MARINE MATTERS Company Profile
Marine Matters Pty Ltd operates out of Gumdale, a suburb in Brisbane near Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia.
Marine Matters Pty Ltd was incorporated in 1996 and has survived in a difficult industry due to a combination of sound management, the provision of practical, useful services, and support from a broad range of equally well established and stable, long term clients and business associates.
We believe that it is very important for marine surveyors specialising in the small ship sector, to have extensive prior experience in boat building and repair in a variety of construction materials. We also ensure that our surveyors have a current accreditation with the Australian Marine Safety Authority in the areas relevant to the jobs that are allocated to them. Our marine surveyors are accredited for constructions in steel, aluminium, glass fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) and composite FRP. We have surveyed and valued vessels under 45 metres in length, from ‘Tinnies to Tankers’ including pontoons and superyachts.
Marine Matters provides services to clients in all States and Territories in Australia, and also internationally. Our reports are easy to read, concise, and include photographs, either within the report or stored on a CD. We provide useful opinions about what we can discover from non-destructive inspections of the accessible parts of vessels. We do not provide long detailed inventories or specifications unless they are also required. We avoid simple ‘tick and flick’ reports.
Marine Matters Pty Ltd is supported by a network of other businesses in the marine industry that have proven to be reliable, knowledgeable and skilled, but we do not accept, or pay, commissions.
HISTORY
Marine Matters was established in 1996 by Russ Behan. Russ has spent his entire working life in the marine industry, beginning with his Shipwright and Boat Building apprenticeship in the early 1960s, with A W Pryor on the banks of Norman Creek in Brisbane. From there he moved to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to work with Steamships Slipways, before establishing and operating several companies in PNG to provide services in: boat building and repairs; engine sales and servicing; sail making and canvas work; surveying and valuing; and chandlery sales.
Russ moved back to Australia in 1986 and decided to broaden his experience by subcontracting and consulting to boat builders, boat repairers, slipway operators, ferry operators and marina operators. At the same time he continued to do surveys and valuations. He recognised the need for professional small ship marine surveyors in the marine industry so he joined a group of like-minded small ship surveyors and together they established the Small Ships Surveyors Association Inc which is still in operation as the Marine Surveyors Association Inc, and Russ is still a member. Their aim is to improve the standard of small ship surveying in Australia and reduce the risk for the marine surveyors and their clients. Russ is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Marine Surveyors which has the same purposes, and also offers accredited Training Courses for Marine Surveyors.
Russ gained accreditation with Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) in 1999 after Queensland adopted a system of using accredited, privately operating, marine surveyors in 1996. Russ then trained another experienced, qualified, boat builder to MSQ accreditation level and together they trained two more experienced boat builders to the same level. At the time there were no recognised Australian small ship marine surveyor training courses. Marine Matters downsized in 2008 but Russ maintains a good relationship, professionally and personally, with past employees and he is currently mentoring some newly AMSA accredited marine surveyors
Marine Matters is able to provide expert reports to assist the courts when dispute resolution fails.
OUR SERVICES
Condition Reports
Marine surveyors are only able to visually inspect the accessible areas of the vessel but most surveyors also use a small hammer to sound the structure, and moisture meters to check for relative moisture levels in FRP composite and timber structures, weather permitting. Infra-red thermal imaging cameras can also be used to detect moisture in these materials. Specialists can non-destructively test (NDT) metal materials for thickness, and welds can be x-rayed, or tested for cracks and porosity with liquid dye penetrene. Engines can be checked using oil analysis kits. Some purchasers also obtain separate reports from other specialists such as engine technicians, marine accredited electricians, and mast, spars, and rigging manufacturers...
Domestic Commercial Vessels
Domestic Commercial Vessel registration is very complex and changes are often made so this information should be used as a guide only. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority web site, in the section titled ‘Domestic Commercial Vessels’, has many excellent Guidance Notices for vessel owners and operators regarding the Certificate of Survey and the Certificate of Operation, and also has copies of all the AMSA Forms that need to be submitted for these Certificates, or for the annual renewal of these Certificates...
Valuations
Marine Matters provides financial institutions, liquidators, Australian customs, insurers, divorcing couples, and accountants with vessel valuations. They request valuations such as ‘Market Value’, Auction or Forced Sale Value’, ‘Agreed Value’, and values before and after marine incidents.
There are published guides for values of smaller, popular, production line vessels but there is no published data base of sale prices for most vessels sold in Australia. Listed asking prices for boats for sale on websites are generally higher than the actual selling prices and the listings are difficult to compare unless they include an extensive description of the vessels for sale...
Consultancy
Clients, who are having a vessel constructed, or their finance companies, are able to consult with Marine Matters and the builders to develop a plan for payments at mutually acceptable stages of the construction. When a payment is due, a Marine Matters’ surveyor checks the construction to ensure the stage has been completed. Compliance with the specifications and the construction standards, as well as the quality of the construction, may also be included in the report if required...
Other Inspections
New Build Progress Reports
Banks and other lenders appoint marine surveyors to certify that a vessel has reached the stage of construction required for a Progress Payment. Marine Matters is accepted by most Australian Financial Institutions for this type of inspection.
Maintenance, and Scope of Work, Lists
Marine Matters surveyors are able to prepare a ‘Scope of Work’ list, for repairs or maintenance, which can be used to obtain quotes for the repairs or maintenance. Some vessel owners have this done before they put their vessel on the market.
