Turnkey
Turnkey Ship Purchase, Delivery and Repair in Vietnam
Published
SVC Marine finds the vessel, inspects on board, negotiates the purchase and counters MOA clauses, then undertakes the appointed delivery, drydock, repair and supply work in Vietnam.
Seven connected stages
01
Vessel Sourcing
Define the vessel requirement, source candidates and prepare a shortlist.
02
Inspection
Our surveyor attends on board, reviews accessible condition and records, and issues the SVC inspection report.
03
Sale & Purchase
Execute the appointed buyer-side or seller-side scope, including negotiations, MOA review and the agreed transaction milestones.
04
Repair & Maintenance
Carry out the appointed repair and maintenance worklist, with drydock attendance, inspection and testing where required.
Afloat Ship Repair Drydock Supervision Steel Renewal & Hot Work Underwater Services Engine Overhaul & Maintenance
05
Ship Supply
Deliver the commissioned provisions, stores, lubricants, paints and spares, with the agreed delivery records.
Ship Chandler & Marine Stores Marine Spare Parts Sourcing Marine Lubricants Marine Paints & Coatings Ship Provisions
06
Delivery & Handover
Attend physical handover, record the agreed condition, documents, stores and outstanding items, and issue the SVC attendance record.
07
Operation
Undertake the appointed technical, port and cargo work as the vessel enters operation.
Technical & Commercial Management Technical Superintendent Port Captaincy & Bunker Survey Shipping & Freight Forwarding Cargo Lashing & Securing
Defined scope, clear approval points
The mandate and quotation identify the contracting company, the stages SVC undertakes, deliverables, exclusions and approval points. Purchase decisions, MOA approval, payments and material variations require the relevant owner or buyer authority. Classification and statutory decisions remain with the responsible bodies.
Engage SVC for the whole mandate or a defined stage
You can appoint SVC for vessel sourcing, an onboard inspection, physical handover, a drydock worklist, an afloat repair, a supply delivery or cargo operations. Where several stages are appointed, findings and outstanding items carry into the next stage.
01
What turnkey maritime execution means for a vessel owner
A second-hand vessel purchase is not finished when a price is agreed. The buyer must know the vessel condition, class and certificate position, delivery inventory, repair exposure and first operating worklist. SVC takes on the commercial and technical stages included in the client mandate, with one named worklist and a report at each decision point.
SVC searches and screens vessels, boards and inspects the candidate, negotiates price and counters MOA clauses, checks delivery, and undertakes appointed drydock, repair and supply work in Vietnam. The client can commission the entire chain or only a defined stage. This is direct SVC transaction and field work; the buyer or owner retains the final commercial decisions, and statutory parties keep their own authority.
- Buyer requirement, candidate screening and inspection
- Class and document risk before contractual commitment
- MOA terms, closing and delivery condition
- Drydock, repair, stores and first operating readiness
02
Start with the buyer requirement and a bounded mandate
We begin with intended trade, vessel type and size, cargo, age and machinery constraints, price range, delivery location and timing. SVC checks available candidates against those criteria and asks the seller for the documents and access needed to test the proposal. An advertised specification is a starting point, not an accepted inspection result.
The mandate states who may contact a seller or yard, who can negotiate a price or clause, who approves fees and variations, and what evidence the owner expects before each decision. If the client needs only inspection, delivery attendance or repair, that module has its own worklist; the client does not have to buy a full-chain package.
- Buyer requirement and trading purpose
- Candidate particulars, location, availability and asking basis
- Inspection access and document request
- Client approval line, scope limits and reporting recipient
03
Go on board before converting a candidate into a purchase
SVC attends the vessel under the agreed access and examines the visible hull, deck, machinery, accommodation and cargo areas within the inspection scope. We review available class, survey, certificate, maintenance and defect records against what can be seen on board. Photographs identify locations and conditions; inaccessible spaces, equipment that cannot be run and missing records are stated as limits.
The SVC condition report separates observations from required specialist tests. We discuss the likely repair worklist, schedule and cost exposure with the buyer before purchase terms are settled. If a defect affects price, delivery condition or a pre-delivery repair, we bring that fact to the negotiating table instead of leaving it as a later yard surprise.
- Visible condition and defects with photographed locations
- Class, survey and certificate status from available records
- Repair items, access limits and specialist inspection needs
- Buyer decision items for price, terms and delivery
04
Decide the class path before the MOA
Class status changes the cost and usefulness of a vessel. SVC reads the available records for upcoming surveys, recommendations, docking windows and missing evidence, and asks what class position the buyer needs for the intended trade. A proposed transfer from a non-IACS society to an IACS member is a feasibility question for the responsible society, not a promise in a sale brochure. Depending on the proposed trade, that position may affect insurability, charter eligibility, flag acceptance, trading area, resale value and the future buyer pool. We put these commercial consequences next to the survey and repair questions; their effect must be examined for the proposed vessel and trade.
We put class-related surveys, document requests, repair estimates and timing into the acquisition worklist before the client commits. Where the mandate requires it, SVC arranges technical attendance and submits the relevant questions to the society or appointed specialist. The society alone decides classification, and the owner decides whether that risk and cost fit the purchase.
- Existing class and survey dates
- Recommendations, conditions and documentary gaps
- Drydock, testing and repair exposure
- Transfer feasibility and formal class decision route
05
Negotiate the price and counter the MOA clauses
SVC does the appointed negotiation work with the seller and buyer: we test price against observed condition and repair exposure, counter the clauses that allocate delivery condition and outstanding items, and keep the client informed of decisions requiring approval. We do not merely forward messages between parties. The final offer and MOA remain the client's decision, with independent legal advice where appointed.
The transaction file identifies inspection rights and limits, required documents, delivery place and window, inventory and bunker basis, pre-delivery repairs, agreed tests, closing sequence and how unresolved items are recorded. We track the agreed commercial milestones against vessel access, class questions and repair lead times so a deadline does not hide a technical problem.
- Price and condition counterpoints grounded in inspection
- MOA wording for documents, delivery condition and open work
- Owner approval of offer, material clause changes and payment
- Closing checklist and accountable document holders
06
Attend delivery and record the handover
Before delivery, SVC checks the agreed MOA conditions against the vessel and available documents. On board, we inspect the appointed delivery items, record bunkers, stores and spares against the agreed basis, and identify defects or documents still open. The delivery checklist distinguishes what was physically seen from what remains subject to a seller, owner, class or agent response.
Port access, crew changes and agent steps are planned against the vessel window. SVC presents exceptions and their possible repair or document consequences to the client before the client authorises acceptance or payment. We retain the dated handover record and carry unresolved items into the post-purchase worklist; acceptance is the client's decision.
- Delivery condition and agreed inventories
- Certificate and document packet
- Port, crew and agent timing
- Open-item register and owner acceptance decision
07
Turn inspection findings into a drydock or afloat repair worklist
If the vessel needs work, SVC converts each accepted defect into a location, method, material, access and evidence requirement. Our superintendent examines yard or vendor quotations against quantities, test stages and the vessel's trading deadline. We negotiate the appointed price and variation terms, then inspect work at the agreed hold points and record what was completed or remains open.
Steel, pipe, machinery, electrical, deck and cargo-system work may be performed by SVC technicians or by appointed specialists under the agreed scope. Hot work, class survey and statutory tests have their own permits and responsible parties. SVC does not call a test passed without its record, or treat a yard promise as completed work.
- Worklist and access at berth, anchorage or yard
- Quotation comparison: quantity, method, materials, tests and period
- Daily progress, variation and outstanding-item records
- Completion evidence and class or surveyor attendance where required
08
Prepare the vessel for its first operating window
After handover or docking, SVC inspects the appointed close-out items and obtains the records for work actually completed. We check approved requisitions for stores and spares, arrange delivery and record discrepancies at the nominated vessel or yard point. The owner and master decide whether the vessel is ready to sail or take cargo; class, flag and terminal requirements remain with their responsible bodies.
The readiness packet links open defects, survey and certificate position, repair records, essential spares, crew and port arrangements, and the next maintenance or cargo window. This gives the owner an actionable list rather than a statement that every risk has disappeared.
- Dated close-out and outstanding-item register
- Repair, test and delivery evidence for completed work
- Stores, spares and receiving discrepancies
- Owner and master decisions before sailing or first cargo
09
Five approval gates keep authority clear
An owner can delegate work without surrendering decisions. Gate one fixes the candidate and inspection scope; gate two records acceptance of observed condition, class exposure and the offer or MOA; gate three confirms delivery condition, documents, inventory and payment instruction; gate four approves the yard, repair scope, costs and variations; gate five reviews residual items and the operating plan.
SVC gathers the evidence, negotiates within mandate, undertakes the commissioned field work and reports each gate. The owner approves commercial commitments, material repair changes and payment. The master directs the vessel, while class and flag decide their own statutory matters. An approval is recorded with the version of the worklist it covers. The owner also chooses the final yard and vendor appointment, class or flag direction and insurance instructions. The insurer, bank and statutory service provider decide their own requirements; an SVC worklist or price counter is not their approval.
- Before inspection: candidate, scope and access
- Before MOA: condition, class risk and commercial terms
- Before delivery: handover condition, documents and payment
- Before repair: yard, method, budget and variations
- Before sailing: open items, records and intended operation
10
Recognise delay and cost exposure while there are still choices
A missed defect may become a buyer-funded repair. A late class question can force a new docking window. Missing certificates can hold delivery; misunderstood yard quantities, vendor mobilisation or an unavailable spare can extend the stay. SVC puts these dependencies into the worklist with an owner decision date, responsible party and evidence required, so the client can change plan before the vessel is committed to an avoidable delay. The commercial consequences can include lost hire, crew and port costs, yard or vendor standby, a missed cargo commitment and damage to the owner’s trading relationship. We identify the exposure as a decision input, not as a fixed loss figure.
SVC investigates each of these risks for the vessel in question. A buyer can choose an allowance, clause, inspection, repair or no purchase. SVC records the trade-off, counterproposes the terms within mandate and executes the approved route.
- Inspection and class gaps before purchase
- Document and certificate gaps before delivery
- Repair method, quantities, access and vendor availability
- Open handover items and first-voyage readiness
- A gap between yard work, owner instructions and class comments before an agreed hold point
- A docking scope that does not match the intended trade or next operating window
11
Choose the entire chain or a single appointed module
Full-chain work is useful when sourcing, class, delivery and repair decisions depend on one another. A buyer acquiring a vessel in Vietnam may need inspection and an MOA position before a yard slot is priced. A seller may need a clear document and handover plan. An existing owner may need only a superintendent at drydock, a repair crew or a delivery check. A broker can appoint SVC for local field and negotiation work without presenting us as the owner or statutory decision-maker.
We scope each project by actual location, vessel condition, access, people and time. The same report discipline applies to a single inspection as to a wider acquisition: observed facts, decisions, completed work and unresolved items are separated.
- Buyer or investor: inspection, class path, price and delivery
- Seller: document and handover preparation
- Existing owner: repair, drydock and technical work
- Broker: appointed local negotiation and onboard attendance
12
Information needed to price a turnkey worklist
Send SVC the vessel type and particulars, current location, intended trade, candidate listing or purchase brief, delivery target, available records and the work you want us to undertake. For an inspected vessel, include defects, photographs, drawings, class and survey position, repair budget or deadline, yard preference if any, and the owner approval line.
We separate fees for search and negotiation, onboard inspection, delivery attendance, superintendent time, repair and supply items. Any specialist, yard, travel or class cost must be identified in the relevant proposal rather than implied by the word turnkey. The response states access assumptions, deliverables and exclusions before the client approves the scope.
- Candidate or owned-vessel particulars and present location
- Inspection, class, certificate and defect records
- Target delivery or repair window, cargo plan and budget basis
- Named decision maker and reporting recipient
13
Related SVC work and service detail
For a defined service rather than the whole chain, read Ship Sale & Purchase for negotiation and MOA work, Pre-Purchase Inspection for the onboard condition scope, and Owner's Representative for appointed field decisions and reporting.
The practical repair stages are set out in Drydock Supervision and Ship Repair. Ship Management covers longer technical operating mandates. Available vessels for sale are separately listed as current enquiries.
14
Turnkey vessel purchase and technical execution questions
What is turnkey maritime execution?
It is an agreed chain of SVC vessel search, onboard inspection, purchase negotiation and MOA clause work, delivery checks, and appointed drydock, repair and supply work. Each stage has a worklist, record and owner approval point; a client may commission fewer stages.
Does SVC Marine decide whether the buyer purchases the vessel?
No. SVC performs the appointed screening, inspection and negotiation, including countering terms at the MOA table, and states the technical and cost exposure. The buyer or owner approves the candidate, offer, final MOA, payment and major scope changes.
Why combine commercial and technical work?
The inspection defect, class question and repair estimate may change the purchase price, delivery clause or sailing plan. SVC places observed findings into the negotiation and delivery worklists so the owner can decide with the technical consequences visible.
Can SVC take only inspection, delivery or repair work?
Yes. The mandate can cover one module, such as onboard inspection, MOA negotiation, delivery attendance, drydock supervision, afloat repair or owner-side technical attendance. We define the people, output, approval line and exclusions for that module.
Can SVC examine a non-IACS to IACS class path?
SVC can examine available records, survey windows, defects and the intended trade, and put the feasibility question to a class-experienced specialist or the relevant society. Only the society decides whether transfer is possible and on what requirements.
May the buyer appoint independent surveyors or lawyers?
Yes. The buyer may use independent legal, insurance, valuation, technical and class advisers. SVC supplies its own field and transaction records and works within the agreed mandate; it does not replace their professional or statutory decisions.
What if a defect appears after purchase?
SVC can board, inspect and document the defect, prepare a worklist and quotation basis, undertake appointed repair work or inspect a specialist or yard stage, and record tests and open items. The owner decides the spending and sailing plan, and class or flag requirements remain with those authorities.
Who should send the first worklist?
The buyer, seller, owner or authorised broker can send vessel particulars, candidate or present location, intended trade, documents available, inspection or repair scope, target window and the approval contact directly to SVC. We respond with the proposed stages, access assumptions, deliverables and exclusions.
Tell us what needs to be done
Send the vessel requirement or work scope, current location, intended delivery area, time window and available particulars or worklist. SVC will define the appointed stages and prepare a quotation.