Ship Surveyor at Armscor

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

• To ensure the operational readiness, safety and compliance of all South African Navy ships by conducting thorough and expert surveys in the Dockyard, thereby upholding naval standards and directly supporting the Navy's mission readiness and maritime defence capability.

CRITICAL PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

• Perform detailed inspections of hull integrity, propulsion systems, electrical installations and auxiliary systems, ensuring compliance with SA Navy standards and operational requirements.
• Issue recommendations and certifications confirming that vessels meet safety and combat readiness standards specific to military missions and South African naval doctrines.
• Compile and submit detailed technical reports on survey findings (with effective repair solutions) for approval and implementation by classification societies, engineers, or naval authorities.
• Coordinating with repair teams to confirm that identified issues are resolved as per approved procedures and standards.
• Marking and/or supervising the marking of draught markings, pennant numbers, sheer lines on the vessels, ensuring legibility and durability.
• Conduct Incline tests to determine the vessel’s correct state of stability.
• Review and update technical drawings, survey manuals, inspection checklists, and repair standards to align with evolving naval architecture and marine engineering practices.
• Regularly review and update work instructions and procedures to ensure they align with the latest safety standards and best practices.
• Train and guide personnel on revised or new procedures.
• Evaluate vessels against unique military specifications and defence-related regulations rather than commercial or international merchant marine standards.
• Collaborate with naval technical officers, ship commanders and dockyard project teams to align survey findings with mission-critical operational needs.
• Supervise and validate work conducted during refits and maintenance periods, particularly for specialized naval systems such as weapon mounts, radar arrays, and communication suites.
• Provide technical input during readiness reviews, contributing to planning cycles and mission deployment schedules through accurate condition assessments.
• Track and assess structural and system aging specific to naval operational stressors, ensuring long-term sustainability of SA Navy assets.
• Deliver technical reports and expert advice to naval command hierarchies influencing decisions on ship deployment, repair prioritization, and resource allocation.
• Engage in ongoing professional development to remain current with advancements in survey techniques, NDT technologies, corrosion detection, and classification society updates.
• Conduct literature reviews and technical studies to support the enhancement of survey practices or the introduction of new inspection technologies (e.g., drone-based hull inspections, digital twin systems).
• Liaise with stakeholders, including classification societies and naval authorities, on  standards, policy updates, and collaborative initiatives related to ship surveying.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Trade test certificate in Shipbuilding/ Shipwright or any relevant trade OR
• 7 years of relevant shipbuilding, ship maintenance, or maritime engineering experience.

EXPERIENCE

• 7 years of relevant shipbuilding, ship maintenance, or maritime engineering.
• Prior service in a navy or defence sector or maritime environment is highly valued.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Shipbuilding knowledge

SPECIAL PROFICIENCY/SKILLS

• Reading and understanding of engineering drawings
• Analytical thinking, interpersonal relations
• Knowledge of legal compliance
• Technical report writing
• Problem solving and analysis
• Decision making, customer focus
• Planning and organizing
• Attention to detail
• Be able to work in a team and independently
• Good communication skills
• Time management skills