© 2026 Observater Surveys and Services Group. All rights reserved.
Marine Claims Recovery Experts tested across Africa’s toughest ports. Observater delivers fast, accurate, and complete cargo claims solutions—backed by hands-on experience in all forms of marine transport and commodity movement. Our surveyors are relied upon by global insurers, shippers, freight forwarders, consignees, and cargo underwriters for their impartial expertise and pinpoint documentation. We operate at every major seaport and dry port across Africa, offering rapid response and high-impact claim support when cargo is damaged, delayed, pilfered, or compromised in transit.
From bulk shipments like grains and fertilizer to containerized electronics, soft commodities, and project cargo, we assess the root cause of damage and lead full-scale recovery efforts. Our specialists act swiftly to secure salvage, issue preliminary and final survey reports, and follow through on every recovery step until claims are settled. Reach us anytime at: ops@observater.com
Observater ensures that cargo claims are not just investigated – but recovered with maximum possible value.
Our surveyors have been tested in some of the most challenging shipboard incidents across the continent. At Observater, we specialize in Hull and Machinery (H&M) claims recovery for shipowners, P&I clubs, hull insurers, and technical managers. Whether your vessel suffers grounding, collision, engine failure, or onboard fire, our experts step in with speed and authority to assess the extent of damage, determine causation, and document all findings to support an optimal claim.
We conduct detailed inspections of hull plating, propulsion systems, auxiliary machinery, deck gear, and safety systems. Our team is equipped with the latest measurement tools and operates under IMO and classification society standards. Observater delivers high-clarity damage reports that insurers and repair yards trust.
From engine room failures to hull integrity breaches, Observater ensures your H&M claims are backed by expert judgment and a thorough technical approach.
P&I Claims Recovery Specialists, trusted in critical liability matters at sea and ashore. Observater assists shipowners, charterers, and P&I clubs in navigating complex claims involving crew injury, pollution, stowaway incidents, stevedore damage, and general third-party liabilities. We act as your eyes on the ground—gathering time-sensitive evidence, protecting legal positions, and enabling fast and fair settlements.
Our expertise covers the full scope of Protection & Indemnity exposures. From crew repatriation and medical cost assessments to collision liability, cargo contamination and demurrage, we investigate and provide decisive documentation.
– On-scene investigation of P&I incidents including crew injury and pollution
– Evidence gathering and witness interviews
– Sampling and environmental documentation for spill events
– Stevedore damage and port incident investigations
– Liaison with legal teams and club correspondents
Observater secures your position with unbiased reports, expertly structured to align with P&I club requirements and international maritime conventions.
Skilled general average claims professionals with a strong foundation in maritime law and practical claims recovery. Observater supports cargo owners, insurers, and GA adjusters in collecting, verifying, and distributing general average claims following jettison events, salvage operations, and catastrophic vessel situations.
Our role spans on-site cargo assessment, documentation of sacrifices, valuation of cargo and freight interest, and preparation of required guarantees and security documents. We help ensure that contributions are fair, prompt, and recoverable under internationally recognized standards.
– Cargo survey and sacrifice valuation for GA statements
– Coordination with GA adjusters and marine insurers
– Issuance of GA bond and guarantee documentation
– Verification of declared cargo values and interest breakdowns
– Cargo recovery guidance and contribution collection
When General Average is declared, Observater provides a disciplined and structured pathway to ensure your claim is recovered and your exposure minimized.
Observater’s offshore claims recovery team brings deep engineering, marine, and environmental expertise to incidents involving platforms, subsea installations, offshore vessels, and support structures. From anchor failure and cable loss to oil rig collisions and subsea pipeline strikes, our response teams deploy rapidly to assess damage and initiate claims procedures.
We combine underwater inspections, ROV video capture, technical evaluations, and pollution impact reporting to provide insurers, contractors, and underwriters with the insight needed to process high-value offshore losses.
– Underwater inspections (ROV and diver-based) of structures and equipment
– Environmental damage surveys and contamination sampling
– Oil spill response and clean-up coordination
– Offshore hull, riser, mooring, and asset loss claims
– Repair cost estimation and downtime quantification
From oilfields to wind farms, Observater safeguards your interests with precision, discretion, and technical depth.
Observater’s claims recovery specialists are seasoned in identifying liability and building airtight subrogation cases. When insurers indemnify a loss, our team steps in to recover that loss from the responsible party—be it a negligent carrier, subcontractor, stevedore, or warehouse operator.
We initiate early investigation to preserve evidence, trace responsibility, and present compelling recovery demands.
Our reports are courtroom-ready, and our methods are backed by engineering, legal, and logistics expertise.
– Root cause investigations to identify liable parties
– Evidence preservation and chain-of-custody reporting
– Legal liaison for recovery negotiation or litigation
– Full documentation to support subrogation demands
– Recovery performance monitoring and close-out
Insurers and underwriters trust Observater to turn every loss into an opportunity for rightful recovery.
Freight and Transit Liability Claims: Observater specializes in tracing and recovering losses from freight-related liabilities across multimodal transport. We identify breaches in carriage contracts, investigate handling faults, and engage directly with carriers, freight forwarders, and insurers to secure just compensation.
Delay in Transit Claims: Our experts swiftly assess and quantify losses caused by late deliveries—whether due to congestion, customs delays, or transport disruptions. We help clients recover costs such as demurrage, storage, and penalty clauses through precise documentation and insurer-ready reports.
Aviation Cargo Claims Recovery: When air cargo arrives damaged, delayed, or misrouted, Observater investigates and resolves claims with technical accuracy. Our team handles everything from physical inspections to airway bill audits, ensuring rightful recovery for shippers and consignees.
Observater delivers expert claims recovery services across Africa, covering both marine and non-marine sectors.
Our loss adjusters and surveyors investigate damage, assign liability, and pursue financial recovery through legal and commercial channels.
We support insurers, P&I clubs, freight forwarders, logistics firms, and asset owners with timely, defensible recovery solutions.
Services include recovery from vessel damage, cargo loss, warehouse incidents, machinery breakdown, infrastructure damage, and transit-related losses.
From maritime collisions to collapsed buildings, Observater ensures fast inspections, root cause analysis, and accurate loss quantification.
We operate across East, Central, Southern, and West Africa – delivering trusted recovery results with precision, speed, and technical prowess.
When precision matters, Observater Surveys Group is your Partner of Choice
© 2026 Observater Surveys and Services Group. All rights reserved.