CCS Yacht Coating Services is introducing a new type of survey and working procedure called the CCS superyacht tender survey. This is our response to a significant number of disappointing paint refits caused by the initial tender failing to clearly specify the work and quality levels required.

Expect quality

We recently heard of a good example of the type of problems that can arise in painting from someone who had spent a large sum on a refit. The owner in question likes to take a daily swim around his yacht. Taking a dip just after the refit was completed he noticed that the expected quality had not been achieved in various spots on the exterior. This ultimately resulted in a totally new paint job a year later at full cost.

We are convinced that such a waste of resources and frustrated expectations will become a thing of the past if owners/captains work according to the new CCS superyacht tender survey.

Smoke and mirrors

One of the challenges owners and their representatives face when it comes to superyacht coatings is the total lack of clarity as to what is and isn’t acceptable. To be brutally honest, the 'Northern European superyacht coating standard' is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. The words have no legal authority and cannot be measured in any manner. In our opinion, the ICOMIA guidelines should only be seen as an industry minimum and are unlikely to give you the quality standard you are looking for.

CCS superyacht tender survey

The CCS superyacht tender survey is an excellent way to blow away the smoke and break the mirrors. Over the past 25 years we have written countless paint specifications and acceptance criteria. CCS has also been involved in the bid process for many refit and new build projects. Our new tender survey has three main objectives:

·       Create a level playing field for all parties quoting for the same work, based upon the same square-metre figure (calculated by a naval architect)

·       Provide like-for-like quotes for paint refit work

·       Ensure an agreed quality level at the best price via transparent quotes

How does the CCS superyacht tender survey work?

1.     A CCS surveyor makes the initial survey. All our surveyors are Frosio/Nace certified in combination with RMCI, which is essential should any dispute arise.

2.     CCS writes a clear tender document stating the work to be carried out, the quality level to be achieved (based on the initial survey) and agreed with the owner. In this way expectations are managed from the outset.

3.     The CCS surveyor writes acceptance criteria and quality performance criteria. The latter details the quality level which can be expected after the second, third and subsequent years.

4.     CCS evaluates the tenders to see who is offering the agreed quality at the best price.

5.     The CCS surveyor holds an initial meeting so that all parties have the same objectives before the project starts.

6.     Intermediate surveys monitor whether all the appropriate steps are being taken.

7.     A final survey and acceptance assessment checks the agreed quality levels have been reached.

8.     A warranty survey after 11 months ensures that all coatings are performing as agreed in the contract (optional).

There will be an article on the captain's role in a major paint refit appearing issue 78 of The Crew Report., which is available for free to all active captains and crew.

Profile links

CCS - Yacht Coating Services

Icomia

Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here.