A marine survey in Indonesia costs roughly USD 650 to 3,200 for a leisure vessel under 25 m, USD 2,200 to 6,500 for a commercial vessel condition survey, and USD 800 to 1,800 per draft survey attendance. Travel, haul-out, diver and laboratory costs are quoted separately and charged at cost.
Survey pricing in Indonesia is opaque, and that opacity is not accidental — it makes comparison hard and lets a thin scope hide behind an attractive number. Here is the honest picture.
What drives the number
- Vessel size and complexity. Length is the headline, but systems count matters as much. Two engines, two generators, a watermaker and air conditioning is a longer day than a single-engine workboat of the same length.
- Where she lies. A resident-desk port carries no mobilisation. A remote anchorage with boat transfer and an overnight stay adds several hundred dollars before anyone opens a hatch.
- Scope depth. Visual survey, survey with a full UTM grid, and survey with oil analysis and diver support are three different products.
- Readiness. A vessel presented properly is surveyed in a day. A vessel opened up while the surveyor waits takes two, and you pay for both.
- Grouping and timing. Two candidates on one mobilisation cost far less than two trips; same-day casualty attendance carries a premium.
Indicative bands
| Engagement | Indicative USD |
|---|---|
| Leisure pre-purchase, under 12 m | 650 – 1,100 |
| Leisure pre-purchase, 12 – 18 m | 1,100 – 1,900 |
| Leisure pre-purchase, 18 – 25 m | 1,900 – 3,200 |
| Haul-out attendance add-on | 250 – 1,500 |
| Condition and valuation, commercial | 2,200 – 6,500 |
| Hull and machinery with UTM | 2,000 – 7,500 |
| Draft survey, per attendance | 800 – 1,800 |
| Bunker quantity survey | 500 – 1,200 |
| Casualty or cargo attendance, per day | 600 – 1,600 |
Why the lowest quotation usually costs the most
A quotation well below these bands is normally one of three things: a visual walkthrough with no instruments, a report assembled from a template, or a surveyor whose real income comes from somewhere else in the transaction. The first two produce a document with no evidential value. The third produces a document that is worse than nothing, because it makes you confident.
Frequently asked questions
Is the survey fee negotiable?
The scope is negotiable; the day rate is what it is. If the budget is fixed, we will tell you what fits inside it and what will be excluded, in writing, so you are not misled by a shorter report.
Do you charge extra for a report addressed to an underwriter or a bank?
No, but tell us at the brief stage so the recommendations and any valuation are formatted for that reader.
What if the vessel is not ready when the surveyor arrives?
Waiting time is chargeable, typically USD 300 – 600 per day. It is entirely avoidable by confirming access before travel.