Based on its recent study, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) predicts that the growth of the cruise industry throughout 2019 can surpass that of 2018 by 6%. Therefore, in the contemporary scenario, investing in a cruise line can be an advantageous commercial deal for enterprises.
Buying a cruise ship requires adequate knowledge of the shipping line as well as a keen eye for inspection. The initial inspection offers a rudimentary basis for purchasing cruise ships for sale. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to consider while inspecting a cruise ship.
What Should the Initial Inspection Include?
Normally, any buyer will first inspect the cruise vessel by sending the management/commercial people on board to see if the vessel is commercially fitted for the buyer’s requirement. Thereafter, if the buyer finds the vessel of further interest and wants to purchase the vessel, he/she will start the purchase negotiations and send the full technical inspection team on board to verify her technical condition. Many buyers prefer to employ a technical ship management to do such an inspection.
The buyers will normally have a pretty good idea about what cruise ship type (and facilities on board) they will require. However, for the readers, we are listing them below.
There are various types of cruise ships based on their designs and purposes, such as Luxury Cruise Ship, River Cruise Ship, Mainstream Cruise Ship, Expedition Cruise Ship, Ocean Cruise Ship, Mega Cruise Ship, etc. Though each of the ships is different, yet the basic inspection guideline remains the same. Here are a few things that you may consider:
- Ensure that the certificates and class documents are up to date. If the vessel is a classed ship, its surveying will be conducted by a class surveyor who can assure that all requirements of the classification society like Lloyds, ABS, etc. are in place. This certifies that the vessel is in full compliance with every type of repair, maintenance, and construction requirements.Nevertheless, it’s always better to survey, inspect, dry dock and sea trial the ship. This requires the management team to open the tanks, test the machinery, review previous dry dock records, and examine the engineering and repair records.
- Whether in the water or at the time of dry-docking, the steel in the cruise must be audio-gauged that determines the amount of wastage since its construction.
The survey is usually done in the water. If its report is satisfactory, only then the ship is moved to a dry dock for inspection. The buyer may need to pre-pay any test done at the shipyard such as hauling of the cruise and its subsequent launching. - Check the attitude of the crew. Take a note whether they take pride to be a part of the shipping line or it’s simply a job to them.
- Indulge into a sea trial to test if every machinery is working properly. This trial will check everything from the bilge and fire pumps to the autopilot. Also, inspect if the waterline is clean of any growth.
Contact a Reputed Ship Broker
If you want to reduce the burden of a thorough inspection, it’s important to contact reputed cruise ship brokers, like Norwegian Ship Sales, that can offer reliable and quality service.
The vessels are regularly surveyed by the Class Society to maintain high quality. Some of the numerous certificates validating the quality of the cruise ships are:
- Inventory of Hazardous Materials of Compliance
- Safety Management certificates
- International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate, Type A
- International Ship Security Certificate
- Load Line Certificate
Conclusion:
With its two decades of experience in serving the shipping market, Norwegian Ship Sales has earned a distinct reputation. Therefore, should you look for buying cruise ships for sale in Norway, Norwegian Ship Sales is the right choice. Call +47-6754-1925 / +47-9177-6183
