How should a marine- and cargo surveyor

handle job-related photos and videos?

 Publié le 23 janvier 2019

Christoph K. Bruns

As always at this point, I would like to state that I do not want to pretend to speculate about
the individual approaches to this sensitive topic of many good and experienced colleagues.

The most often clicked and read messages in the business relevant social networks such as
LinkedIn, are those with spectacular accidents, damages, exciting transports or other
interesting logistical activities. 

I do not want to hide the fact that I also rad these posts and like to comment.

However, I noticed that more and more surveying colleagues post their own photos and video
clips on the net, due to the fact, that one of the most used tools of a marine and cargo surveyor
is the camera and unfortunately more and more the built-in camera in the smartphone. ……
and the rest is so easy.

Of course, the privacy laws are regulated differently in different parts of our beautiful planet
and are also prosecuted differently, but at this point I would like to remind once again of the
commitment to professionalism and neutrality of Marine and Cargo Surveyors

 In my opinion, our profession should be very restrained with the "posting of photos and video
clips". 

As a basic explanation I like to use a very traditional expression here

 That just is just not proper.

 I am well aware that this term is nowadays no longer sufficient as justification for many.

We marine- and cargo surveyors do receive a large part of our orders and appointments due to
our knowledge and high qualification, but also because of a special relationship of trust
between our clients and ourselves, be they insurers, shippers, forwarders, banks or private
individuals. ……and because of this special relationship of trust, we are often sent by our
clients to the most exciting and distant places on this planet to "investigate", "inspect","report"
and finally "take photos."

Unfortunately, and that you can find right here at LinkedIn, this trust is misused more
frequently. The consequences of this misuse of trust are manifold and serious. 
Are you always sure that by publishing exciting or interesting photos and videos, you are not
violating commercial, personal or protected rights and you may harm your client’s interests?

In addition to a general negative impact to the reputation of the entire surveying industry and
the associated economic consequences, more and more ship owners, terminals, P&I clubs and
merchandise owners are granting a general photo ban on their ships, terminals and properties. 

…….to what extent irregularly or secretly created pictures and videos can still be officially
used, I cannot and do not judge legally at this point. For this purpose, as indicated above, the
legal foundations are regulated differently in different parts of the world and are also
prosecuted differently.

My personal recommendation on this topic is:

Always register officially with the vessels command, operators of terminals or other third
party properties and have your photo permission granted. 

...…...and by the way, permission to photograph on a terminal does not necessarily include
permission to take photos on a vessel.

 If an authorization, for whatever reason, is not granted, inform your client without any
emotion. This is the only way to secure the interest of your client and your own interest. Do
not be afraid to mention the not granted photo permission explicitly in your professional
survey report.

 …….and by the way, photos and videos are always just a support of the written word in a
professional survey report, because this report is always a document, which was created with
a special expertise and experience. It contains factual statements and value judgments as well
as all relevant facts. Otherwise your client could just send a drone or use a webcam.  

And finally, please do not share videos and pictures in the social networks. Keep them in
your report and your file. Otherwise you may hurt yourself the most and that just for a
few "thumbs up". Leave the rest to the gazers and paparazzi.