Ultrasound survey of the entire hull following storm damage

Damage inspection following an explosion onboard a yacht

Inspection following a collision & subsequent sinking

SMH investigation using ultrasound to assist underwriters to determine the pre-incident condition of a keel structure. Large voids were found using NDT techniques, not grounding damage.

SMH ultrasound inspection to verify the bond between an inner keel matrix & the hull, in this case below the aft backing plate

Checking the quality of a keel stub using ultrasound for underwriters prior to placing insurance cover

SMH Collision incident investigation

Loss Adjusting / Claims Work & Damage Inspections

Saunders Morgan Harris Ltd have been loss adjusting on behalf of underwriters and insurers since conception of the company in 2005, although both principal surveyors have been working in claims work for years in advance of this.

With over 40 years combined experience the principal surveyors at SMH have worked for the majority of leading underwriters and insurers and have experienced most types of claims. Working as a team SMH can respond to large complex claims with a fast response time, to ensure that further loss is limited and the incident information is preserved and recorded. Owners/ Captains and managing agents are also reassured with SMH’s prompt response time and the in-depth nature of the surveys being undertaken.

SMH draw from years of experience of surveying both large and small vessels and their knowledge base of vessels is wide ranging, mainly due to years of purchase surveys and new build inspections on many types of craft.

For more complex claims, especially when more serious structural loss has occurred, using their NDT techniques, SMH are well trained to determine the extent of damage, which is often difficult when using more simple traditional inspection methods.

SMH are therefore able to offer the underwriters/ insurers more accurate information on the extent of damage, in turn assisting repairs yards to provide more accurate estimates for repairs.

Typically for composite vessels (GRP/FRP) grounding or collision damage can be quantified by using an ultrasound grid system, whereby the extent of delamination is verified by comparing sound areas with damaged areas and using thickness measurements to confirm how far the damage extends.

This additional information often saves significant costs when needless opening up is undertaken by repair yards, especially when the extent of damage could have been quantified using NDT methods.

Large areas of damage and water ingress into a composite structure can also be detected by the use of both active and passive thermal imaging.

SMH have invested in NDT ultrasound and thermal imaging equipment, whereby no hire costs are passed on to their clients. Both principal surveyors are level 2 inspectors and are highly trained to undertake their inspections.

Damage to paint coatings and fairings are also undertaken and in house paint inspection equipment is used to determine the extent of damage and the pre-incident condition of fillers and coatings, to allow insurers/ underwriters to make an informed decision on the extent of repairs.

Typical inspections include:

Collision & grounding
Fire
Machinery failure
Swamping and sinking
Lightening damage
Dismasting & mast/ rigging failures
Marine & non marine claims for boatyard & marina policies
Personal injury