JH Warranty & Marine Insurance Surveys
Independent marine surveying and technical consultancy for Joint Hull Committee warranty surveys, marine insurance condition assessments, structural condition surveys, machinery risk assessments and related hull and machinery insurance requirements.
JH Warranty Survey Services Overview
Marine insurers and underwriters may require independent vessel surveys and technical risk assessments as part of hull and machinery insurance arrangements. The required scope depends on the applicable policy wording, warranty, insurer instructions, vessel characteristics and intended trading profile.
PAMS Pacific Admiralty Maritime Services provides independent marine surveying and technical consultancy for vessel condition, structural condition, machinery and related marine insurance risk assessments.
The survey scope is established from the specific instructions applicable to the assignment. Where a Joint Hull Committee warranty survey wording is specified, the applicable wording and current insurer or underwriter requirements should be confirmed before attendance.
Joint Hull Committee Survey Wordings
Joint Hull Committee survey wordings have been developed for different categories of hull and machinery insurance risk assessment. The applicable wording should always be confirmed against the current insurance documentation and survey instructions for the vessel.
JH 115, JH 722 & Earlier Survey References
Older Joint Hull Committee warranty references may still appear in insurance documentation, historical survey records or client instructions. These include references such as JH 115 and JH 722, as well as the earlier JH 2006/010 survey series.
JH 115
Historically associated with a vessel condition survey warranty. Where this reference appears in existing insurance documentation, the precise warranty wording and current insurer requirements should be reviewed before the survey is undertaken.
JH 722
Historically associated with a structural condition survey warranty. The applicable requirements should be confirmed from the current insurance warranty or survey instruction.
JH 2006/010A
Earlier JH survey wording associated with engine room, machinery and related risk assessment requirements.
JH 2006/010B
Earlier JH wording associated with vessel condition survey requirements.
JH 2006/010C
Earlier JH wording associated with crew and office management assessment requirements.
JH 2006/010D
Earlier JH wording associated with structural condition survey requirements.
Historical references are included for identification purposes. The applicable survey standard for a current assignment should be established from the relevant insurance documentation and current instructions.
JH Warranty Survey & Marine Insurance Assessment Services
PAMS can provide independent technical surveying for the following categories, subject to the applicable insurance wording and agreed assignment scope.
Condition Surveys
Technical Scope Independent assessment of the vessel's accessible general condition, machinery, equipment, documentation and relevant risk areas.
Structural Condition Surveys
Technical Scope Assessment of accessible hull structure, structural condition, deterioration, corrosion, defects and other relevant areas within the agreed scope.
Machinery Risk Assessments
Technical Scope Review of machinery condition, engine-room arrangements, maintenance, defects and relevant technical risk factors.
Bunker Fuel Risk Assessment
Technical Scope Assessment of applicable bunker fuel arrangements and associated machinery or operational risks where included within the specified warranty scope.
Crew & Management Assessment
Technical Scope Review of relevant crew, shipboard management and shore-management arrangements where specifically required.
Hull & Machinery Risk Surveys
Technical Scope Independent technical assessment of vessel condition and risk factors relevant to hull and machinery insurance.
Marine Insurance Condition Assessment
The condition component of a warranty survey is focused on the physical and operational condition of the vessel relevant to the specified insurance requirements.
Hull & Structure
- Accessible hull and structural areas.
- Corrosion and deterioration.
- Structural defects and damage.
- Previous repair areas where accessible.
- Relevant structural documentation.
Machinery
- Main propulsion machinery.
- Auxiliary engines and generators.
- Pumps and essential machinery.
- Machinery maintenance condition.
- Reported defects and deficiencies.
Deck & Cargo Systems
- Deck machinery.
- Mooring equipment.
- Cargo systems where applicable.
- Valves, piping and associated equipment.
- Visible deterioration or defects.
Safety-Critical Equipment
- Fire protection arrangements.
- Emergency equipment.
- Emergency power arrangements.
- Safety systems within the survey scope.
- Relevant maintenance records.
Structural Condition Survey
Where the applicable warranty requires a structural condition survey, the assessment is focused on the accessible structural condition of the vessel and on identifying conditions that may represent relevant marine insurance risk.
Engine Room & Machinery Risk Assessment
Machinery risk assessment focuses on the condition, maintenance, operation and available technical records of machinery systems relevant to the applicable insurance requirement.
Main Propulsion
Review of visible condition, operational status, maintenance history and reported machinery deficiencies.
Auxiliary Machinery
Assessment of generators, pumps, compressors and other essential auxiliary machinery within the agreed scope.
Machinery Maintenance
Review of planned maintenance, overdue work, defects, recurring deficiencies and relevant technical records.
Machinery Safety
Review of relevant alarms, protective arrangements, emergency systems and visible machinery safety concerns.
Insurance Survey Documentation Review
Documentation review supports the physical survey by allowing technical observations to be considered alongside classification, statutory, maintenance and operational information.
JH Warranty Survey Methodology
1. Assignment Review
Initial Stage Review the applicable insurance warranty, survey wording, insurer instructions, vessel information and requested reporting requirements.
2. Documentation Review
Preparation Review available class, statutory, technical, maintenance and previous survey documentation relevant to the scope.
3. Vessel Attendance
Shipboard Assessment Conduct the agreed physical inspection of accessible structural, machinery, deck, cargo and safety-related areas.
4. Technical Assessment
Evaluation Evaluate observed conditions against the applicable survey requirements and technical scope.
5. Findings & Recommendations
Reporting Document relevant observations, deficiencies, risks and recommendations within the agreed reporting framework.
6. Final Report
Deliverable Provide the completed technical survey report to the instructed party in accordance with the agreed assignment.
Typical Survey Findings
Structural Condition
Visible corrosion, coating breakdown, deformation, cracking, structural deterioration or other conditions requiring further assessment.
Machinery Condition
Defects, leakage, abnormal conditions, maintenance concerns or machinery deficiencies identified during the survey.
Maintenance
Overdue maintenance, recurring defects, incomplete repairs or deficiencies identified within the available records.
Documentation
Missing, incomplete, inconsistent or outdated technical documentation relevant to the survey scope.
Classification Status
Relevant outstanding recommendations, conditions or survey information identified during the documentation review.
Further Investigation
Areas where restricted access, visible conditions or available evidence indicate that additional specialist examination may be appropriate.
Marine Insurance Survey Reporting
Reporting is prepared according to the applicable assignment requirements and the instructions provided by the relevant client, insurer, underwriter or authorized party.
Vessel Types
JH warranty and marine insurance surveys can be adapted to different commercial vessel types according to the applicable insurance requirement.
Independent Marine Technical Consultancy
Independent Surveying
PAMS provides independent marine surveying and technical consultancy without acting as a classification society, statutory authority or insurance underwriter.
Technical Engineering Experience
Survey assessment can draw upon practical marine engineering, machinery, vessel condition and technical inspection experience.
Objective Reporting
Findings are presented objectively according to the agreed survey scope, observed condition and available supporting documentation.
Related PAMS Marine Survey Services
Pre-Purchase Vessel Inspection
Independent technical inspection and due diligence for prospective vessel acquisition.
P&I Surveys
Independent marine surveying for protection and indemnity related technical assessments.
Condition Surveys
Independent vessel condition assessment for technical and commercial purposes.
Marine Technical Consultancy
Independent technical consultancy covering marine engineering, surveying and maritime compliance.
About the Technical Author
Technical Content Review
Last Technical Review
September 2026
Review Frequency
This page is reviewed periodically to reflect applicable marine insurance survey practices, Joint Hull Committee wording developments and relevant technical requirements.
JH Warranty Survey FAQ
What is a JH warranty survey?
A JH warranty survey is a marine survey undertaken in connection with a hull and machinery insurance warranty or related insurance requirement. The exact scope depends on the applicable warranty wording and instructions.
What is JH 2013/007?
JH 2013/007 refers to a series of Joint Hull Committee survey wordings covering different categories of marine insurance risk assessment. The applicable wording should be confirmed against the current insurance documentation for the assignment.
What is JH 2013/007A?
JH 2013/007A is associated with engine room, machinery and bunker fuel risk assessment requirements where specified by the applicable insurance warranty or survey instruction.
What is JH 2013/007B?
JH 2013/007B is associated with vessel condition survey requirements where specified by the applicable insurance warranty or survey instruction.
What is JH 2013/007C?
JH 2013/007C is associated with crew and office management assessment requirements where specified by the applicable survey wording.
What is JH 2013/007D?
JH 2013/007D is associated with structural condition survey requirements where specified by the applicable insurance warranty or survey instruction.
Are JH 115 and JH 722 still applicable?
JH 115 and JH 722 are historical Joint Hull Committee warranty references. Where they appear in insurance documentation, the applicable current wording and insurer requirements should be confirmed before the survey is undertaken.
What were JH 2006/010A-D surveys?
JH 2006/010A-D refers to an earlier series of Joint Hull Committee survey wordings covering machinery and bunker fuel risk, vessel condition, crew and office management, and structural condition respectively.
Does a JH survey replace a class survey?
No. A JH warranty survey is an insurance-related technical assessment and does not replace statutory surveys, classification surveys or other mandatory inspections.
Does a JH survey provide insurance cover?
No. PAMS provides independent technical surveying and consultancy. Insurance coverage, warranty acceptance and underwriting decisions remain matters for the relevant insurer or underwriter.
Can PAMS conduct a structural condition survey?
Yes. PAMS can undertake independent structural condition assessment within the agreed scope, subject to vessel access, safety requirements and the applicable insurance survey instructions.
Can PAMS conduct machinery risk assessments?
Yes. PAMS can provide independent machinery and engine-room technical assessment within the agreed survey scope and applicable insurance requirements.
Who specifies the required JH survey?
The required survey is normally determined by the applicable insurance policy, warranty, insurer or underwriter instructions and the circumstances of the vessel.
Does PAMS guarantee acceptance by an insurer?
No. PAMS provides an independent technical survey report. Final acceptance of the survey and compliance with an insurance warranty remain the responsibility of the relevant insurer, underwriter or authorized party.
Can the survey scope be customized?
Yes. The scope can be established from the applicable warranty wording, insurer instructions, vessel type, location, access conditions and client requirements.
Marine Insurance Survey Notice
This page provides general information about independent marine insurance warranty surveying and related technical assessments. References to Joint Hull Committee survey wordings are provided for technical identification and service-context purposes. The applicable wording, warranty requirements and reporting instructions must be confirmed from the current insurance documentation or instructions issued for each individual assignment. PAMS does not provide insurance underwriting, insurance coverage or statutory/classification certification.
Request a JH Warranty Survey
Contact PAMS for an independent marine insurance condition, structural, machinery or related technical survey. Please provide the vessel name, type, location, requested survey wording or warranty requirement and intended attendance date so the applicable technical scope can be evaluated.
Request Technical Consultation Marine Survey Services