Surveys · Cargo
Cargo Surveys in Sydney — Container, Securing & Outturn
As cargo surveyors in Sydney since 1883, Gibson Minto & Aiton provides independent evidence of the condition, quantity and stowage of cargo at every stage of carriage — by sea and by air. Shipping lines, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and stevedores engage us when the state of a consignment must be established beyond argument.
What our cargo surveys cover
Cargo surveying is the discipline of recording fact: what was shipped, in what condition, how it was secured, and what arrived. We conduct:
Cargo Securing Surveys
Inspection and approval of lashing, dunnaging and securing arrangements before sea carriage — confirming the stow will withstand the forces of the intended voyage.
Pre-discharge & Outturn Surveys
Recording the condition of cargo on board before discharge begins, and the tally and condition of cargo as it is outturned — the definitive record when shortage or damage is alleged.
Cargo Inspection & Condition Surveys
Independent condition inspections of marine and airfreight consignments — at origin, in transit or on arrival — for shippers, receivers and carriers.
Monitoring of Discharge / Loading
Continuous attendance throughout cargo operations, supervising handling, recording stoppages and damage as it occurs, and protecting our principal's interests in real time.
Container Surveys
Surveys of containers and their contents — suitability for the intended cargo, condition on receipt, damage assessment, and the adequacy of packing and securing within the container.
When to commission a cargo survey
Commission a securing survey before any vulnerable, high-value or unusual cargo goes to sea. Commission a pre-discharge or outturn survey whenever damage or shortage may be alleged on arrival — the evidence must be gathered before the cargo disperses. Commission monitoring when an operation is sensitive enough that someone independent should be watching it from first lift to last.
In every case, early appointment is the difference between a survey that records facts and one that reconstructs them.
Who we act for
Major shipping lines, freight forwarders, importers and exporters, stevedoring companies, marine insurers and P&I Clubs. Many of our principals have instructed the firm for decades; some relationships predate containerisation itself.
What the survey report covers
Tallies, photographs, condition records, stowage and securing assessments, the nature and apparent cause of any damage found, and practical recommendations. Reports are written in plain, precise English and issued promptly — suitable for commercial resolution, insurance claims and legal proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
Speak to a surveyor
Put 140 years of cargo surveying between your consignment and dispute.
Securing, outturn, container and condition surveys — attended promptly at Port Botany, across Sydney and at ports nationally.