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.