Singapore has a narrow, clear route for one kind of survey. Every Singapore-registered pleasure craft is surveyed once every three years, and MPA requires a valid survey report for registration and renewal. Those surveys must be done by recognised surveyors employed by accredited organisations (AOs). MPA says it no longer accepts MPA Port Inspector's reports for them.
So you don't apply as an individual. You join, or set up, an accredited organisation.
What MPA asks of the surveyor
MPA's pleasure craft page sets the qualification bar for each surveyor an AO employs. You need one of these:
- a Class 1 Certificate of Competency, Deck or Engine, Foreign-going
- a qualification from a recognised institution in a maritime-related field, with specialised training. MPA gives naval architects as the example
Before MPA issues its Letter of Agreement to an AO, the AO's surveyors complete a train-the-trainer programme run by MPA surveyors. Surveys follow MPA's SRS Pleasure Craft Survey Checklist.
What the company needs
To become an AO, MPA lists:
- registration of the company with ACRA
- professional indemnity insurance above the minimum MPA sets
- the name and identity details of each surveyor employed
- overseas presence or remote survey capability, which MPA marks as a new requirement for its next review of AOs
MPA's page names the current AOs. If you hold the qualifications, those firms are where to start.
Practical steps
- Get the sea time and a Class 1 Certificate of Competency, or a maritime degree such as naval architecture.
- Build hands-on experience with small craft: hulls, engines, electrics and safety gear, the systems the survey checklist walks through.
- Approach the accredited organisations listed on MPA's page, or set one up if you can meet the company requirements.
- Complete MPA's train-the-trainer programme and learn the SRS checklist.
For pre-purchase and insurance surveys of private boats anywhere, see how to become a marine surveyor and courses and certification.