Commercial Vessel Surveyor Chicago IL
Professional commercial vessel surveying services in Chicago, Illinois for passenger vessels, charter boats, workboats, tour boats, fishing vessels and other commercial craft operating on Lake Michigan and the Chicago River.
Commercial vessel surveyor inspecting a passenger or workboat in Chicago Illinois
Great River Marine Surveying provides professional commercial vessel surveying services throughout Chicago, the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and the surrounding Great Lakes marine market.
We work with commercial vessel owners, prospective buyers, operators, insurance companies, lenders, attorneys, charter businesses and other marine-industry clients requiring independent vessel inspections and professional written marine survey reports.
Chicago supports a diverse commercial marine industry that includes passenger vessels, architecture and sightseeing boats, charter vessels, fishing charters, sailing vessels, water-based tourism operations and other commercial craft operating on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
Commercial Vessel Surveying Services in Chicago
Great River Marine Surveying provides inspection and survey services for a variety of commercial vessel assignments.
Services may include:
Pre-Purchase Commercial Vessel Surveys
Condition & Value Surveys
Insurance Surveys
Commercial Vessel Appraisals
Damage & Claim Surveys
Financing Surveys
Passenger Vessel Surveys
Charter Vessel Surveys
Tour & Excursion Vessel Surveys
Fishing Charter Vessel Surveys
Workboat Surveys
Commercial Sailing Vessel Surveys
Mechanical & Systems Inspections
Electrical System Inspections
Safety Equipment Reviews
Commercial Vessel Condition Assessments
COI Readiness & Preparation Support
Specialty Commercial Vessel Inspections
The scope of each assignment can be tailored to the vessel, intended service and client's requirements.
Pre-Purchase Commercial Vessel Surveys
Purchasing a commercial vessel involves considerations beyond those associated with a typical recreational boat.
A professional pre-purchase commercial vessel survey in Chicago can provide an independent evaluation of the vessel before a buyer completes the transaction.
Depending upon the vessel and agreed scope, the inspection may include accessible portions of the:
Hull and structural components
Deck and superstructure
Bulkheads and structural supports
Main propulsion machinery
Engines and generators
Fuel systems
Electrical systems
Plumbing systems
Steering systems
Hydraulic systems
Bilge and pumping systems
Navigation equipment
Communication equipment
Fire-protection equipment
Safety equipment
Ground tackle
Deck machinery
Passenger spaces
Commercial operating equipment
Other installed machinery and systems
When appropriate and available, the survey may also incorporate an out-of-water inspection and operational or sea trial.
Following the inspection, Great River Marine Surveying prepares a professional written marine survey report documenting observed conditions, findings and applicable recommendations.
Passenger Vessel Surveys
Chicago has an active passenger-vessel market operating on both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
Great River Marine Surveying can provide professional inspection services for qualifying passenger vessels used for activities such as sightseeing, excursions, dining, charter service and other commercial passenger operations.
Depending upon the vessel and requested scope, an inspection may include:
Hull and structural condition
Decks and superstructure
Passenger spaces
Rails and barriers
Main propulsion machinery
Generators
Electrical systems
Fuel systems
Steering equipment
Bilge systems
Navigation equipment
Communication equipment
Fire-protection equipment
Emergency equipment
Safety equipment
Other accessible operating systems
Chicago Harbors recognizes commercial operating categories that include uninspected passenger vessels, small passenger vessels and inspected passenger vessels, reinforcing the significance of commercial passenger operations in the local marine market.
Charter Vessel Surveys
Great River Marine Surveying provides survey services for qualifying charter vessels operating throughout the Chicago boating market.
Charter vessels may include:
Passenger charter boats
Fishing charter vessels
Sailing charter vessels
Corporate charter vessels
Excursion boats
Private-event vessels
Other commercial charter craft
Commercial charter vessel surveys may be requested for purchase, insurance, financing, appraisal, condition documentation or other business purposes.
Tour & Excursion Vessel Surveys
Chicago has one of the country's most visible urban passenger-vessel markets, with architecture tours, sightseeing cruises and lake excursions operating extensively on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
Great River Marine Surveying can provide independent surveys for qualifying tour and excursion vessels.
Depending upon the assignment, the survey may include:
Hull and structural assessment
Propulsion machinery
Electrical systems
Passenger areas
Navigation equipment
Communication equipment
Fire-protection equipment
Safety systems
Steering
Bilge systems
Deck equipment
Other accessible vessel systems
The inspection scope can be tailored to the vessel and intended commercial operation.
Fishing Charter Vessel Surveys
Lake Michigan supports an active charter-fishing industry.
Great River Marine Surveying can provide professional survey services for qualifying commercial fishing charter vessels throughout the Chicago and southern Lake Michigan market.
Depending upon scope, inspections may include:
Hull and structural condition
Propulsion machinery
Fuel systems
Electrical systems
Steering
Navigation electronics
Communications equipment
Safety equipment
Fire-protection equipment
Deck equipment
Fishing-related equipment
General vessel condition
Workboat Surveys
Commercial marine operations may also involve workboats and utility craft.
Great River Marine Surveying can provide independent inspections for qualifying:
Utility boats
Service vessels
Marina workboats
Construction-support craft
Harbor-support vessels
Specialty commercial craft
Depending upon the vessel, the survey may include:
Hull and structural condition
Propulsion machinery
Electrical systems
Fuel systems
Steering
Hydraulic equipment
Pumps
Deck machinery
Navigation equipment
Communication equipment
Safety equipment
Commercial operating equipment
The scope can be customized according to the vessel and its intended use.
Commercial Sailing Vessel Surveys
Chicago also supports commercial sailing operations and charter sailing vessels.
A commercial sailboat survey may include evaluation of accessible:
Hull and structure
Deck and cabin structure
Standing rigging
Running rigging
Mast and boom components
Chainplates
Auxiliary propulsion machinery
Electrical systems
Plumbing systems
Navigation equipment
Safety equipment
Passenger spaces
Other sailing-related equipment
Additional sail and rigging inspection services may be incorporated when appropriate.
Insurance & Condition and Value Surveys
Commercial vessel owners may require surveys when:
Obtaining new insurance coverage
Renewing insurance
Changing insurers
Financing or refinancing a vessel
Purchasing or selling a commercial vessel
Documenting vessel condition
Establishing market value
Meeting business or contractual requirements
Our commercial condition and value surveys can document the vessel's observed condition, equipment and estimated value as applicable to the assignment.
Commercial Vessel Appraisals
Great River Marine Surveying provides professional commercial-vessel appraisal services when an independent opinion of value is required.
Appraisals may be requested for:
Financing
Insurance
Purchase or sale
Estate matters
Probate
Legal proceedings
Partnership matters
Business asset documentation
Collateral valuation
Fair market value determination
The valuation scope can be tailored to the purpose of the assignment.
Commercial Vessel Damage Surveys
Commercial vessels may sustain damage resulting from:
Collisions
Allisions
Groundings
Dock impacts
Storms
Machinery failures
Structural failures
Fire
Flooding
Transportation incidents
Other marine casualties
Great River Marine Surveying can provide independent damage inspections and professional documentation following a reported marine casualty.
Depending upon the assignment, the report may document observable damage, affected components, photographic evidence, reported circumstances and conditions present at the time of inspection.
Machinery & Propulsion Systems
Commercial vessels frequently operate more hours and under greater loads than recreational boats.
Depending upon the requested scope, the surveyor may inspect accessible portions of:
Main propulsion engines
Transmissions
Generators
Cooling systems
Exhaust systems
Fuel systems
Engine mounts
Shafting and running gear
Hydraulic systems
Steering systems
Pumps
Bilge systems
Other installed machinery
Additional mechanical testing may be available depending upon the machinery and requirements of the assignment.
Commercial Vessel Electrical Systems
Depending upon accessibility, a commercial vessel survey may include review of observable portions of:
AC electrical systems
DC electrical systems
Battery installations
Battery switches
Distribution panels
Circuit protection
Shore-power systems
Generators
Battery chargers
Inverters
Wiring
Navigation lighting
Emergency electrical equipment
Other installed electrical systems
Observed deficiencies can be documented in the final survey report.
Safety Equipment Review
Depending upon vessel type and survey scope, the inspection may include review of accessible safety-related equipment such as:
Personal flotation devices
Life rings
Fire extinguishers
Fire-protection systems
Emergency equipment
Navigation lights
Bilge pumping arrangements
Ground tackle
Signaling devices
Emergency communications equipment
Other vessel-specific safety equipment
Applicable regulatory requirements vary according to vessel type, passenger capacity, route, tonnage and operation.
COI Readiness & Inspection Preparation
Great River Marine Surveying can provide commercial vessel condition assessment and COI-readiness support where applicable.
An independent inspection may help an owner identify observable conditions or deficiencies that should be addressed before presenting a vessel for regulatory inspection.
Great River Marine Surveying does not issue a United States Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection and an independent marine survey does not replace any inspection required by the U.S. Coast Guard or other regulatory authority.
Chicago Commercial Vessel Market
Chicago has an unusually active commercial passenger and charter vessel market.
Commercial marine operations include:
Architecture cruise vessels
Sightseeing vessels
Dinner and entertainment cruises
Charter boats
Sailing charters
Fishing charters
Small passenger vessels
Inspected passenger vessels
Commercial recreational vessels
Other commercial marine operations
Chicago Harbors maintains specific commercial-permit categories for passenger, fishing, sailing and inspected-vessel operations.
This makes Chicago one of the more valuable commercial-vessel survey markets in the Great Lakes region.
Serving the Chicago River & Lake Michigan
Great River Marine Surveying provides commercial vessel survey services throughout the greater Chicago and southern Lake Michigan marine market.
Assignments may be coordinated in and around:
Chicago River
Lake Michigan
Burnham Harbor
DuSable Harbor
Monroe Harbor
31st Street Harbor
Belmont Harbor
Montrose Harbor
Navy Pier area
Calumet River
Chicago Harbor
Hammond
East Chicago
Surrounding Chicagoland marine facilities
Chicago Park District operates 10 harbors along approximately 14 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with space for more than 6,000 boats, while the city's commercial-waterfront market includes substantial charter and passenger-vessel activity.
Professional Commercial Vessel Survey Reports
Following the inspection, Great River Marine Surveying prepares a professional written marine survey report.
Depending upon the requested scope, the report may include:
Vessel identification
Vessel particulars
Equipment information
Photographic documentation
Hull and structural observations
Machinery observations
Electrical-system observations
Fuel-system observations
Safety-equipment findings
Operational observations
Observed deficiencies
Recommendations
Valuation information when applicable
Our objective is to provide owners, buyers, insurers, lenders and other commercial clients with clear and useful information regarding the vessel's observed condition.
Schedule a Commercial Vessel Survey in Chicago
If you need a commercial vessel surveyor in Chicago, Illinois, contact Great River Marine Surveying to discuss the vessel, location, intended operation and required survey scope.
We provide passenger vessel surveys, charter vessel surveys, workboat surveys, commercial fishing vessel surveys, commercial sailboat surveys, pre-purchase surveys, insurance and condition surveys, appraisals, damage surveys and COI-readiness support throughout Chicago, the Chicago River and southern Lake Michigan.
Request a commercial vessel survey or quote today.
Great River Marine Surveying Company
Phone: 1-877-921-2628