Sale and purchase services

Helping to safeguard your investment

Buying or chartering a second-hand vessel can be a risky business. Lloyds Register can provide independent surveys and reports of the current condition, class status and life history of a vessel to help you evaluate a proposed investment.

We have a range of services that help buyers and charterers make decisions affecting the sale and purchase of ships. These independent services can help reduce the risk associated with second-hand vessel acquisition or charter, and they can be utilised individually or as a comprehensive package.

• Assessment by Lloyd's Register can help reduce the risks inherent in sale and purchase or chartering decisions.
• Early identification of deficiencies allows for more informed decision making.
• Lloyd's Registers global network allows rapid and cost-effective deployment of surveyors wherever your ship is located helping to expedite delivery of reports and enabling you to make your commercial and business decisions quickly.

How does Lloyd's Register help?

Examination of records

As a potential buyer of an existing ship, you need an accurate history of a proposed purchase to evaluate your investment. Without such information, defects arising from past problems may jeopardise the commercial viability of your proposed acquisition. And ships that do not meet specific classification requirements may not even qualify for statutory certification necessary to operate internationally.

We can examine ship classification records of any society and prepare a confidential report based on our findings that will help you to assess the commercial viability of your acquisition.

Condition surveys

We undertake three types of survey which can be tailored to suit your specific requirements. Each survey is independent of any classification requirements and the class status of the vessel is unaffected by our report.

• Pre-purchase condition survey: primarily carried out on behalf of potential buyers, but it is also used by banks, insurance companies and P&I clubs as part of their due diligence requirements. The survey consists of a rapid examination afloat of all readily accessible areas to ascertain the vessels condition and is usually carried out in one to two days.
• On-hire/off-hire survey: a more detailed inspection of all areas of the ship intended to help identify damages and defects, normally carried out in dry-dock. This type of survey enables the cost of damages and defects to be clearly assigned to one party or another involved in the charter.
• Specialised condition survey: a tailored survey, usually carried out for a specific purpose, such as assessing the viability of extending a vessels useful life. Following the survey, recommendations can be made on advisable renewals of structure and machinery and repair specifications can be prepared.

Valuations

On the basis of a condition survey report, we can arrange for an independent valuation to be prepared, helping you make a more informed commercial decision.

If you would like to progress your enquiry further please choose one of the following: