Talk to an Expert
P&I and H&M Surveyors in Africa | Club & Underwriter Attendance | Observater

P&I and H&M Surveyors Across Africa

When a club, underwriter, or owner needs eyes on a vessel or a claim in an African port, the distance between instruction and attendance decides the outcome. Our surveyors attend on behalf of P&I clubs, hull underwriters, and shipowners at ports across the continent. +45 Ports in Africa, and Global Capacity at Load Ports.

Attendance Where It Matters, When It Matters

African port calls carry P&I and H&M exposure that grows with every hour a matter goes unattended: cargo claims, stevedore damage, machinery breakdown, contact damage, and crew matters. Observater provides local attendance with reporting written for clubs and underwriters, and because our network runs inland along the trade corridors, evidence gathered at the ship’s rail connects to what happens to the cargo afterward. This page is part of our Africa coverage.

P&I and H&M Services We Provide

Pre-Loading Condition Surveys

Condition surveys of cargo before loading on behalf of P&I interests, documenting pre-shipment condition to protect the carrier against claims for pre-existing damage.

Stevedore Damage Attendance

Prompt attendance when stevedores damage the vessel or cargo, with photographic evidence, statements, and damage reports that support recovery from the responsible party.

Hull & Machinery Damage Surveys

Damage surveys for hull underwriters covering contact damage, heavy weather, grounding, and machinery breakdown, with cause, extent, and repair recommendations.

Casualty & Incident Attendance

On-scene attendance for casualties and incidents in African waters and ports, preserving evidence and representing our principal’s interests from the first hours.

Club Entry & Condition Surveys

Condition surveys supporting club entries and renewals, giving clubs and underwriters an independent picture of the vessel as she trades.

Claims Defense & Documentation

Survey reports, tally records, and corridor evidence assembled into files that stand up in claims negotiation, arbitration, and recovery actions.

Common P&I Matters at African Ports

The pattern of P&I exposure in Africa is consistent enough to plan for. Cargo claims dominate: moisture and condensation claims on steel and bagged commodities in the humid West African and Indian Ocean ports, shortage disputes where tallies are contested, and handling damage where shore cranes and grabs do the work the vessel’s gear was not designed for. A pre-loading survey and an independent discharge tally remove most of the argument before it starts.

Stevedore damage is the second constant: hatch covers, coamings, and cranes damaged during cargo operations, with the window for evidence measured in hours before the vessel sails or the stevedore’s version becomes the record. Our surveyors attend on board, photograph, take statements, and issue damage reports while the parties are still alongside.

The third category is the casualty tail: groundings and contact damage around congested anchorages, heavy weather damage on the Cape route, and machinery breakdown far from the owner’s usual repair network. For matters that turn into cargo loss, our damage survey and salvage and recovery teams carry the file forward under the same instruction.

Where Our P&I and H&M Surveyors Attend

Tap a marker to see our attendance point and the country team behind it. Blue pins are country anchor offices and networks; blue circles are further ports we attend; grey dots are on-request points. On mobile, use two fingers to move the map.

Every Port in Our Network

We provide P&I and H&M attendance through our own offices and vetted surveyor networks at the following ports and inland points. If your port is not listed, ask; our network reaches further than any list.

North Africa & Mediterranean

Casablanca, Tangier Med, and Agadir in Morocco; Algiers; Tunis; and in Egypt: Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said, and Ain Sokhna on the Suez side.

Red Sea & Horn of Africa

Port Sudan; Massawa and Asseb in Eritrea; the Port of Djibouti and Tadjoura; and Berbera, Mogadishu, and Kismayo on the Somali coast.

East Africa & Indian Ocean

Lamu and Mombasa in Kenya; Tanga, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, and Mtwara in Tanzania; Toamasina in Madagascar; and Port Louis, Mauritius.

Southern Africa

Pemba, Nacala, Beira, and Maputo in Mozambique; Richards Bay, Durban, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), and Cape Town in South Africa; and Walvis Bay in Namibia.

West & Central Africa

Dakar, Conakry, Freetown, Monrovia, San Pedro, Abidjan, Takoradi, Tema, Lome, Cotonou, Lagos (Apapa and Tin Can), Onne, Warri, Douala, Kribi, Pointe-Noire, Matadi, Luanda, and Lobito.

Inland Corridor Points

Addis Ababa and Modjo Dry Port; Kampala; Kigali; Bujumbura; Lusaka and Ndola; Lubumbashi and Kolwezi; Kinshasa and Tshikapa; Goma; Harare; Blantyre and Lilongwe; with attendance toward Juba, Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey on request.

Country P&I Teams

We attend P&I and H&M matters through our own offices and vetted networks, including P&I and H&M surveyors in Mombasa, Djibouti, Nigeria, and Mozambique, with attendance at the further ports listed above on instruction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you act for clubs, underwriters, and owners?

Yes. We accept instructions from P&I clubs and their correspondents, hull and machinery underwriters, shipowners, and managers. Where interests could conflict on the same matter, we disclose and act for one principal only.

How quickly can a surveyor attend?

We deploy the nearest qualified surveyor from our African network on receipt of instruction. Attendance times depend on the port and the matter; we confirm expected attendance when we accept the instruction.

What do your reports include?

Cause, nature, and extent of damage; photographic evidence; relevant statements and documents; and, where instructed, repair recommendations and quantum. Reports are written to the standard clubs and underwriters expect.

Need Attendance at an African Port?

Send us the vessel, port, and nature of the matter, and we will confirm attendance and scope.

International Marine Cargo Surveyors, Loss Adjusters and Technical Consultants in Africa - On-ground expertise, Global reach. Your gateway to African and Global Marine Expertise: Trusted technical solutions, marine surveys, aviation cargo surveys, and cargo claims investigations.

Anywhere you Go in Africa, we are Already There, with capacity to serve Globally. HQ: Amir Suites, 1st Floor Room No. B6, Sauti ya Kenya Road, Mombasa, Kenya; Claims Office Express House Moi Avenue Road, Mombasa, Kenya. Email us: marinesurveyors@observater.com Tel: +254776960820

When precision matters, Observater Surveys Group is your Partner of Choice   

Solution

Resources

Company

© 2026 Observater Surveys and Services Group. All rights reserved.

1