How do marine insurance companies view survey recommendations?
Each marine insurance company has its own criteria for determining which survey repair recommendations are mandatory. Some marine insurance companies may take the position that all recommendations must be completed within a specific time frame. This is a rather strict view because a good surveyor will notice and write up everything from the source of a water leak to a light bulb that needs replacing. The best surveys categorize survey recommendations into three areas: 1. Critical Recommendations which must be completed as soon as possible in order to insure that the vessel is a good physical risk with no apparent defects which could result in fire, sinking, hazardous operation or injuries to persons on board. 2. Timely Recommendations which must be completed within a certain time frame (usually 30 days to 6 months) that are necessary to maintain the seaworthiness of the vessel. 3. Cosmetic Recommendations that do not effect the seaworthiness of the vessel.
