Engaging a Marine Surveyor for the first time can feel like rolling a dice. There is little reliable information for consumers to help make an informed choice, know their rights, and understand what the responsibilities of the marine surveyor are. Coupled with this are the many separate disciplines within marine surveying, which make it more difficult to establish what standard of service should be expected.
The right certifications are essential
An AIMS-certified Surveyor will be armed with all the right knowledge
For many years consumers and marine surveyors themselves have been baffled with the structure of the profession and what constitutes a ‘professional’ marine surveyor. The Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors (AIMS) — the peak industry body for marine surveyors in Australasia — recognised this alongside the need to make sure consumers are equipped with the right information when choosing their surveyor. AIMS also identified the need for improving the standards and professional practices of marine surveyors across all sectors.
In 2018 AIMS answered these needs by taking on the challenge of certifying surveyors who are experienced and qualified in their field and conduct their business and practice to the standards expected of a ‘professional’.
AIMS already had tiers of membership and a rigorous application process in place for their 400-plus members, so taking membership to the next level by offering certification gave an opportunity for applying members to stand out in a class of their own.
To date, over 80 AIMS members have successfully achieved certification — with many more currently working through the requirements to reach this elite level. It is a huge win for the marine survey industry to have so many people committed to raising and maintaining the level of professionalism in the field.
WHAT DOES CERTIFICATION MEAN TO A MARINE SURVEYOR?
Certification is an optional application process and quality system wherein surveyors and surveying organisations undertake yearly auditing and verification of their professional experience and qualifications, insurance coverage, and business management systems and processes. If they pass they are awarded with certification as a Certified Commercial Marine Surveyor™, an accreditation recognised and respected within the industry.
WHAT DOES CERTIFICATION MEAN TO A CONSUMER?
By choosing an AIMS Certified Commercial Marine Surveyor, consumers can be confident their surveyor holds extensive qualification and experience, maintains their business practices to a minimum ISO 9001 accredited quality industry standard, and holds adequate insurance coverage in case something doesn’t quite go to plan.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A SURVEYOR IS AIMS CERTIFIED?
Certified Commercial Marine Surveyors are exclusively eligible to advertise their certification with the CCMS logo. This logo is a stamp of quality, and if your surveyor is displaying this logo, you know you have made a great choice. If you can’t find a local certified surveyor, all certified surveyors are advertised on AIMS’ website aimsurveyors.com.au, or they can assist in the process over the phone on 02 6232 6555.
In the event you aren’t happy with your experience, you can provide feedback directly to AIMS via these channels — the goal of certification is to raise and maintain the standards of the marine survey industry, so if a certified surveyor has not provided the quality service expected, they would like to know.
AIMS have created a solid certification platform, which has moved a traditional industry sector into a more contemporary model, and are working to protect consumers through higher quality, competitive pricing, and improved standards from marine surveyors who are clearly in a class of their own.
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