This article is an extract of a paper published by one of our Associates, Leroy Lester titled Marine Surveyor Standards. We publish it with their permission because surveyors are used as expert witnesses on numerous occasions. It not only provides guideline for selecting an expert surveyor, but on issues which may arise on cross examination.
One of the peculiarities of the marine survey trade, is that there is no state (with a few exceptions) or federal license required to act in the capacity of a marine surveyor. Perhaps because it is a very small field, possibly not much more than a thousand full time surveyors in the United States, (and another thousand part time), no government agency has set up a licensing agency. There is a Civil Service GS-13 Criteria set up for a marine surveyor for the U.S. Navy. If the Navy criteria was applied, very few current surveyors would be accepted, although the Navy surveyors work up from their small boats to battleships, a much larger scope.
There are 4 surveyor organizations in the United States: Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS), National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS), Marine Surveyors Guild (MSG), and Association of Surveyors (AMS).
Each organization has standards which set minimums for it's members. There is some variance between these organizations but certainly the competition between them is helpful to both clients and members. It should be recognized that although about ½ the U.S. and Canadian Marine Surveyors do not belong to any of these 4 societies, there are some very good marine surveyors outside the societies - and some barely above the minimum inside. Society members at least have a starting point for standards and ethics above the possible level of none-at-all.
The best qualified marine surveyors are often used by attorneys as expert witnesses, and in court, the jury (or, for that matter, the judges) have never heard of the Societies. In court, the marine surveyor needs credentials that are impeccable, impressive, and that can be concisely presented to a judge and jury. The side with the better qualified surveyor (all other things being equal), has a certain advantage.
One of the criteria a marine surveyor needs (in a strictly practical sense) is white hair (age). I have found that most people requiring the services for the larger vessels or those that can afford to operate the larger vessel, usually have some 20 to 30 years experience in the field. A marine surveyor of obviously much younger age finds it difficult to instill confidence in an older client.
Another practical rule - never trust a fat surveyor! To crawl into tight spaces, a marine surveyor needs to be agile and thin enough to pull out a built-in drawer and fit through the opening to view otherwise inaccessible structures.
It is also wise to avoid any surveyor who advertises other work in addition to Marine Surveying, such as yacht delivery, salvage, repairs, etc. This shows he is a part-time surveyor and potentially, could have a conflict of interest.
Leroy Lester was elected to the Standards Committee for the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors at their April 1989 National Convention in New Orleans.
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