What class surveyors look for in a welding repair report — and what makes them reject one
The three fields every surveyor checks first, and the three that quietly get you a rework request instead of an acceptance.
A welding repair report is not a formality — it is the document the class surveyor uses to accept or reject the repair. Get it right and the surveyor signs. Get it wrong and you rework the joint or the paperwork, both of which cost you the sailing.
What the surveyor checks first
Welder qualification. The name on the report must match a certified welder qualified for the process, position and material. Certificate on file, in date, with the qualification range covering the actual joint. This is the number one rejection reason.
Welding procedure. A WPS (Welding Procedure Specification) that matches the joint — material, thickness, position, filler classification. Ideally backed by a PQR (Procedure Qualification Record) that qualifies it. A generic WPS that does not cover the thickness range is a rejection.
Consumable traceability. Filler wire or electrode batch number, brand, classification (e.g. E7018-H4R). Documentary evidence the batch matches the WPS. "Same as usual" is not traceability.
What the surveyor checks next
NDT report. Method, technique, extent, findings. Signed by a qualified NDT operator. Photos of any recordable indications.
Pre- and post-heat. Where the WPS calls for it, evidence it was applied — thermocouple or crayon photo, temperature log.
Fit-up photos. For insert plates, especially, a photo showing the root gap and preparation before welding.
What quietly gets you rejected
Copy-paste reports. A report that looks identical to the previous ten repairs, with the vessel name changed. Surveyors notice.
Missing signatures. The welder, the QA/QC person and the site supervisor should all sign. A single-signature report is a rework request.
Photos that do not match the narrative. A report that describes a 22-metre insert plate with a single small photo of a bead. The pack should show the full sequence.
The template we use
Our repair reports include: welder ticket, WPS, consumable batch, pre-heat record, fit-up photos, in-progress photos, NDT report, final photos, and a signed acceptance page. Every field filled, before the surveyor asks. Send us a job scope and we will send back an example report from a similar repair for your reference.