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Class Surveys & Special Survey Planning
Project Manager coordination of classification surveys, survey preparation, technical evidence, repairs, attendance, findings and close-out during yacht refit.
OVERVIEW
Classification surveys form an important part of the technical control of many yacht refit projects. Survey attendance may be required for structural repairs, machinery work, pressure systems, electrical installations, statutory items delegated to Class, or periodic survey requirements.
The Project Manager is not the Class surveyor and should not make classification decisions on behalf of the Society. The PM’s role is to understand the survey scope, prepare the yacht and supporting evidence, coordinate attendance, manage repair work arising from findings, and maintain traceable close-out records.
The objective of this module is to help the Project Manager plan survey activity before the yard period, avoid unnecessary delay, ensure required access and evidence are available, and manage survey findings through to formal close-out.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Obtain the yacht’s current Class status and identify surveys due during the refit period.
• Review outstanding recommendations, conditions, observations or survey findings where applicable.
• Confirm which refit work requires Class review, approval or attendance.
• Identify drawings, calculations, material certificates and technical documents required before work begins.
• Coordinate survey attendance with the yard, Captain, technical team and subcontractors.
• Ensure equipment, tanks, structures and machinery are accessible when the surveyor attends.
• Confirm required cleaning, opening-up, staging or temporary removal work is complete before survey.
• Coordinate NDT, thickness measurements, pressure tests and other specialist inspections where required.
• Maintain traceability of materials used in structural or Class-related repairs.
• Record survey findings and assign responsibility for corrective action.
• Ensure repair proposals are submitted for approval where required before permanent work proceeds.
• Coordinate reinspection after repairs or corrective actions.
• Collect survey reports, certificates and supporting technical documentation.
• Confirm all agreed Class items are closed or formally deferred before redelivery.
• Maintain a clear survey-status record for handover to the Captain, owner or management company.
CLASS SURVEY PLANNING CHECK
Before the surveyor attends, the Project Manager should confirm the following where applicable:
• current Class status report
• surveys due during the yard period
• outstanding recommendations or conditions
• approved repair drawings
• structural drawings and scantling information
• material certificates
• welding procedures and welder qualifications where required
• NDT procedures and technician qualifications
• thickness-measurement programme
• tank access and cleaning arrangements
• machinery opening-up requirements
• pressure-test procedures
• electrical test records where applicable
• equipment service reports
• staging and safe access
• lighting and ventilation
• confined-space controls where required
• attendance of relevant subcontractors
• photographic evidence
• repair history and previous survey findings
• agreed sequence of inspection and repair
MANAGING SURVEY FINDINGS
A survey finding should be treated as a controlled project item. The Project Manager should record what was identified, who is responsible for the corrective action, whether technical approval is required, the planned completion date and the evidence needed for close-out.
Repairs should not be treated as complete simply because the physical work has finished. Where Class acceptance is required, the PM should confirm that the relevant inspection, test, documentation and survey close-out have also been completed.
PROJECT MANAGER COMPETENCY TEST
Scenario 1 — Surveyor Attendance
The Class surveyor is scheduled to inspect a structural repair. When the surveyor arrives, the repair area is still partially covered, access staging is incomplete and the subcontractor responsible for the work is not available.
Question:
What should the Project Manager have done?
A. Ask the surveyor to inspect only the visible part of the repair
B. Ensure the repair area, access and responsible technical personnel were ready before the agreed attendance
C. Ask the surveyor to return without recording the visit
D. Send photographs instead of providing access
Reveal answer & rationale
Correct answer: B
Why:
Survey attendance should be planned so that the relevant structure, machinery or system is accessible and the required technical personnel and supporting information are available. Poor preparation can cause delay, additional cost and repeated attendance.
Scenario 2 — Thickness Measurements
Ultrasonic thickness measurements identify significant local wastage in a structural area. The repair contractor wants to begin cutting immediately to maintain the programme.
Question:
What should the Project Manager do?
A. Allow cutting to begin immediately because the damaged area is already known
B. Confirm the survey finding, repair extent and any required Class approval before permanent structural work proceeds
C. Replace only the thinnest visible plate
D. Allow the subcontractor to determine the repair independently
Reveal answer & rationale
Correct answer: B
Why:
Thickness measurements may determine the extent of structural repair and can affect Class acceptance. The PM should ensure that the findings, repair boundaries and required approval are understood before committing to permanent work.
Scenario 3 — Material Traceability
A replacement structural plate has arrived at the yard and appears to be the correct thickness and material type, but the material certificate cannot be located.
Question:
What is the correct Project Manager action?
A. Install the plate because the dimensions are correct
B. Use the plate temporarily and obtain the certificate later
C. Confirm the required material certification and traceability before installation where Class acceptance depends on it
D. Ask the welder to confirm the material by appearance
Reveal answer & rationale
Correct answer: C
Why:
Structural repair materials may require traceable certification. Where Class approval or acceptance depends on material identity, the PM should ensure the required evidence is available before the material is incorporated into the permanent repair.
Scenario 4 — Physical Repair Complete
A Class-related repair has been completed and visually appears satisfactory. The subcontractor wants the work package closed, but the required reinspection and supporting test records have not yet been completed.
Question:
Should the Project Manager close the item?
A. Yes, because the physical repair is finished
B. Yes, if the Captain is satisfied
C. No. Keep the item open until the required inspection, testing, documentation and Class close-out are complete
D. Close the item and reopen it only if Class raises a later objection
Reveal answer & rationale
Correct answer: C
Why:
Physical completion is not the same as survey close-out. Where Class acceptance is required, the PM should retain the item as open until the agreed inspection, test evidence and formal survey close-out have been completed.
MODULE COMPLETION
Before completing this module, the Project Manager should be able to:
• Obtain and review the yacht’s current Class status
• Identify surveys due during the refit period
• Recognise outstanding recommendations, conditions or survey findings
• Confirm which refit works require Class review, approval or attendance
• Prepare drawings, calculations, certificates and supporting technical evidence
• Coordinate surveyor attendance efficiently
• Ensure tanks, structures, machinery and systems are ready for inspection
• Coordinate NDT, thickness measurements and pressure testing where required
• Maintain material and repair traceability
• Record survey findings and assign corrective actions
• Coordinate repair proposals and reinspection
• Distinguish physical repair completion from formal Class close-out
• Collect survey reports, certificates and supporting records
• Confirm Class-related items are closed or formally deferred before redelivery
• Maintain a clear survey-status record for final handover