Welcome to Caribbean Marine Surveyors Ltd
located in the beautiful British Virgin Islands

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does the boat have to be hauled for the survey?
A. If this is a purchase survey or MCA inspection, yes. If this is a survey for insurance, you should contact your insurance company and find out if they need an in-water or an out of water survey.
Q What does the haul cost and how do I pay?
A. A survey haul is carried out over the lunch period, usually hauled at 1130 and launched at 100. The rates for Nanny Cay Boatyard for a survey haul is US$5.00 per foot for monohull (small lift), US$8.00 for a catamaran or the large lift, payment can be made by credit card to the yard.
Q. Do you inspect the rig aloft?
A. Yes we always do if the vessel is afloat. We do not inspect the rig aloft if the vessel is out of the water.
Q Do you do a sea trial as part of the survey?
A. Yes we do a sea trial after the haul during a purchase survey, we do not do a sea trial for insurance survey.
Q. How soon do we get a report?
A. Reports are sent by email in PDF format, usually within two to three days.
Q. Do you have any professional qualifications?
A. Our surveyors are members of SAMS, the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and hold either the SA or AMS designation or they are members of IIMS, the International Institute of Marine Surveying.
Q. Do you have insurance?
A. We are covered for Surveyors Legal Liability for US$1,000.000.00 and Errors and Omissions insurance for GBP250,000.00 (around US$500,000.00)
Q. Do your reports include photographs?
A. Yes we take digital photos and imbed them in the report.
Q. How do I pay you for your services?
A. We accept US cheques, bank wire transfers, travelers cheques, cash and all major credit cards but this costs us 5% so that will be added to your invoice.
Q. Do we carry out compression tests of the engine?
A. No but if we think that it is worthwhile, we will recommend several choices of marine engineers.
Q.Do I need a MCA inspection
A. Your boat needs a MCA Certificate if you carry passengers for hire ie, are a charter boat, day or term charter and you ar in the BVI for more than 7 trips per year.
Q.How many passengers can a MCA boat carry
A. Up to 12 passengers and three crew
Q. My boat is US documented (St Vincent Grenada etc etc) am I exempt from the MCA.
A. No all boats carrying fee paying passengers must comply
Phone: (1) 284 494 2091 Fax: (1) 284 494 2092 Email: info@caribsurveyors.com
Snail mail to:Caribbean Marine Surveyors Ltd.
Box 281 Road Town, Nanny Cay Marina
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
(Note: Snail mail takes about 10 days from US and 14 days from UK)