Oil and Petroleum Product Inspections

The fee depends on five main factors: the type of product (crude oil, diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, jet fuel, etc., each requiring specific gauging and sampling procedures), location, urgency of attendance, scope of operations (a single vessel call vs a series of shipments), and the laboratory testing package — from a basic specification check to extended testing of special parameters. For regular shipments, framework agreements with fixed rates are available; for one-off jobs, we calculate a custom quote once the brief is confirmed.

Yes — that is one of the primary purposes of our report. Reports are issued in a format suitable for contract settlement (confirming quantity and quality at custody transfer), insurance claims (recording losses from spills, contamination or shortages) and P&I (Protection & Indemnity Club) matters covering carrier liability for cargo damage. In oil logistics, claims on a single parcel can run into millions of dollars, and a properly documented report from an independent surveyor is often the decisive piece of evidence in settlement.

We work to three families of standards: GOST (Russian national standards), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials — the primary international standard for crude oil and petroleum products) and IP (Energy Institute / Institute of Petroleum, UK). The method is selected according to the product and contract terms. Combining these standards allows us to serve both domestic and international trade: export shipments typically require ASTM or IP, whereas domestic contracts use GOST. In practice, figures are often reported under both standards side by side so that the same report is accepted by all parties to the transaction.

Inspections are carried out at seaports, aboard sea and river vessels, and at shore tank terminals across Russia. We cover all key operations with crude oil and petroleum products: loading and discharge, transshipment between transport units and shore tanks, and bunkering (vessel refuelling). Each operation carries its own technical nuances and risks: during loading and discharge, system tightness and accurate gauging are critical; during transshipment, preventing cross-contamination of grades; and during bunkering, independent verification of delivered fuel volumes, as bunker quantity disputes are among the most common issues in maritime shipping.

The full cycle comprises three core modules. First, quantity measurement: determining the actual volume and weight of the product in accordance with ASTM, IP and GOST methods. Second, laboratory quality testing: drawing representative samples and testing them in accredited laboratories.
Third, investigation of damage and losses of insured cargo: establishing the root causes, extent of loss and liable party in the event of an incident. Following the inspection, the client also receives practical recommendations on preventing incidents in future operations.