Damage & Casualty · Portland
Damage Survey Portland
Independent damage and casualty surveys in Portland and across Portland Harbour and Weymouth — collision, grounding, storm and rig damage handled directly by an MIIMS surveyor. Owners, insurers and underwriters all instructed.
What this service involves
Damage surveys in Portland typically run to a familiar pattern: berthing collisions in tight marina entrances, grounding damage on the lee-shore tides, storm damage to rigs and biminis after autumn and winter gales, and the occasional electrical event from lightning or shore-power faults.
Reports follow IIMS guidelines and are accepted by UK and EU marine insurers and Lloyd's underwriters. The role is the same on every casualty: assess what is damaged, identify cause where it can be determined, scope the repair, indicate cost, and — where the numbers warrant it — address constructive total loss head-on.
Repair scopes are written to be actionable. Yard selection and contractor capability in the Portland area are factored in; the indicative cost band is what an underwriter needs to set a sensible reserve, not a procurement quote. Final quotes come from the appointed yard once the scope is agreed.
Instructions are taken from owners, insurers, brokers, P&I clubs, loss adjusters and lawyers. The report is independent regardless of who instructs, and methodology and conclusions do not change with the instructing party.
Where we work
Attendances cover Portland Marina inside Portland Harbour, Weymouth Marina at the head of Weymouth Harbour, and Castletown moorings. Travel-lift and hardstanding work uses Portland Marina's yard. Onward attendance in Poole, Lymington, Dartmouth and the rest of the Jurassic Coast fits the same trip.
- Portland Marina
- Weymouth Marina
- Castletown
- Weymouth Harbour
- Portland Harbour
- Poole
- Lymington
- Dartmouth
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can you attend a casualty in Portland?
Urgent attendances in Portland can usually be booked within forty-eight hours. Where a vessel is taking on water or otherwise unstable, attendance is the same day where physically possible.
Who instructs damage surveys — the owner or the insurer?
Either. SVG Marine accepts instructions from owners, insurers, brokers, P&I clubs, loss adjusters and lawyers. The report is independent regardless of who instructs, and the methodology and conclusions do not change with the instructing party.
What types of damage do you handle?
Collision and berthing damage; grounding and reef-strike damage on keels, rudders, saildrives and props; storm and squall damage to rigs, sails, biminis and solar arrays; electrical damage from lightning, shore-power faults and battery events; engine and machinery damage.
Can you scope repair work and cost it?
Yes. The report includes a recommended scope of repair, identification of suitable Portland-area yards and contractors, and an indicative repair cost band suitable for an insurer's reserve. Final repair quotes come from the appointed yard.
Which yards do you work with in Portland?
Portland Marina, Weymouth Marina, Castletown, Weymouth Harbour and Portland Harbour and the surrounding boatyards are used regularly for hull, structural and mechanical repair. Yard recommendation in the report is based on the work scope and the vessel's existing relationships.
Will the report be acceptable to my insurer?
Yes. Reports follow IIMS guidelines and are accepted by UK, EU and US marine insurers and by Lloyd's underwriters. Format includes incident summary, damage assessment with photographs, recommended scope of repair, cause where determinable, and indicative repair cost.
Can you handle constructive total loss?
Yes. Where the indicated repair cost approaches the insured value, the report explicitly addresses constructive total loss and provides the underwriter with the analysis needed to make a settle-or-repair decision.
How quickly can a report be issued?
First-attendance preliminary findings within forty-eight hours of the inspection. Full written report typically within seven working days; complex casualties involving multiple disciplines may take longer if specialist input is required.
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