A repair quotation is only as good as the information behind it. If an owner sends a vague message such as “please quote repair in China”, the yard has no reliable basis to estimate labor, dock time, steel work, subcontractors, class attendance or supplier requirements. The result is predictable: slow replies, broad assumptions, missing scope or a number that later changes.
The repair brief should reduce uncertainty
Yards price uncertainty. If the repair list is incomplete, the schedule is unclear, or photos are missing, the yard may add risk margin or decline to quote. A good repair brief does not need to be perfect, but it should allow the yard to understand the vessel, the job type and the urgency.
Core vessel information
The basic vessel profile should include vessel type, DWT, LOA, beam, draft, flag, class, last docking date and current trading area. For docking work, dimensions and draft are not administrative details; they decide whether the dock or slipway is even suitable.
Repair scope: separate mandatory and optional work
Owners should separate mandatory repair items from optional improvement items. Mandatory items may include class-related steel renewal, machinery repair, damage repair, coating renewal or safety-related work. Optional items may include upgrades, additional coating, accommodation work or supplier replacement. This distinction helps the yard protect the critical path.
Useful repair scope attachments
- Repair list in Excel, PDF or Word
- Photos with location descriptions
- Drawings or sketches for steel and piping work
- Inspection reports and class comments
- Maker information for machinery or electrical systems
Schedule and yard region
For China repair, schedule and region are closely connected. A vessel trading near North China may not want to deviate to South China unless the yard match is significantly better. A vessel with a flexible docking window may have more options than a vessel with a fixed ETA. Owners should state the preferred region but also say whether they are flexible.
Commercial notes prevent wasted time
Commercial details do not need to reveal everything, but they should help the yard understand seriousness. Quotation deadline, payment preference, budget sensitivity, required warranty format and decision timeline can all affect whether the yard invests effort into the quotation.
Confidentiality boundaries
If the project is sensitive, owners should define what can be shared before yard qualification. For example, the vessel name may be withheld initially, while vessel type and size can be shared. Budget and trading route may be shared only after a yard is shortlisted. This is normal, but it should be managed clearly.
Turn your repair list into a usable project brief
Use our structured intake form to organize vessel details, scope, schedule and support needs before approaching China yards.
Submit Repair Scope