About KMW Marine:
KMW Marine Ltd is a Hong Kong Registered Company with branch offices in Taiwan and Subic Bay, Philippines. It was originally set up in 1987 to cover the expanding yacht construction industry in Taiwan.
The principal of the company Ray Wolfe has been involved in charter yachts, yacht repair and construction since the late 1970's. He is AMS 483 Y, SC with the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, and a member of ABYC and ABBRA. We have extencive experience in new boat construction in Taiwan and Main Land China in both FRP and Steel.
We can provide survey reports that are accepted by most insurance companies, banks and financial institutions and with our extensive experience in Asia we can prevent many of the "new buyers" mistakes.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A MARINE SURVEYOR?
Anyone can title him or herself as a Marine Surveyor and start a buisness. Certain marine surveyors are permitted to use a designation denoting membership in accrediting organizations that require members to meet strict professional, technical and ethical standards.
A surveyor should provide you with a professionally prepared report that can be accepted by your bank and/or insurance company. Talk with prospective surveyors and ask questions! What does the survey include and what type of reporting format is used? Do they use ABYC, NFPA, RINA, DNV, and USCG standards in their surveys? How much will the survey cost? How long will the on-board survey take?
A thorough survey will not be rushed and will depend on the type of survey required depending on vessel size, equipment and on-board systems. There may be services available such as engine surveys, oil analysis, galvanic and stray current corrosion testing, ultrasonic testing, moisture testing and other non-destructive tests. There may be additional charges for these and other services.
Surveys that are well conducted can provide good information on the vessels' condition, but they are not guarantees. The surveyor reports the condition in accessible areas only as it exists at the time of the survey.
Why should you have a vessel surveyed?
Most insurance companies and banks will require them for all vessels. They will need to know her condition and fair market value in order to finance and/or underwrite the vessel. Knowing her condition and fair market value before you purchase is also important. However, the most important reason to survey your vessel is for the safety of the passengers and crew.