Bulk cargo shortage claims: The role of draft surveys

摘要

Draft surveys are used for establishing the displacement of a vessel and to deduce the weight of cargo (mainly bulk solids) loaded or subsequently discharged. The vessel has no other means to determine this weight. Increasingly, bulk cargo weights are also being measured by use of shore based scales, where available. Shortage claims for bulk cargo are quite common and though most of them are based on the difference of the draft survey figure from shore scale readings, there are many which are due to the difference between draft surveys at load and discharge ports respectively. The difference creates a lot of unnecessary disputes and claims and there is very little understanding between shippers, charterers and receivers regarding the accuracy of the draft surveys. This article aims to explain and help resolve some common problems.