Risk management a crucial element for project cargoes

The high value and often complex nature of project cargoes vastly increases the need for risk management, according to Dave Oram, a partner along with father Syd Oram in survey and claims investigation specialists, DS Oram & Associates. And a full-scale examination of the cargoes as they land in SA is a vital part of this risk management procedure, he told FTW. “We currently undertake survey and claims investigation for several of the large local marine underwriters, and risk management/project cargo discharge supervision for several of the large clearing and forwarding agents who specialise in projects in the Southern African region. In some instances, clients require continuity of survey and consequently request that we travel to the load ports in Europe/Far East to undertake the loading surveys of items ultimately destined for Southern Africa” The father and son combination brought over 50 years of combined experience in the marine survey and insurance industries into play at DS Oram & Assocs. In the early years of his career from 1998 with D S Oliver & Company, Dave was involved with surveys of projects involving the handling of abnormal/heavy-lift cargo – like the Mozambique Aluminium Smelter (Mozal) Phase 1 in Maputo and the Phase 1 extension; the expansions of breweries in Johannesburg and Durban for SA Breweries (SAB); the export of 98-tonne heat exchangers to the Middle East for DB Thermal; and the Hillside Aluminium Smelter expansion in Richards Bay. Syd, meantime, has had over 40 years experience in the marine insurance industry during his time with the Grindrod Group where he was a director of Unicorn Lines, and responsible for the portfolio of risk and legal services – and is now an integral part of the company’s claims handling team. In the months since its inception, DS Oram & Associates has already undertaken specialised survey work for Siemens and Eskom through local C&F agents, and involving the handling of transformers up to 215-t. It offers a full spectrum of marine survey services, including marine and goods-intransit claim investigations; loading and discharge supervision surveys; cargo tally services; and cargo securing/loading for shipment and road transit.