On-hire off-hire surveys are joint or independent inspections carried out when a vessel is delivered to a time charterer and later redelivered to the owner. Under a time charter the ship is hired for a period, so the parties need a neutral record of what was handed over and what came back.
Either side can appoint the surveyor, or both can agree on one. The charterparty determines the obligation. Many standard time charter forms say the vessel must be delivered and redelivered in the same good order and condition, fair wear and tear excepted, and require quantities of fuel on board at each point to be recorded. A surveyor's report is the evidence for that.
At on-hire the surveyor inspects the cargo spaces for cleanliness and readiness for the first intended cargo, notes visible hull and deck damage, tests essential equipment such as cranes, and records bunkers on board by grade, with soundings, temperatures and densities. Photographs and a date-time stamp are important. At off-hire the same ground is covered again, and the surveyor compares the two sets of records to separate new damage from pre-existing condition. Details such as lube oil quantities, fresh water, and the condition of lashing and dunnage gear can be included if the charter requires it.
Before appointing, ask whether the surveyor will attend both events or just one, whether they can attend outside normal hours at an anchorage, and whether they will agree figures with the chief engineer on the spot. Confirm who receives the report.
The deliverable is an on-hire or off-hire report with bunker calculation sheets, photographs and a statement of damages observed.
Common disputes involve hold cleanliness, small scratches or dents left unrecorded at delivery, and differences in fuel measurement.
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