International container shipping involves numerous risks that can occur at every stage of delivery. Predicting all potential problems in advance is extremely difficult. Both new entrepreneurs and large companies make logistics and trade mistakes. This leads to loss, damage, delays in transit, and financial losses. To anticipate disputes and protect against additional expenses, it’s crucial to properly organize delivery by engaging a survey company that will assess potential risks and threats.
Functions and Responsibilities of a Surveyor
A surveyor is an independent expert who conducts inspections, examinations, and assessments of insured objects. Their goal is to verify the proper condition, completeness of cargo, integrity of packaging, and technical soundness of transport vehicles. During loading and sorting site visits, surveyors recount goods, recheck each item, documenting all identified deficiencies and defects in detailed photo and video reports. They also verify markings and documentation.
Acting as an independent “third party” in disputes between suppliers and consignees, survey companies help clarify the causes leading to cargo damage or loss while assessing the extent of damage. They also monitor seal conditions and verify permits for transporting dangerous and oversized cargo.
Inspectors monitor cargo condition throughout all movement stages, from loading points to final warehouse unloading. All cargo parameters (name, type, weight, quantity, technical specifications) are documented. In their work, surveyors strictly adhere to safety requirements. During preliminary inspections, they request detailed product information from the insured.
They verify vehicle suitability for specific cargo types, inspect warehouse facilities to confirm proper storage conditions, and investigate causes of shortages and cargo damage. Both carriers and recipients are equally interested in these measures as they help quickly resolve potential disputes and avoid additional costs.
Common Logistics Errors
- Improper documentation can cause delays, fines, and cargo seizures. Goods must be accompanied by foreign trade contracts, invoices (containing detailed product information), packing lists with itemized weights, quantities, and packages, customs declarations with HS codes, and compliance certificates. These documents undergo strict customs scrutiny, requiring meticulous completion. Incorrect codes lead to duty reassessments, non-compliant certificates result in import refusal, while transporting prohibited goods may incur criminal liability.
- Discrepancies between actual and volumetric weight may increase shipping costs, especially in air and sea freight. For oversized cargo, shape and special handling requirements must also be considered.
- Inefficient routing can significantly increase costs and delivery times due to high customs duties and restrictions in transit countries.
- Improper packaging and securing may cause transit damage. For sea container shipments, moisture and vibration protection is essential. Packaging must account for cargo specifics, dimensions, and characteristics, using sturdy fasteners to prevent movement during transit.
- Expired contracts and documents risk delays, seizures, or cargo returns at borders. Licenses and certificates require timely renewal.
- Failure to insure cargo. In international logistics, such negligence is unjustified and dangerous since damage or loss leads to significant financial losses. INCOTERMS form the foundation of foreign trade, not mere formalities.
- Risk underestimation also causes financial losses. When organizing shipments from various countries, political changes and force majeure events like natural disasters are unpredictable, necessitating contingency plans.
Other frequent survey-identified errors include customs regulation violations, lack of supervision and responsible personnel for order fulfillment, partial shortages, improper storage conditions at interim and consolidation warehouses, incorrect labeling, and missing hazard symbols/specifications for dangerous goods. Common violations also involve non-compliance with humidity, temperature, and ventilation requirements.
Our company conducts expert inspections across 26 countries. With over 15 years of experience, we’ve developed effective logistics solutions and completed thousands of successful projects helping clients avoid international shipping problems. You can order our cargo inspection services before shipment, during transit, and after final warehouse arrival. We perform audits, monitor special transport condition arrangements, organize tally operations and other survey services to minimize your risks and increase trade profits.
