Do you need an SAMS survey? If you do, what you need is a marine surveyor that is SAMS accredited. The SAMS is the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors. It has about 1,000 surveyors across the globe. The organization also hosts annual educational conferences for its members to discuss damage avoidance, recommended practices, advanced boat inspection methods and legal liabilities. These surveyors mainly service commercial workboats, service cargo, yachts, fishing vessels, engines, tugs, machinery and small crafts.
When searching for a boat surveyor that can offer an SAMS survey, it is good to note that there are three classes of memberships.
- Accredited Marine Surveyors (also known as AMS)
- Surveyor Associate
- Affiliate
To become an SAMS accredited marine surveyor, an applicant has to be a practicing boat surveyor with no less than five years of experience. The experience should be acquired within a span of not more than 10 years. A candidate is also tested in various fields of accreditation. If not able to meet the admission requirements, a surveyor can either apply to be a surveyor associate or an affiliate. Accredited surveyors are applicants that fail to meet the prerequisites. Affiliate members, on the other hand, are members that operate a business that offers a product or service that is related to the marine industry. Practicing boat surveyors aren’t eligible for the affiliate member category.
All SAMS members are required to adhere to strict codes of ethics as well as meet high standards. Working with an accredited surveyor means the services you are getting are of the highest standard. They are comprehensive and these surveyors will not be rejected by insurers and other bodies that require a marine survey.
SAMS members offer a wide range of services. You can request any type of survey that you want. The main surveys offered include:
- Condition and valuation survey
- Limited condition and valuation survey
- Damage inspection
- Appraisal
- Sea trials
However, while being SAMS accredited, associated or affiliated means you will get high quality services, it is important to note that not every surveyor you find will be able to meet your needs. When hiring a surveyor for an SAMS survey, it is always good to find one that has experience offering the type of surveys you need. Additionally, you need to make sure that you can be comfortable working with that surveyor. If you don’t feel comfortable working with a surveyor, your experience with them might end up being unpleasant in spite of them being experts in their field.