Marine Surveying

ISO 9001 Audit

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:04:00 +0000

Geoff Waddington & Partners Limited recently underwent an external audit of our ISO 9001 quality system and proudly announce that the inspection was passed with no non-conformities raised.

Our procedures have been updated in line with the new ISO 9001:2008 standard. We have clearly defined quality procedures, which govern all aspects of our operation from our internal control of documents and records to customer focus.

Now entering our third year adopting the ISO 9001 standard, we now offer a consistently excellent service, which is continually improved, based on the feedback of private individuals and commercial clients alike.

2009 Summary

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:47:00 +0000

2009 was another excellent year for Geoff Waddington & Partners Limited, despite the financial climate.

The cargo department has continued to expand in all areas. Record numbers of damage and insurance surveys and dangerous goods inspections were undertaken throughout 2009.

The contributions of our two dedicated small craft surveyors have assisted in the continual development and expansion of our small craft department. We now offer additional services, including RCD post construction assessment for imported vessels and have experienced an increase in expert witness, tonnage measurement and MCA coding instructions.

The PDI and new build sector was again outstanding, with the addition of many new clients, including both distributors and private individuals. We have cemented our strong relationships with the UK's largest motor yacht manufacturers, with numerous instructions received directly from the factories over the past year.

The diversity of the company has proven to be our key asset again and we look forward to undertaking many more new instructions in 2010.

Dangerous Goods Inspections

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:02:00 +0000

With the ongoing growth of our cargo surveying department, this office is proud to announce one of our most recent appointments to undertake further dangerous goods inspections on behalf of a major shipping line in the South’s premier container port.

Our dangerous goods surveyors request a random selection of containers from numerous shipping lines and inspect for damage, correct labelling and stuffing and assess the adequacy of containers for shipment. This incredibly varied line of work has seen our surveyors inspect dangerous goods ranging from aerosol cans to spontaneously combustible scrap metals!

2008 Summary

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:59:00 +0000

2008 was another very busy and prosperous year for Geoff Waddington & Partners Ltd. Our most successful year to date saw the completion of a record number of over 500 instructions, with significant growth in new build & quality audits, general cargo surveys, small craft surveys and docking superintendency instructions.

Quality standards across all areas of the business have been maintained at an excellent level after obtaining ISO 9001 accreditation at the end of 2007. This has helped us to achieve our highest levels of customer satisfaction to date.

October saw the appointment of our fourth Surveyor, Richard Rapp who is an affiliate member of the YDSA, specialising in small craft surveying and the RCD. With this expansion it is a strong intention of this office to diversify our services further, by offering Post Construction Assessment services for vessels imported from outside of the EU and consultancy on the Recreational Craft Directive for home builders of vessel up to 24m in length.

Busy summer for cargo section.

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:17:00 +0000

Record number of yacht load surveys completed!

Since the beginning of May 2007 our cargo surveyors have supervised and surveyed the loading of a staggering 185 yachts both new and used. Cargo condition and securing surveys have ranged from a 7.5m rigid inflatable tender shipping to its new superyacht mother ship to the monterous Sunseeker 37m (hull no. 2) loaded following the Southampton Boat Show for shipment to the USA.

Surveys are undertaken on behalf of owners, shipping agents or insurers. Applications apply to the assessment of lifting gear (our surveyors are all NOPRS trained) and examination of securing arrangements to ISO standards.

Surveys have mainly focused on UK imports and exports but this summers appointments have taken our surveyors and bank of subcontractors as far afield as Turkey, Holland, Belgium, France, Palma, Italy and Gibraltar.

Survey contracts have ranged from the shipping of single vessels on container ships to multiple loading yacht transhipment vessels taking up to 24 boats at a time to various destinations including the Miami International Boat Show, Genoa Boat Show and currently the Barcelona Boat Show.

The cat is back!

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:38:00 +0000

'Leopard III' arrives in Southampton.

Following a tremendous effort by the yachts crew and the shipping agents Peters and May Limited, Mike Slades new race yacht 'Leopard III' was finally discharged at Southampton Container Terminal on a rainy Sunday evening (27th May).

The yachts skipper Chris Sherlock was on hand and joined by Peters and May Loadmaster Mr Paul Miller to oversee the final stages of a long voyage which started in Sydney where the yacht was constructed, visiting Malaysia for transhipment and finally Southampton.

The wind, a rather fresh northerly force 6 hampered efforts as the huge hull was lifted from on top the aft container stacks of the Maersk Line 'A P Moller' on to a Williams Shipping Barge in preparation for the final leg to Saxon Wharf Marina in Southampton.

The vessels 47m carbon fibre mast was discharged earlier in May (Monday 14th) at Sheerness Docks.

Our surveyors were on site at each stage of both the mast and yacht discharge to observe the process and document the events for Peters and May.

GW & Partners have undertaken cargo condition surveys on several famous racing yachts including Ellen MacArthurs 'Skandia' and 'B&Q', Mike Goldings 'ECover' and now 'Leopard III' her first race scheduled as the highlight 'Round the Island Race' in this years Cowes Week.

Napoli Appointments

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 15:56:00 +0000

Geoff Waddington and Partners on board for MSC Napoli cargo inspections!

This office is proud to announce our recent appointment to conduct cargo condition and container damage surveys on cargo removed from the stricken container ship MSC Napoli.

Our interests on behalf of cargo owners stems from insurers and cargo interests across Europe and a vital presence at the Port of Portland in Dorset is essential in order to catch specified cargo as it is brought ashore by heavy lift crane barges. Some 853 containers have been removed from the deck of the MSC Napoli and landed in Portland. Many have to go through decomtamination due to oil ingress and soaking, others are waterlogged and some just plain write-offs.

The 62,000-tonne container carrier, MSC Napoli was grounded a mile off the Lyme Bay World Heritage Coast site in January. A huge team of salvage experts are working on removing the remaining 1,350 containers from the hold of the vessel. More than 110 containers were lost overboard. The deck of the Napoli is now clear and the task of retrieving containers from the swamped holds continues.

Our involvement in such a major UK incident is a major breakthrough for such a small surveying firm. The development of our cargo surveying interest grows daily, the MSC Napoli grounding will play a major part in the continuing growth of this company.

Southampton Party Liner Slips Again!!!

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:48:00 +0000

Ocean Scene slips for annual overhaul and survey.

Thursday 15th February 2007 did not provide an equatorial climate for the purposes of slipping a high freeboard cruiser. Instead our elite team was greeted with strong southerly winds in which to act.

Cradle modifications were completed under the supervision of our very own docking superintendent Geoff Waddington and with cradle launching complete the task of positioning the craft over the prepared cradle for hauling out was given to the launches provided by Itchen Marine Towage Limited. When M/V Ocean Scene was suitably in position wires were attached to allow for precise line up before the 'haul away' command given.

The whole process was completed on schedule taking approximately 90 mins.

A successful slipping on a typical February day was followed five days later by a successful launch following an intense period of re-fit and rennovation. Not quite the Queen Mary II affair but none the less. Marchwood Slipways prevail again!

Marchwood Slipways are capable of taking up to 1000-tonnes of most types of working craft. For further information contact this office on the numbers supplied on the Home page.

Home at last

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 14:11:00 +0000

Geoff Waddington & Partners discharge ECover, Mike Goldings famous Open 60.

Following the rescue of Alex Thomson and subsequent mast damage sustained to the Open 60 ECOVER, British skipper Mike Golding retired from competing further in the Velux 5 Oceans Race on Monday 4th December 2006. The infamous race yacht was then returned home to the UK by ship from Cape Town, South Africa to Sheerness in Kent.

At the request of international shipping agents Peters and May Limited, our surveyors were on site when the Merchant Vessel 'Cloudy Bay' berthed in Sheerness Docks at 04.00 hours on Tuesday 2nd January. The weather suited that which we have become accustomed to; wet, windy and cold.

Sheerness dock staff from were on hand to assist under our supervision as the lashings were removed from the well travelled race yacht. The mast sections were secured on deck beside the yachts cradle. Under the guidance of ECovers shore manager Mr Graham Tourell the lifting gear was rigged up beneath the yachts cradle, purpose built for the journey home, which not only supported the yacht but also her giant keel.

The yacht was lifted from the deck of the 'Cloudy Bay' at approximately 07.00 hours and slewed across a windy quayside towards the waiting haulage truck. Transboat staff were on hand to ensure that the vessel was suitably positioned and supported on an expanding road transport trailer.

The mast sections, wrapped together for security were discharged separately to a further road transporter.

With the discharge completed satisfactorily the yacht and mast section were homeward bound to Southampton, Hampshire under wide load escort.

As attending surveyors we can report that despite poor weather conditions the discharge process was completed successfully without damage. The yacht was checked at each stage of the discharge process for damage. All lifting gear and securing arrangements were inspected prior to use to ensure best working practice.

New office for GW & Partners

noreply@blogger.com (marine-surveying) — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 13:40:00 +0000

NEW YEAR, NEW START!!

To start off 2007 in the best possible way Geoff Waddington & Partners can announce the opening of our new office premises in the sought after location of Hythe Marina in Southampton.

With a more professional stance in the marine surveying world (and an impressive view of Southampton Water) our Hythe Marina location puts us in the heart of one of the largest pleasure and commercial marine environments in the UK, the Solent.

Current projections see rapid expansion of the business throughout 2007. New survey contacts, marketing and partners will see the development of the Cargo Condition and Insurance side of the industry. Whilst our Private Surveying and Docking Superintendency continues to skip along under Geoff's own careful supervision. Our New Build and Inspection process is to receive a vast overhaul in order to allow us to develop improved communications with clients and manufacturer's alike.

If you feel that Geoff Waddington & Partners Limited can fulfil your marine survey requirements please contact us. Feel free to visit us at our new prestigious location:

22 Shamrock Way
Hythe Marina Village
Hythe
Southampton
Hampshire
SO45 6DY

Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 2380 207938
Mob: +44 (0) 7747 014547
Email: info@marine-surveying.co.uk