Upon notification of damages to a marina, no matter how large or small, a protocol should be developed to ensure that a complete assessment can be performed in an efficient manner. The goal is to quickly gather accurate detailed information to facilitate a timely resolution of the claim. The following is an outline of an example methodology to assess damages and to develop repair recommendations:
1. Preliminary Inspection. An initial visual inspection of the facility is performed to ascertain the basic type of damage and to determine factors that contributed to damage including factors that could have potential subrogation implications. The initial inspection is generally more of an overview, but should be detailed enough to identify any potentially dangerous issues which need to be addressed immediately (such as identifying electrical components that may present a shock or fire hazard). Obvious total loss items are identified so the insurer can move forward quickly to address those portions of the claim. The Preliminary Inspection is also necessary to develop a strategy as to how best to perform any subsequent inspections (such as ruling out areas that will not need further inspection or determining if an underwater inspection is warranted.)
2. Background Research. Contemporaneous with the Preliminary Inspection, available information about the existing structures (such as dock manufacturer specifications) and the event that caused damages (such as wind directions) is obtained and reviewed.
3. Preliminary Report of Findings. The information obtained during the Preliminary Inspection and from the background research is summarized and presented in a Preliminary Report of Findings, which also includes initial estimated repair and replacement costs.
4. Detailed Inspection. Based on the information gathered, a methodology is developed to perform a more detailed inspection of damaged structures for the purpose of documenting all damage, developing plans and specifications for repairs, and determining related repair cost values. At this stage, it is important to differentiate damages arising from the claimed event from older damages.
- Features of the dock systems are evaluated for the extent of structural damage:
- Underwater Truss System
- Flotation, Dock Frame and Decking
- Superstructure
- Roof Sheathing
- Pilings/Anchorage and Mooring Systems
- Detailed inspections of the facilities will also include an evaluation of damages to utility systems, including electrical components, plumbing, and any other mechanical components, and for damaged items, the components will be reviewed for compliance with current code requirements.
- The inspection may include an underwater dive inspection geared to the specific project needs, to identify areas of damage, existing condition-previous damage verses new, and/or identification of specific damage for development of repair or replacement scope.
5. Report of Findings. The information obtained during the Detailed Inspection is summarized and presented in the Report of Findings, which will generally include details on:
- Scope of repairs of damaged components and identification of replacements for any total loss areas
- Repair methodologies
- Cost valuations
- Code upgrade and compliance requirements, and
- Demolition, debris removal, identification of components suitable for reuse and repairs, and salvage values
With the Report of Findings, sufficient information should be available to allow repairs to be made. Upon the completion of the Report of Findings, additional follow-up items will need to be addressed to continue moving the claim towards resolution, including developing construction/project timelines, reviewing bids, evaluating potential business interruption, reviewing completed work, etc.