Pre-purchase survey
Independent condition inspection before you commit, with defects, priorities and practical next steps.
Request this survey
Marine surveys across South Africa
Find the right marine surveyor for your boat in South Africa
Request an independent marine surveyor in South Africa for a pre-purchase, insurance, valuation, damage or specialist assignment. Matching starts with the coast and port, vessel use and construction, haul-out access and whether the work is private or follows a SAMSA or authorised-agency route.
Coast-specific survey planningCape Town, Garden Route, Eastern Cape, Durban and Richards Bay
Scope-led matchingVessel, material and report purpose reviewed
Independent choiceYou appoint and instruct the surveyor
01Describe the assignment
02We review location and scope
03Choose your surveyor
Survey types
One request, matched to the actual job
A pre-purchase inspection is not the same assignment as a tonnage measurement or commercial-code survey. We keep the scope clear from the beginning.
Insurance & valuation
Condition and market-value reporting shaped around the information your insurer or lender requests.
Request this surveyDamage & claims
Evidence-led inspection following grounding, collision, water ingress, machinery failure or storm damage.
Request this surveyTonnage & registration
Routing to a surveyor with the right appointment when a flag, registry or recognised organisation requires it.
Request this surveyRig, engine & specialist
Focused inspections for rigging, machinery, composites, steel, aluminium and other specialist scopes.
Request this surveyCommercial & coding
Survey support for commercial yachts, charter activity and code-compliance work where applicable.
Request this surveyHow it works
A practical route from request to inspection
The platform helps structure the enquiry and introduce suitable professionals. The selected surveyor remains responsible for agreeing scope, fee and terms with you.
Tell us about the yacht
Share the vessel, survey purpose, location, timing and any buyer or registry deadline.
We review the scope
We check geography, material, size, specialist needs and whether formal acceptance matters.
Receive a suitable introduction
Where available, we connect you with a surveyor whose stated capability fits the assignment.
Appoint independently
You compare the scope and terms, resolve conflicts and instruct the professional directly.
Important distinction
Professional membership is not automatic flag approval
For pre-purchase and condition work, competence, experience, insurance and independence are central. For tonnage, registration, coding or statutory work, the flag or accepting organisation may also require a specific appointment.
Check my survey requirement✓
Credential — membership, qualification or professional designation
✓
Capability — the right vessel, material, size and survey experience
✓
Appointment — authority from the relevant flag or organisation
✓
Acceptance — confirmation that the resulting report or certificate will be accepted
South African survey locations
Plan the survey around South Africa’s widely separated coasts
South Africa’s Atlantic and Indian Ocean boating centres are separate travel markets. Give the exact marina, club, port or yard and confirm security, lift capability, weather window and any formal small-vessel requirement before appointment.
Cape Town & Western Cape
The country’s largest yacht and refit market. Confirm yard access, haul-out, wind conditions and whether the survey includes a sea trial.
Find a surveyor in this region →Garden Route
Bar, lagoon and harbour conditions can affect access and trials. State the vessel’s berth, lift plan and whether specialist travel is required.
Find a surveyor in this region →Eastern Cape
Widely separated ports require early scheduling. Commercial-port security and contractor permissions should be checked before attendance.
Find a surveyor in this region →KwaZulu-Natal
A key Indian Ocean yacht and commercial-marine region. Confirm facility access, tropical exposure, haul-out and intended offshore use.
Find a surveyor in this region →Inland waters
Inland leisure craft require the exact club or yard, trailer or lift method and an inspection scope suited to lake use.
Find a surveyor in this region →Frequently asked questions
Before you appoint a marine surveyor
What details are needed for a South African marine survey quote?
Provide the coast, exact marina or yard, vessel details, construction, use, purpose and preferred date. Include port access, haul-out, sea trial and any insurer, lender or SAMSA-related requirement.
Who may carry out a formal small-vessel survey in South Africa?
SAMSA identifies SAMSA officers, SAMSA Appointed Surveyors and authorised-agency safety officers for defined small-vessel survey scopes. The correct route depends on vessel use and category and is separate from a private condition survey.
Can one surveyor cover Cape Town and Durban?
Some professionals travel, but the coasts are far apart and travel may be material. Start with the closest suitable region and then check vessel, construction and assignment experience.
Can an ocean-going yacht receive a passage-focused inspection?
A separate agreed scope may address condition, safety equipment and systems before or after a passage, but it is not a guarantee of seaworthiness or a substitute for the skipper’s responsibilities.
Are port access, lift and sea trial included?
Only when stated in writing. Port permits, yard fees, haul-out, pressure wash, relaunch, skipper, fuel, travel and diagnostics may be separate.
Who appoints the surveyor?
The client appoints and instructs the independent surveyor directly after agreeing scope, fee, timing and terms. South Africa Marine Survey provides information and introductions only.
Can you help with other specialist marine survey assignments?
Potential assignments include small commercial-vessel assignments, new-build & refit supervision, rig & mast inspections, engine diagnostics & oil analysis, moisture, osmosis & corrosion, damage & forensic investigation, sea trials & delivery acceptance, ocean-passage condition checks. Availability depends on the location, vessel and required specialist capability or formal appointment.
International marine survey network
Need a survey in another country?
Select the country where the vessel is located, or send the exact port, marina or yard so the assignment can be reviewed.
South AfricaCape Town · Garden Route · Durban and KwaZulu-NatalView regions
United Arab EmiratesDubai · Abu Dhabi · SharjahRequest survey
SeychellesMahé · Praslin · La DigueRequest survey
MauritiusPort Louis · Black River · Grand BaieRequest survey
ThailandPhuket and Phang Nga · Krabi · Gulf of ThailandRequest survey
SingaporeSingapore marinas · Shipyards and commercial waterfrontRequest survey
AustraliaNew South Wales · Queensland · VictoriaRequest survey
New ZealandAuckland and Hauraki Gulf · Northland · Bay of PlentyRequest surveyPrefer to speak with us?
Start with the right survey scope.
Tell us the vessel, South African location and reason for the survey. We can help clarify access and report requirements before you request an introduction.
Request a surveyor in South AfricaDirect contactChoose the easiest way to reach us