Methodology

How it works

Every Idwal surveyor follows a structured framework that guides them through each inspection step-by-step, ensuring uniformity and traceability.

• Defined scope: Over 500 checkpoints covering all major technical and operational systems.
• Objective evidence: Findings supported by photographs, certificates, logs and documentation.
• Digital capture: Data uploaded securely in real time via Idwal’s inspection platform.
• Central quality control: All submissions are reviewed by Idwal’s technical team before release.

This unified process ensures every inspection, anywhere in the world, meets the same high standard of accuracy and completeness.

Quality control and validation

All inspection data is reviewed by Idwal’s central technical and analytics team.

Proprietary algorithms test consistency and scoring logic, while expert reviewers validate findings against defined thresholds.

This process creates a complete audit trail from onboard observation to final Idwal Grade.

From inspections to assurance 

After validation, the data feeds into Idwal’s proprietary algorithm to calculate the Idwal Grade, a single score from 0-100 representing overall vessel condition.

Each of the 500+ data points contributes to one of 21 sub-grades, which are weighted and aggregated to create a clear picture of structural, operational and welfare integrity.

Alongside the headline Grade, the report highlights specific areas of strength and opportunities for improvement.

The Idwal Grade has been in continuous use since 2018 and calculated programmatically since 2019, refined through tens of thousands of inspections and more than 10 million data points.