The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® (SAMS®) has three (3) primary classes of memberships:

• Accredited Marine Surveyor (AMS®)
• Surveyor Associate (SA)
• Affiliate Member (AFF)

The Board of Directors shall have freedom to establish additional designations pertaining to areas of specialization with these three (3) classes. Qualifications for membership and rights of members in each class shall be as follows:

Accredited Marine Surveyor

1. Candidates must be currently practicing marine surveyors with at least five (5) years surveying experience, accumulated within the past ten (10) years, in the field of expertise which accreditation is desired. Credit of up to three (3) years of the five (5) years required may be granted for related marine experience. Acceptability of related marine experience shall be determined by the membership committee and/or Board of Directors.

2. Applicants must affirm that they will abide by the By-Laws Code of Ethics, Standards, official decisions and amendments to such of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® (SAMS®).

3. Candidates must complete an application form, supply a complete resume and submit for review a number of surveys as may be required by the Membership Committee.

4. Candidates must successfully complete a written exam on their selected field of accreditation as prescribed by the Testing Committee and conducted by that Committee or their designated representative. Cost related to administration of said examination shall be born by the candidates. Examinations will be reviewed by the Testing Committee and submitted to the Membership Committee.

5. Applicants must agree to participate in and meet all requirements of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® (SAMS®) program of continuing education as established by the Education Committee and/or Board of Directors.

Surveyor Associate

1. Applicants must be marine surveyors who do not yet meet prerequisites for acceptance as Accredited Marine Surveyors.

2. Applicants must affirm that they will abide by the By-Laws, Code of Ethics, Standards, official decisions and amendments to such of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® (SAMS®).

3. Applicants must complete an application form, provide a complete resume and submit for review survey reports prepared by the applicants from each year of experience.

4. Applicants must agree to participate in and meet all requirements of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® (SAMS®) program of continuing education as established by the Education Committee and/or Board of Directors.

Affiliate Member

1. Applicants must be currently operating businesses or individuals either of which must provide a product or service to the marine industry. Practicing marine surveyors are not eligible for this category.

2. Applicants must affirm that they will abide by the By-Laws, Code of Ethics, Standards, official decisions and amendments of such of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors® (SAMS®)

Specialization DesignationsSPECIALIZATION DESIGNATIONS APPLY ONLY TO AMS® MEMBERS.

Y&SC – Yachts and Small Craft

An AMS® member who has acquired at least five years of professional surveying experience on yachts and/or small commercial vessels up to 200 Gross Domestic Registered Tons, (500 ITC), and has attained a passing grade on the SAMS Yachts and Small Craft examination.

H&M – Hull and Machinery

An AMS® member who has actively engaged in conducting surveys of commercial vessels greater than 200 Gross Domestic Tons or 500 ITC for five of the last ten years and has attained a passing grade on the SAMS® Hull and Machinery examination. A member who holds an Unlimited Merchant Mariners license for Third Mate, Third Engineer or higher category is considered to have met the examination requirements.

C – Cargo

An AMS® member who has actively engaged in performing surveys of the loading, unloading, inspection, and shipment of cargo on merchant vessels for five of the last ten years and has attained a passing grade on the SAMS® Cargo examination. A member who holds an Unlimited Merchant Mariners license for Third Mate, Third Engineer or higher category is considered to have met the examination requirements.

E – Engines

Gasoline
An AMS® member who has actively engaged in performing surveys of gas marine engines for a minimum of five of the last ten years and has attained a passing grade on the SAMS® Gas Engine examination. This designation covers gasoline powered Inboards, Inboard/Outboard, Outboards and Pod Drives.
Diesel
An AMS® member who has actively engaged in performing surveys of diesel marine engines for a minimum of five of the last ten years and has attained a passing grade on the SAMS® Diesel Engine examination. This designation covers gasoline powered Inboards, Inboard/Outboard, Outboards and Pod Drives.

FV – Fishing Vessel

An AMS® member who has actively engaged in performing surveys of commercial fishing vessels for five of the last ten years, and attained a passing grade on the SAMS® Fishing Vessel examination.

T & B – Tug & Barge

An AMS® member who has actively engaged in performing surveys of tugs, barges, and trips in tows for five of the last ten years and attained a passing grade on the SAMS® Tug and Barge exam.

CW – Commercial Workboat

An AMS® member who has actively engaged in performing surveys of inspected or uninspected commercial workboats, below 1600 GT, for five of the last ten years, and has obtained a passing grade on the SAMS® Commercial Workboats examination. commercial dive boats Commercial Workboats include, but are not limited to, vessels such as, offshore supply vessels, lift boats, dredges, utility boats, commercial dive boats, and inspected passenger vessels. Commercial Workboats does not include tugs and barges.

The Specialization Designations listed above indicate the areas of the Surveyor’s experience. The listing of these designations is provided solely to guide users of this roster in their selection of a SAMS® surveyor, and is not intended to certify or imply the certification of competence of individual members.

Honorary Designator: The honorary designator Senior Marine Surveyor (AMS®-SMS) is reserved for Accredited Marine Surveyors who have made significant long-term contributions to the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and who have documented active participation in the profession of marine surveying for at least 20 years. Designees must be nominated by two past presidents and be approved by SAMS® Board of Directors. The designator must be displayed as AMS®-SMS in all advertising.

The acceptance of and the responsibility for satisfactory performance of assignments rests solely with the individual member. Neither the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Inc., nor any of its officers, directors, committee chairpersons nor employees assume any responsibility concerning misrepresentations, errors in judgment or negligence on a part of an individual member of the Society.

Contact Information
Email: sams_receptionist@marinesurvey.org
Phone# 1-800-344-9077

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