Draft Survey Remarks “Booklet”

Draft surveys rarely happen in perfect conditions. This post is a practical “Draft Survey Remarks library” you can copy, tweak, and paste into your report—covering swell, density, list, poor marks, no boat, water-pipe level, cargo status (B/L vs shore vs ship), ROB, trimming/settlement, and more. Use only what’s true on the day, note the uncertainty, and keep the evidence (photos, tide/density logs).

• Date/Time (LT): [ ]

• Location: [Port / Berth / Anchorage]

• Persons present: [Master/Chief Officer/Surveyor/Terminal Rep/Agent]

• Method: [Boat / Freeboard / Water-pipe for list / Both sides / One side]

• Sea & weather: [Swell/wind/visibility]

• Tide source/time: [Gauge/Agent] at [ ]

• Density: [ρ = … @ temp … → corrected to …] (hydrometer [model], cal [date])

• Instruments: [steel tape/thermometer/hydrometer], in calibration

• Uncertainty: ±[ ] cm

1) Sea state / swell / wakes

• “Readings [09:35–09:55 LT] in light swell ~[0.3 m]; ≥10 steady observations per mark averaged. Uncertainty ±[1] cm.”

• “Moderate swell ~[0.7 m] and tug wash; readings taken during calm windows, 12 obs/mark. Uncertainty ±[2] cm.”

• “Heavy swell ~[1.2 m]; safe access limited. Preliminary only — final drafts confirmed at [time] when conditions eased.”

2) Current / set & drift

• “Surface set [dir/speed]; boat held off; repeated ×10; mean used. Cross-checked midship by freeboard; within ±[2] cm.”

3) Wind / heel (list)

• “Wind [dir, kts/Beaufort] caused temporary heel [x° port/stbd]; list via water-pipe at frame [No.] (Δ level [cm]) → correction applied.”

4) Visibility / night

• “Night work with searchlight; marks cleaned/illuminated from launch; time-stamped photos kept. Uncertainty ±[1–2] cm.”

5) Draft marks condition / fouling / paint

• “Fwd/starboard marks partly fouled; lowest visible edge used; confirmed from opposite side when safe. Est. ±[2] cm.”

• “Midship numerals faded; chalked temporarily; freeboard cross-check agrees within ±[1] cm.”

6) No boat / unsafe launch

• “Launch unavailable/unsafe. Midship by freeboard method with certified tape; fwd/aft by quay gauge. Photos kept. ±[2–3] cm.”

7) Water-pipe level (list transfer)

• “Water-pipe across main deck at frame [No.]; port–stbd level difference [Δ cm] ⇒ heel [x°]; list correction applied to all drafts.”

8) Wrong viewing angle / parallax

• “Observer perpendicular to marks; off-angle attempts discarded; camera alignment used to avoid parallax.”

9) Density (sampling & correction)

• “Samples [top/mid/bottom] at [position]; hydrometer [model] (cal [date]). Observed [1.018 @ 25°C], corrected → 1.021 @ 15°C; ρ = 1.021 applied.”

• “Bow & stern samples: Δρ [0.002]; mean used; entries made in BWRB.”

10) Tide / reference level

• “Tide per [Port Gauge/Agent]: [+0.12 m @ 10:00 LT]; readings timed to [09:55–10:05]; no seiche observed.”

• “At anchorage: tide from [station], offset [nm]; linear interpolation attached.”

11) Trim & list during reading

• “Temporary list [x°] due to [wind/ballast/crane]; corrected. Trim [by head/stern x cm] stable throughout. Ballast isolated before reading.”

12) Cross-checks / formulas

• “Midship draft from freeboard-to-deck line: FB [mm] → Tm [m]; within ±[1] cm of boat reading.”

• “100-m trimming table / hydrostatic interpolation used; result agrees within ±[x] t displacement.”

13) Position change / shift

• “Vessel shifted [x m] along berth [time]; drafts retaken when steady; earlier values superseded.”

14) Fenders / hull contact

• “Pneumatic fenders at frames [No.]; opposite side used for reading where possible; no visible indentation.”

• “Solid fenders clear; no hull contact noted during reading.”

15) Water clarity / rain / turbidity

• “Light rain & ripple increased scatter; accepted means of ≥10 stable observations. Uncertainty ±[2] cm.”

16) Instruments & calibration

• “Hydrometer [S/N], thermometer [S/N], steel tape [S/N] — in calibration (certs on file).”

17) Witnesses / parties

• “Survey conducted with [charterer/shipper/receiver/surveyor] present; readings agreed and signed at [time].”

• “No independent surveyor available; ship’s readings countersigned by [agent/terminal rep].”

18) Cargo status — loading / discharge / trimming / settlement

• “Loading [cargo] paused [time]; trimming in [Hold #]. Final drafts ≥30 min after cessation to allow settlement.”

• “Discharging [cargo]; cargo remaining by draft survey [x t]; ROB noted; list corrected.”

• “Post-sail check indicated settlement ~[x t] by survey difference; shipper/receiver advised.”

• “Holds inspected dry/clean prior to survey; no visible cargo clingage affecting drafts.”

• “Cargo moisture/rain: tarpaulins deployed; no free water seen in holds; remarks made for potential settlement.”

19) Ballast / consumables during survey

• “All ballast transfers stopped; valves sealed/tagged at [time]. Soundings recorded before/after; no change observed.”

• “ROB FO/DO/FW/LO measured with list/trim corrections; temperatures recorded; calibration tables applied.”

• “Slop/oily water tanks: ullages taken; wedge correction applied where appropriate.”

20) Rain / water ingress / hatch integrity

• “Light rain during reading; no hatch leakage observed; coamings dry; no free water accumulation noted.”

• “After shower, hatch cover drains checked; no ingress to holds reported.”

21) River / estuary / brackish water

• “Brackish conditions; density gradient between bow/stern (Δρ [0.003]); mean applied; note added on uncertainty.”

22) Mud / silt / soft bottom

• “No mud-suction observed; vessel freely afloat. If any doubt, freeboard method cross-checked midship.”

• “Soft bottom suspected per echo sounder; readings delayed until under-keel clearance confirmed.”

23) Tug / prop wash influence

• “Tug movement nearby; readings paused until wash subsided; re-read for stability.”

24) Safety & access

• “Unsafe to read [port/starboard] due to [reason]; opposite side used; water-pipe applied to transfer level.”

25) Figures & documentation — B/L, shore vs ship, statements

• As per Bill of Lading (B/L):

  • “Loaded quantity per B/L No. [ ]: [x t] (basis [commodity/spec]). Ship’s draft survey [x t]; difference [±x t] within tolerance [±x% / ±x t].”

  • “Discharged quantity per B/L/Out-turn: [x t]; ship’s figure [x t]; difference [±x t]. Parties informed; signatures on reconciliation sheet.”

• Shore figures:

  • “Terminal scale/weighbridge ticket [No./time]: [x t]; shore density [ ]. Ship’s draft survey [x t]; variance [±x t] ([x%]).”

  • “Shore tank measurements (ullage sheet [ref]): [x t]; temperature [°C]; corrections applied per table [ref].”

• Ship figures:

  • “Ship’s figure by draft survey [x t] at [time]; density [ρ]; hydrostatics [book/EDP rev]. Consumables accounted as per soundings sheet.”

• If within agreed tolerance:

  • “Difference [±x t] within agreed tolerance [±x t / %]; accepted by [parties].”

• If NOT within tolerance:

  • “Difference [±x t] exceeds agreed tolerance. Note of Protest/Letter of Reservation issued to [party]; joint check requested.”

  • “Repeat survey/reciprocal readings performed; results unchanged within uncertainty; discrepancy maintained for owners’/charterers’ records.”

• Statement of Facts (SoF):

  • “All relevant times (commenced/ceased, shifts, delays) per SoF [ref] attached to this report.”

• Cargo documents cited:

  • “B/L [No.], Mate’s Receipt [No.], Tally [ref], Ullage/Scale Ticket [ref] referenced in reconciliation.”

26) ROB / slops / residues

• “ROB cargo in [hold/tank] estimated [x t] by soundings/density [ρ]; included in ship’s figure.”

• “Slops/sludge [tank] measured; not part of cargo; documented under consumables.”

27) Temperature effects

• “Temperatures recorded [FO/DO/FW]; volume corrections applied per calibration tables; included in lightweight/consumables.”

28) Uncertainty & tolerance line

• “Overall reading uncertainty ±[x] cm (swell, visibility, access). Draft survey tolerance ±[x t] noted for reconciliation.”

29) Closing lines

• “All parties reviewed and signed the draft survey sheet at [time].”

• “Copies of photos, tide/density logs, and calibration certs are filed with this report.”

• “Where data were estimated, basis and uncertainty are recorded above.”

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Draft surveys are never “textbook.” Help other mariners by posting the remarks you use most in real life.

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