement and documentation of cargo volumes at loading and discharge, giving you the evidence to defend or pursue quantity claims with confidence. For bunker quantity surveys, including on-hire, off-hire, and spot checks, our team provides independent measurement and verification of fuel volumes onboard, protecting both owners and charterers from disputes over reported consumption.
Port Captaincy
A port captain provides on-site representation for shipowners and charterers during critical port calls. They monitor cargo operations, liaise with port agents and terminal operators, ensure NOR validity, and protect your commercial interests throughout the vessel's stay. Deep Blue's port captaincy service is available across our operating regions and is particularly valuable for complex operations involving sensitive cargoes, congested terminals, or high-value fixtures where delays have significant commercial consequences.
Cargo Expediting
When time-sensitive cargo needs to move through a congested port or a complex logistics chain, our cargo expediting service provides active on-the-ground coordination to keep the operation moving. From pre-arrival planning and terminal liaison to documentation management and last-mile problem solving, our team ensures your cargo reaches its destination on schedule.
Geographic Coverage
Our vessel inspection and survey team operates across four primary regions:
UK & Europe - covering major UK ports and European terminals including the ARA range, the Mediterranean, and the Baltic.
North America - available across the US Gulf, the East/West Coasts, and the Great Lakes.
South America & Caribbean - covering key ports from Santos to Trinidad.
Turkey & Marmara Region - particular expertise in the Marmara Sea, Bosphorus transits, and Turkish port operations.
Why Choose Deep Blue for Vessel Inspections, Surveys, & Audits?
Team
Our marine services team is led by Capt. Surender Singh, a Master Mariner with 28 years of hands-on experience at sea and ashore, across oil tankers, chemical tankers, bulk carriers, and LPG vessels. This breadth of vessel type experience means our surveys and inspections are grounded in the operational realities of the ship, not just the regulatory checklist.
Processes
We have developed inspection and audit processes that comply with, and in many areas exceed, OCIMF, CDI, ISM, ISPS, and MLC standards. Our written reports are structured to meet the documentation requirements of P&I clubs, flag states, and major oil company vetting departments.
Competitive Pricing
We understand that commercial shipping operates on tight margins. Our vessel inspection and survey services are priced to reflect the realities of today's market. We offer competitive daily rates, clear scope definitions, and no hidden costs.
Innovative
Deep Blue's in-house software team at Deep Blue Labs supports our marine services function with digital reporting tools, audit tracking systems, and inspection workflow management. This enables faster turnaround on reports and real-time visibility for our clients.
Transparency
Our inspection reports tell you what we actually found, not what you hoped to hear. Complete transparency with clients is non-negotiable, whether a pre-vetting inspection reveals a clean vessel or one with significant deficiencies requiring attention before a formal SIRE or CDI assessment.
Proactive
Having spent decades on the vessels we inspect, our team understands how deficiencies develop before they become detentions or vetting failures. We flag emerging risks early which gives operators time to address them before they impact the vessel's approval status or commercial program.
