Remote surveys – the future?

Voirrey Blount, at Reed Smith, reports on the impact of Covid-19 on remote surveys and at how the workforce has had to adapt

In these unprecedented times of global shutdown, the shipping industry has been forced to move rapidly into the digital age. Vessels still require their statutory surveys and the clock does not stop just because the surveyors are unable to fly out to a vessel. This has forced flag states and recognised organisations (ROs) to develop their own procedures for remote surveys and inspections at a rapid pace.