Question 1

What is newbuilding supervision?

Accepted Answer

Newbuilding supervision is the process of independently overseeing the construction of a vessel on behalf of the owner. A supervision team attends the shipyard at critical stages, inspects the work against the approved drawings and specification, formally records any defects or non-conformances, and reports progress to the owner. The goal is to ensure the vessel is built to the agreed standard, on time, and within budget — and that the owner has an independent record of what was built and how.

Question 2

Do I need a supervision team if the classification society is already surveying the vessel?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The classification society surveyor's role is to verify that the vessel meets class rules — not to protect the owner's commercial interests. Class surveyors do not check that the vessel is built to your specification, that the maker's list is being followed, or that the shipyard is meeting its contractual obligations. An independent owner's supervisor does all of this. The two roles are complementary, not interchangeable.

Question 3

At what stage should I appoint a supervision team?

Accepted Answer

Ideally before you sign the shipbuilding contract. Pre-contract review of the technical specification and contract terms is one of the most valuable things a supervision team can do — it is far cheaper to fix specification gaps on paper than to discover them during construction. That said, we can step in at any stage of the project, including mid-construction if you have concerns about quality or progress.

Question 4

How often will your engineers be at the shipyard?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the vessel type, the complexity of the build, and the shipyard's track record. For a typical commercial vessel, we define a programme of hold points and milestone visits at the outset — keel laying, block assembly, launch, machinery installation, dock trials, and sea trials are the core milestones. Between visits, we maintain remote oversight through yard reports and direct communication. For high-risk phases or yards with a less established quality record, we can provide continuous on-site presence.

Question 5

What happens if the shipyard falls behind schedule or quality is not acceptable?

Accepted Answer

We formally document any quality shortfall as a Non-Conformance Report (NCR) and require the shipyard to provide a corrective action plan. Schedule slippage is tracked against the agreed programme and reported to you with an assessment of the impact on delivery. Where the shipyard is in breach of the contract, we provide the technical documentation you need to support a formal claim. Our role is to give you an accurate picture and the evidence to act on it — not to manage the relationship with the yard at the expense of your interests.

Your eyes and ears at the shipyard — from first steel to delivery

We work for you — not the shipyard

What newbuilding supervision covers

Pre-Contract

Design & Approval

Construction

Trials & Delivery

Experience across the full range of commercial vessel types

Supervision backed by structured project management tools

Common questions

Planning a newbuilding project?