Brokers and Surveyors |   |
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We found that the best source to locate barges for sale was the internet. The DBA (The Barge Association) has a classified section where owners advertise their barges for sale. We enquired a few times to advertisers and even visited one or two but found very little of interest. Owners were not generally good at web design so that very little information was presented on the web. They emailed you a few pictures and answered some questions on the specification but we preferred the more detailed information that the brokers provided. As a buyer, you do not need to employ a broker who acts for the vendor. Appollo Duck has now perfected a good web site for prospective sellers to effectively build their own web site and include everything you are likely to want to know so that is very much worth a visit.
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Which Broker?
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There are quite a few brokers in Holland who specialise in Barges and we found Sander-Doeve responsive although they did not manage to find us a barge we liked enough to visit. Burgundy Marine in France was the best of the French brokers and impressed us with their knowledge of barges. H²O was the French broker with the best selection.
It was through Bowcrest Marine, a British broker specialising in barges, that we found Harmonie II. Their web site is excellent with very detailed specifications and plenty of pictures. They have strong connections with Dutch brokers, essential as most barges for sale are located in Holland, who were able to arrange visits. They also found us a Dutch insurance company who were willing to insure us at a fraction of the premium of British companies and without the requirement for a Dutch postal address.
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Surveyor?
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The author of this web site (and co-owner of Harmonie) is a Marine Engineer by profession and so knew a thing or two about marine surveyors and their methods. Having seen Harmonie II afloat and examined the vessel internally, I examined the detailed ultrasonic report from the previous surveyor. This told me that the survey in September 2003 found a minimum plate thickness at one point of 4.3mm but generally between 5 and 6mm. The surveyor only required a repair to an outlet pipe and replacement of the sacrificial anodes. He did not require another survey before 2009.
The then owner was meticulous in his care and maintenance of the vessel so I concluded there would be nothing to gain in slipping the vessel for another survey prior to purchase. This is not the advice I would give prospective purchasers as it is generally accepted you do not part with your hard earned cash until a full hull survey has been completed. We have taken a calculated risk and only time will prove me right or wrong. If you are not qualified to take such risks, employ a surveyor. We should add that the new insurance company, Oranje in Groningen, was perfectly willing to insure the vessel after their surveyors inspection and having seen the previous surveyors report. Their acceptance of cover was a condition of our offer for the ship.
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