Qualified technical survey · Yachting

In peak season, a technical failure is first a management crisis.

Get ahead of it. A modern yacht is a floating data center: when the satellite network drops or the home automation locks up mid-season, the tension climbs at every level — an unhappy owner, frustrated charter guests, a crew under pressure. Trident Survey brings together three senior specialists to map the technical risks across your navigation, IT, audio-visual and security systems, and turn them into a clear budget plan over 1 to 5 years. The right season to do it: winter, before the schedules close up.

Get in touch Explore the offer

3senior experts

60years of combined experience

4technical domains

Why a survey

A clear picture, at the right time

Onboard systems evolve through refits, crew changes and successive integrators — documentation rarely keeps up. A qualified survey sets the record straight.

Cluttered technical rack on board — Behind every panel, years of successive additions.

Acquisition

Understand the true state of electronic systems before or right after purchase.

Crew handover

Hand the incoming captain or ETO reliable, up-to-date documentation.

Refit planning

Identify obsolescence and prioritise investment before the yard period.

Fleet management

Maintain a consistent technical baseline across vessels.

What the industry data confirms

Get ahead of it: the cost of waiting always outweighs the cost of preparing

$5,000 → $50,000–500,000

Untreated failure

A neglected critical system — radar, gyrocompass, communications — turns a minor fault into consequential damage far beyond its original cost.

Source: YMS360, "The Real Cost of Unplanned Downtime"

$200,000 – $700,000

Canceled week

Lost revenue from a canceled charter week following a technical breakdown.

Source: YMS360, "The Real Cost of Unplanned Downtime"

$10,000 – $30,000 / yr

Maintenance plan

Cost of a structured plan — one avoided failure can fund it for 5 years.

Source: YMS360, "The Real Cost of Unplanned Downtime"

The same pattern repeats every season: the useful window to prepare is winter, while the crew's schedule and budget decisions are still open — by spring, the season has already started. An approach designed to equip the captain and chief engineer, not to bypass them.

The offer

A three-tier offer

Each tier can stand alone, or build on the one before it.

Qualified inventory

Full survey by domain, technical condition, criticality level (critical / important / non-critical), manufacturer support status, and prioritized recommendations.

OPEX & CAPEX budget

Costing of ongoing maintenance spend (OPEX) and renewal investment (CAPEX), spread across several budget cycles.

Asset management & follow-up

Ongoing support: keeping the technical file up to date, and follow-up under a maintenance contract.

Duration, team and price are proposed on a quote basis, depending on the vessel and the requested scope of intervention.

Scope

Four modules, individually or combined

Each domain is handled by a recognised specialist. You choose the scope that fits your needs.

Module 1

Navigation & Communication

Bridge, sensors and navigation data networks.

Radar, sounders, GPS, AIS, compass, autopilot
VHF, SSB, GMDSS, navigation software
NMEA 0183 / NMEA 2000 networks and topology

Lead expert: Laurent Conso

Module 2

IT & Connectivity

Network infrastructure, internet access and monitoring.

WAN sources: 4G/5G, Starlink, VSAT
Routers, switches, Wi-Fi, firewall, VLANs
Servers, workstations, backups, cybersecurity

Lead expert: Franck Lamberet

Module 3

Audio-Visual & Automation

Entertainment, distribution and onboard control.

TV, satellite, audio/video distribution
Lighting and home automation with control systems

Lead expert: Benjamin Charron

Module 4

CCTV, Access Control & Security

Video surveillance, access and vessel protection.

IP cameras, PTZ and thermal domes, NVR recorders
Access control: badges, readers, intercom
Alarm, intrusion detection, remote monitoring

Lead expert: Benjamin Charron

The full survey

All four modules combined for a cross-system view — interconnections, network dependencies and shared points of failure, analysed jointly by our experts.

1 module 2 modules Full survey Periodic update

What you receive

A qualified inventory, not just a list

Every item is identified, tested and assessed. The report is built to be usable by the captain, ETO, manager and owner alike.

Detailed register

Make, model, serial number, firmware, location and connections for every item.

Technical condition & criticality

Reliable, at risk, obsolete or failed — with operational criticality assessed in parallel: critical, important or non-critical.

Manufacturer support

Manufacturer status: supported, limited support, end of life or parts unavailable.

As-built diagrams

As-built diagrams of the navigation, IT, AV and CCTV networks actually on board — before / after refit.

Recommendations & budget

Actions prioritised by criticality, with annual maintenance cost (OPEX) and a costed replacement estimate at 1, 2, 3 and 5 years (CAPEX).

Debrief

Findings presented to the captain and manager, report delivered in digital format.

Management Integration Format

Co-branding option: our technical and budget deliverables can be configured to drop directly into your quarterly or annual management reports.

Method

A simple, discreet process

The work is scheduled around the vessel's programme and the crew's routine.

Scoping

Discussion with the captain or manager: context, objectives, selected modules.

On board

The relevant experts work on board, in port or at the yard, with minimal disruption.

Analysis

Data consolidation, risk qualification and OPEX/CAPEX budget costing, with cross-review across the four domains.

Debrief

Report delivery and presentation of prioritised recommendations.

Mapping links on a patch panel — Port-by-port mapping of network links.

Bridge instrument panel — Identification and functional testing of bridge equipment.

In the field

The systems we survey

Navigation, networks, audio-visual, security: every item is seen, identified and tested on board.

Radar display on the bridge — Radar and charting

Camera mosaic on a bridge display — Video monitoring on the bridge

Furuno antennas on the mast — Antennas and communications

Console and multifunction displays — Multifunction displays

Cabling in a technical space — Cabling and terminations

New · Crew training

After the survey, train the crew

A tailored programme by domain and role, on the vessel's actual equipment — plus standard modules: NMEA 2000, Furuno radar, TimeZero, networking and VLANs, cyber security.

Explore crew training

The experts

Three specialists, one view of the vessel

Each brings around twenty years of experience in their field, in the Mediterranean and beyond.

Franck Lamberet

Founder, Trident Survey

Maritime IT & electronics

Specialist in onboard IT infrastructure: multi-WAN connectivity, networking, remote monitoring and diagnostics of onboard systems.

20years of experience

Laurent Conso

Laurent Marine Services

Navigation electronics

Navico Group's reference for the French Mediterranean. Installation, commissioning and servicing of bridge and navigation equipment.

20years of experience

Benjamin Charron

Intelimedia

AV, automation & security

Design and integration of audio-visual and control systems for yachts: TV and satellite, distribution, lighting and automation. CCTV and access control expertise.

20years of experience

“We document the facts. You stay in control of the decisions.”

Contact

At your service

Tell us about the vessel, its location and the modules you're interested in — we'll get back to you promptly to scope the survey.

Email us +33 6 22 94 22 75 WhatsApp

info@tridentsurvey.fr