CLASS SURVEYS & SPECIAL SURVEY PLANNING

Project Manager control of classification status, survey scope, preparation and close-out

Classification societies establish and apply technical rules relating to the design, construction, maintenance and survey of vessels. A classed yacht remains subject to periodic surveys and may also require occasional surveys following damage, major repair, alteration or other significant events. 

The Project Manager is not the Class surveyor and does not determine class acceptance. The PM’s role is to understand the yacht’s class status, identify relevant survey requirements, prepare the vessel and documentation, coordinate attendance, maintain survey access, track findings and ensure outstanding items are closed before redelivery.

The objective of this module is to help the Project Manager integrate Class requirements into the refit programme rather than treating survey work as a separate activity that is addressed only at the end.

Key responsibilities

• Confirm the yacht’s classification society and current class status.
• Obtain the latest survey status and outstanding recommendations or conditions.
• Identify surveys due during or shortly after the planned yard period.
• Confirm whether annual, intermediate, renewal, bottom, tailshaft, machinery or other periodic surveys are applicable.
• Identify any special or occasional survey requirements resulting from damage, repair or modification.
• Obtain the relevant Class rules and survey requirements.
• Confirm whether planned modifications require drawing approval before work begins.
• Coordinate submission of drawings, calculations and technical documentation.
• Establish survey hold points before structure or equipment becomes inaccessible.
• Confirm access, staging, lighting, cleaning and opening-up requirements.
• Coordinate thickness measurement, NDT and other approved service suppliers where required.
• Confirm machinery, tanks, hull areas and systems are prepared for survey.
• Plan survey attendance into the project programme.
• Avoid closing tanks, structures, insulation or linings before required survey acceptance.
• Maintain a register of survey findings and outstanding items.
• Track recommendations, conditions of class and memoranda where applicable.
• Coordinate corrective work and reinspection.
• Obtain documentary evidence of survey completion.
• Confirm class-related deficiencies are resolved or formally accepted before redelivery.
• Maintain final survey reports and certificates in the yacht’s technical records.

RINA states that class is maintained through periodical and occasional surveys, while its rules separate classification and surveys from hull, machinery, fire protection, materials and welding requirements.

PROJECT MANAGER COMPETENCY TEST

Scenario 1 — Closing Structure

A structural repair has been completed and the yard wants to reinstall insulation and interior lining immediately. The Class surveyor has not yet inspected the final repair.

Question:
What should the Project Manager do?

A. Close the area to protect the programme
B. Keep the repair accessible until the required Class inspection is complete
C. Photograph the repair and close it
D. Ask the interior subcontractor to decide

Correct answer: B

Why:
Survey hold points must occur before required areas become inaccessible. Closing a repair before inspection can create delay, rework and loss of evidence.

Scenario 2 — Planned Modification

During the refit, the owner requests a structural modification that may affect the approved vessel arrangement.

Question:
What should the Project Manager do?

A. Begin work immediately and submit drawings afterwards
B. Determine whether Class approval is required and obtain the necessary technical approval before irreversible work begins
C. Ask the subcontractor to make the decision
D. Treat it as a cosmetic change

Correct answer: B

Why:
Classification societies review design and technical compliance against their applicable rules. Significant changes may require document or drawing approval before construction proceeds. 

Scenario 3 — Outstanding Recommendation

A Class survey has identified an item requiring corrective work, but the yacht is approaching its planned departure date.

Question:
What should the Project Manager do?

A. Ignore the item if the yacht is operational
B. Track the item, coordinate corrective action and confirm the surveyor’s required close-out status before redelivery
C. Remove the item from the project list
D. Ask the Captain to sign it off

Correct answer: B

Why:
Class findings remain subject to the classification society’s acceptance process. The PM should manage the work and evidence but cannot substitute their own acceptance for that of Class.

Scenario 4 — Damage During Refit

While in the yard, significant accidental damage occurs to a classed structural area.

Question:
What is the appropriate Project Manager response?

A. Repair it without notifying anyone if the yard is confident in the repair
B. Determine whether Class notification and an occasional survey are required and coordinate the necessary inspection and repair approval
C. Cover the damaged area until the next annual survey
D. Treat it only as an insurance issue

Correct answer: B

Why:
Occasional surveys may be required following incidents or other significant events affecting the vessel’s classed condition.

MODULE COMPLETION

Before completing this module, the Project Manager should be able to:

• explain the purpose of vessel classification
• distinguish Class responsibilities from the Project Manager’s role
• identify common periodic Class surveys
• recognise when occasional survey involvement may be required
• understand the importance of survey status and outstanding items
• identify drawing-approval and technical-submission requirements
• establish survey hold points
• coordinate access, NDT, thickness measurement and approved service suppliers
• maintain a survey finding and close-out register
• coordinate corrective work and reinspection
• maintain Class reports and certificates
• ensure required Class matters are closed or formally accepted before redelivery

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