How do you translate a ship hull thickness measurement report, ultrasonic gauging sheet or classification survey finding into English without changing the plate location, original thickness, measured millimetres, corrosion conclusion or repair instruction? Marine surveyors, shipowners, technical managers, repair yards and multilingual vessel crews exchange these technical records in demanding operational settings. This article explains how to translate ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTM) results, steel renewal recommendations, survey notes, gauging diagrams and class-related follow-up correspondence so the right people can understand what was measured and what still requires formal verification.
Searches for ship hull thickness report translation, ultrasonic thickness measurement certificate translation, marine corrosion survey report meaning, class survey repair note translation and steel plate wastage report translation often begin when a shipyard receives an unfamiliar-language report. The words ‘substantial corrosion’, ‘excessive diminution’, ‘pitting’, ‘grooving’, ‘renew’, ‘repair’, ‘recommend’ and ‘approved’ are not interchangeable. Translating a suspected wastage condition as an accepted repair decision can change a maintenance plan; moving a number to the wrong location on a hull diagram can make the entire document unsafe to rely on.
Use the original survey report, vessel identity, approved drawing references, exact measurement table, instrument or service-supplier details, surveyor findings and current applicable class requirements. Never infer structural fitness, allowable wastage limits or permission to sail from translated prose. Actual testing, engineering assessment, confined-space entry, hot work, repairs and class decisions belong to qualified authorised specialists operating under current safety procedures.
Quick answer: preserve identity, place, measurement, criterion and decision
Every thickness result answers five separate questions. Which vessel and structural member does it concern? At what exact location was the reading taken? What value was observed, in which unit and under which measurement condition? Against what stated original thickness, reference or acceptance criterion is it being compared? Who made the final finding or required further inspection? If the translated table answers any one of these incorrectly, a fluent paragraph cannot rescue it.
A practical output should contain a faithful numbered table, the relevant sketches or references, a glossary for each technical abbreviation, a clearly marked account of unresolved readings and a separate summary of the surveyor’s recorded decisions. ‘Plate No. 4: 11.2 mm measured; further gauging required’ is not ‘Plate No. 4 approved for service’. The distinction between data and approval must survive into every target language.
Why this document is not the same as a maintenance invoice
Thickness measurement is a method of gathering dimensional evidence on structure; a class survey assesses compliance and condition under an applicable system; a repair specification directs work; an invoice reports financial charges. These documents can refer to one another but cannot be translated as though they have the same effect. A measurement supplier may provide a report that a class surveyor must review. The supplier’s signature is not automatically the final classification decision.
DNV’s publicly available guidance, for example, addresses approved service suppliers and reporting arrangements for thickness measurements used in its classification processes. The details are specific to the relevant class programme and vessel. The world-facing rule for a translator is to preserve which organisation measured, reviewed, recommended or approved each part of a record, and to avoid universalising one society’s forms.
Build an evidence packet without redrawing the ship from memory
Obtain the complete original report and all pages: cover sheet, vessel particulars, compartment and structural member diagrams, measurement grid, nominal scantlings or reference thicknesses where supplied, corrosion observations, surveyor endorsements, supplementary measurements and repair follow-ups. Capture drawing revision, report number, date, measuring company and service method. A partial screenshot of one grid is not enough to reconstruct its physical location.
The translator should work from an unaltered master copy. Make a bilingual glossary, keep row and column numbering, preserve units and significant digits, and use visually clear cross-references. Where the source is illegible, state the limitation and request a readable original. Do not turn a rounded English translation into an engineering measurement record.
1. Vessel name, IMO number and hull identity
Vessel names can change while an IMO number ordinarily remains an important identifier. Keep the original name as written and preserve the IMO number, flag, shipyard number and hull designation when present. A shipping company’s fleet may include similarly named sisters with different repair histories.
If a report was prepared before a vessel rename, identify the name at the time of the measurement rather than replacing it without explanation. Match all later service decisions to the proper ship.
2. Survey type and scope
An annual, intermediate, renewal or special survey can involve different requirements, and condition assessments may have another scope. Translate the survey type and covered structures exactly as stated. Do not call a partial gauging exercise a complete hull survey merely because it was done during dry docking.
A receiving engineer should be able to tell whether the document covers cargo holds, ballast tanks, deck structures, shell plating or specific locations only. Silence about another compartment is not evidence that it was inspected.
3. Classification society and governing rules
A vessel’s class society may prescribe particular forms, measurement extents and acceptance processes. Preserve class notation, survey reference and rule edition where the source gives them. Do not apply one society’s terminology or thickness threshold indiscriminately to another.
A translated record can point readers to the applicable class rules but should not independently state that a numerical reading passes or fails unless the authorised source contains that finding.
4. Ultrasonic thickness measurement method
Ultrasonic gauging uses sound propagation to estimate material thickness under specified equipment and material conditions. Translate the measured quantity and method, not a guess about invisible material defects. A reading is not a complete description of local corrosion morphology.
If the source calls for additional scanning around a low reading, retain that instruction. An isolated measured number may not show the complete extent or depth of damage in the surrounding structure.
5. Measuring company and service supplier approval
A report may identify the company performing measurements and its current approval for a class purpose. Translate the actual certificate scope and dates rather than assuming a competent-looking logo is universal approval. A technician’s signature and a class surveyor’s countersignature are different acts.
Check which organisation performed the field work and who reviewed the findings. A service-supplier approval can have conditions and validity; the translation cannot renew a lapsed approval.
6. Date, dry-dock location and access conditions
Measurements may be taken on different dates within one docking or repair campaign. A reported access limitation, coating condition, scaffolding restriction or compartment condition can explain missing readings. Preserve where and when each subset was obtained.
Do not backdate a later measurement to the survey opening date. A repaired plate measured again after work should be shown as a new event, not an overwrite of the original corrosion evidence.
7. Tank, hold and compartment designations
Marine drawings use specialised codes for ballast tanks, cargo holds, cofferdams, double bottoms, void spaces and other locations. Retain the exact source labels and explain abbreviations alongside them where confirmed. A port-side tank is not a starboard tank.
A translator should follow the accompanying plan and callout arrows, not infer the position from a familiar abbreviation. Swapping one compartment can make a genuinely correct reading describe the wrong part of the ship.
8. Frames, longitudinals and structural members
Frame numbers, longitudinal stiffener references, transverse webs and stringers locate readings in a structural coordinate system. Preserve their numbering and relationship. Translate the structural term consistently using the approved drawing or shipyard glossary.
A ‘frame 42’ indication must not become the 42nd recorded measurement. The identifier points to a position, while the table row may count observations independently.
9. Port, starboard, fore and aft
Direction words have formal shipboard meanings. Port and starboard are not interchangeable with a person’s left and right when facing different ways; fore and aft describe ship orientation. Keep these directional relationships anchored to the vessel, not to the reader’s viewing angle.
For an international repair crew, a bilingual diagram can help when authorised. It should reproduce the original orientation, scale reference and legend, not a mirrored image created during page layout.
10. Plate, web, flange and stiffener references
A structural assembly can contain several elements with different nominal dimensions and inspection requirements. The term ‘plate’ should not absorb a measurement actually taken on a stiffener web or flange. Preserve member type and local measurement point.
The original drawing may use short forms that only make sense with its legend. The translator should expand them only after confirmation; a fluent but wrong expansion may redirect repair to the wrong component.
11. Nominal or original thickness
The nominal thickness can represent a design or original reference, while an as-built value may differ. Preserve the label and source. Do not call a nominal value an earlier field measurement unless the report documents one.
When a calculation compares measured and reference dimensions, the denominator and reference basis matter. A translator who switches original thickness with today’s reading can invert the claimed percentage of diminution.
12. Measured thickness and units
Readings are often presented in millimetres, but reports can show different units. Keep decimal precision, leading zeros, blank cells and measurement conditions. A value of 8.4 mm is not 84 mm, and a copied comma must not become a thousands separator.
If units are converted for the reader, provide a separate labelled calculation and keep the source measurement intact. Engineering decisions should use the governing procedure and accepted units, not a casual translation-side conversion.
13. Single reading, minimum and average
A table may report individual points, a minimum across a defined set, an average, or a selected value used for follow-up. These are not equivalent. Translate statistical labels carefully, including the number and location of points represented.
A local pit with a low reading may be important even when the broader average is higher. The translator should preserve each measure rather than selecting the most reassuring figure for a narrative summary.
14. Diminution, wastage and corrosion allowance
Diminution usually describes loss relative to a relevant reference thickness; corrosion allowance can refer to an engineering margin or criterion defined by rules. Do not translate every amount of material loss as a regulatory failure or accepted tolerance. The threshold depends on context.
If a table gives a computed percentage, copy the source value and audit arithmetic separately. A percentage without its reference is easy to misread. Do not supply an allowable limit from another ship type.
15. Substantial and excessive corrosion terms
Classification frameworks may give technical meanings to ‘substantial corrosion’ or ‘excessive diminution’ in their particular context. These are not ordinary intensifiers. Preserve source terms and definitions in a glossary, and do not claim one universal numerical cut-off.
If a report says ‘area for additional examination’, translate that status even when the condition sounds serious. A class decision may depend on further readings, drawings or repair evidence.
16. Pitting, grooving and general corrosion
Different corrosion patterns can demand different descriptions and inspection approaches. Uniform thinning across a plate is not identical to a local deep pit or a groove along an edge. Preserve the observed pattern and its position.
If an inspector records ‘suspected pitting beneath coating’, the translated account should not assert that a specified depth was actually measured. The distinction between visual suspicion and verified gauging is important.
17. Coating condition and surface preparation
An inspector may describe coating condition, scaling, surface cleanliness and preparation before measurement. A good coating in one region does not prove all underlying steel has an acceptable thickness. Translate the observed condition rather than deriving a structural pass.
A note ‘coating prevents access to measurement point’ means that evidence is missing there, not that the plate is satisfactory. Keep the limitation on the same line as the affected location.
18. Additional gauging instructions
A surveyor can require more readings to define the extent of thinning or investigate an anomaly. Translate the exact locations, sampling extent and deadline if stated. ‘Additional gauging required’ must not become ‘gauging completed’ because another sheet later lists some data.
A repair yard should be able to identify which points remain open. Separate the request for work from the confirmation that the requested work has been accepted by the appropriate reviewer.
19. Repair versus renewal wording
A repair might involve approved methods for restoring a structure, while renewal can refer to replacing specified material. These terms have distinct technical and contractual meanings. Translate the authorised work description, material dimensions and referenced drawings exactly.
‘Repair proposed’ is not ‘repair approved’. An estimate or job card may show intention; the applicable surveyor and engineering process determine whether the completed work meets requirements.
20. Steel grade and material certificates
A replacement plate may require specified steel grade, mechanical properties and traceability documents. Retain material grades, heat numbers and certificate references as machine-readable codes. Do not substitute apparently equivalent materials from another standard.
A translated supplier certificate should show what material was supplied and what tests were performed, not independently certify that the material is acceptable for every repair location.
21. Welding, nondestructive testing and inspection
Repair records can refer to weld procedures, welder qualifications, NDT reports and final visual or dimensional checks. Translate each inspection as performed, requested, passed, failed or pending. Do not convert ‘test scheduled’ into ‘test passed’.
A shipyard may ask for translation assistance, but decisions about hot work, confined spaces, gas testing, repairs and NDT must remain with competent personnel under approved safety processes.
22. Surveyor endorsement and acceptance status
A measurement supplier can sign the gauging report while a class surveyor reviews it later. The wording ‘received’, ‘reviewed’, ‘accepted’, ‘approved’ and ‘subject to conditions’ belongs to different administrative stages. Preserve the actual signature role.
A reader should see whether final class acceptance is documented or still outstanding. A translator cannot bestow class approval by changing a note to sound more confident.
23. Conditions, memoranda and follow-up dates
Survey reports may contain conditions to be rectified, memoranda, due surveys or recommended monitoring. A condition is not merely informal advice, and a memorandum is not necessarily equivalent to an immediate detention. Translate source categories without inventing consequences.
Keep the due date and reference number attached to the specific outstanding item. A date for the next survey does not automatically become a deadline for all unrelated repairs.
24. Preliminary versus final gauging report
A preliminary sheet can be corrected after checks and reconciliation. Its presence does not guarantee final acceptance. Translate version labels, issue dates and the status of signatures, and identify which report supersedes which where the issuer confirms it.
A receiving party should not be given the preliminary measurements as the final signed document merely because both show similar numbers. Preserve the complete revision chain so corrections are auditable.
25. Operational and contractual handover
The translated report may be used by marine engineers, class surveyors, owners, insurers, repair yards and charterers. Each needs reliable facts but has a different decision role. Distinguish measurement evidence, authorised findings, proposed work, completed work and outstanding verification.
A practical handover lists vessel ID, report ID, inspected scope, critical unresolved locations, measurement source, applicable review authority and follow-up reference. It does not announce that the vessel is fit to sail unless an authorised original record establishes that status.
Twelve worked translation cases from hull survey paperwork
These teaching scenarios are illustrative, not real measurements and not advice to operate or repair a ship. Each case asks whether the translator has preserved a physical location, an actual reading, the strength of the finding and the authority of the decision. Engineering personnel must verify data against original reports and approved plans before work.
Case 1: Port and starboard are reversed
A translated sketch calls a port-side ballast tank ‘right-hand tank’ because the illustrator views it from bow to stern. The relationship changes with viewpoint. Use vessel-relative port and starboard terms and reproduce the approved drawing orientation. A simple left-right substitution can send inspection staff to another compartment.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 2: An 8.2 mm measurement becomes 82 mm
A scanned decimal point is faint and an OCR import drops it. The translation looks plausible because the number has no units beside it. Compare the original digital table or repeat confirmation by the authorised source. Never turn uncertainty into a confidently printed thickness.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 3: Nominal thickness is called observed thickness
The table lists nominal 12.0 mm and measured 9.6 mm; the translation labels both columns ‘measured’. This prevents understanding the comparison. Restore the reference label, retain the two values and keep any loss calculation separate from the reported measurement.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 4: One low point becomes the average of a panel
A note says ‘minimum observed thickness at point P7’. The translated summary calls it the average for the whole plate. Averages and minima answer different questions. Preserve the sampling location and summary statistic, and show the actual scope of measurement.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 5: The survey is partial, not complete
A gauging supplier measured only accessible areas because another tank was unavailable. A translation claims the entire hull passed inspection. The correction identifies the compartments inspected and the areas left unmeasured. Missing data cannot be translated into acceptance.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 6: An additional measurement is not approval
The surveyor requests more readings around a corroded section. The yard’s translation states the affected plate is acceptable until the next dry dock. Restore the required follow-up status. Whether temporary operation is permissible is an engineering and classification decision.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 7: A repair quote sounds like completed repair
The yard produces a priced quotation for replacing a panel. The translator writes ‘panel renewed’. A quote is an offer; a completed repair requires execution and evidence. Keep the work proposal separate from actual completion and surveyor acceptance.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 8: The supplier’s signature becomes class approval
A measuring technician signs a final report prepared for class review. A translated cover sheet says the classification society approved the measurements. Identify the signatory and distinguish supplier certification from class verification. Ask for the actual acceptance document if needed.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 9: Coating note is interpreted as steel condition
A compartment has good-looking coating, but the source says measurement access was restricted. The translation calls its structure sound. Preserve the limitation and ask the appropriate engineer about further inspection. Coating appearance alone does not establish unseen steel thickness.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 10: Pitting is disguised as general corrosion
An observation records localized deep pits, and a broad translation says ‘some rust present’. The wording loses the morphology that may determine follow-up. Use the correct pattern description and mark whether depth was directly measured or only suspected.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 11: Original and final drawings have different revisions
The yard sends a new revised plan after repair. A translator attaches it to the earlier gauging record without identifying the revision. The resulting document seems to show readings at locations that did not exist on the original version. Preserve drawing IDs and revision dates.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
Case 12: A due date moves between findings
A report lists one condition due next month and another item due at a later survey. The translated summary attaches the earlier date to both. The correction uses item-by-item references and retains the exact time obligations recorded by the issuing authority.
Before releasing this translation, trace the disputed phrase to the original diagram, table and signatory. Separate measured evidence from a proposal or approval. Ask whether a surveyor using the English version would identify the same physical member, actual value, outstanding question and decision status as a colleague reading the source.
A disciplined handover from translator to maritime engineer
Work in four passes. First preserve documentary identity: vessel, report number, edition, measurement company, class context and source attachments. Second map physical identity: tank, frame, structural member, port/starboard direction and diagram coordinates. Third verify numeric fields with the original table: millimetres, reference thickness, measurement point, minimum or average labels and missing readings. Fourth review decisions: observations, requests for further gauging, approved repairs, unfulfilled conditions and signed surveyor statements.
Use an independent maritime technical reviewer, ideally familiar with the applicable vessel and class rules. Have the reviewer trace consequential entries from translation back into the original sheet, not just read polished English. Keep a correction log identifying why a value or term changed. Do not upload confidential ship drawings into unapproved services, and do not transform an unsigned preliminary sheet into a certified or class-accepted record. Technical decisions belong to authorised marine professionals.
Frequently asked questions about translating hull measurement reports
Can a general translator handle a ship gauging report?
They can assist with ordinary language, but technical terminology, diagrams, measurements and class findings need a suitably qualified maritime reviewer. Errors can change safety-critical meaning.
Is measured thickness always compared with nominal thickness?
Reports can use different reference bases. Retain the original labels and let qualified engineering or class personnel determine the applicable comparison and allowable criteria.
What does substantial corrosion mean?
It can be a formal term under particular survey rules. Do not invent a universal numerical threshold; use the governing source definition.
Are pitting and uniform corrosion the same?
No. They describe different observed patterns and can affect assessment. Translate the pattern and whether it is measured or suspected.
Can I round measurements for readability?
Do not replace official values with rounded figures. Preserve recorded precision; any conversion or explanatory rounding must be separately labelled and technically reviewed.
Does a signed measurement report prove class acceptance?
Not necessarily. The measuring supplier, technician and classification surveyor can perform different roles. Verify the actual documented acceptance status.
Should drawings be recreated in English?
Retain approved identifiers, dimensions, orientation and revisions. Explanatory translated legends may help, but a redrawn diagram should not silently replace the engineering original.
Can a preliminary report be used as final?
Only if the responsible process establishes it as accepted. Otherwise label the preliminary status and seek the final reviewed copy.
Does a repair recommendation permit the yard to proceed?
A recommendation may require engineering approval, class review or owner authority. Translation should carry the conditions rather than authorise work.
Is a survey condition the same as detention?
No automatic equivalence follows. Preserve the formal category and seek the competent authority’s interpretation of any operational restriction.
What if an OCR scan confuses decimals?
Stop, compare with the original or obtain authenticated data. Never silently repair a safety-relevant value using a guess.
Are port and starboard translated as left and right?
Avoid viewpoint-dependent equivalents. Retain the vessel-relative directional terms and use a verified diagram when additional explanation is required.
Can an automated system certify hull fitness?
No. Language tools can assist with drafts, but actual structural evaluation, repairs and class decisions belong to authorised professionals.
What proves translation quality?
A competent reviewer can trace every consequential claim to the same vessel, physical location, reading, source reference and decision status in both languages.
Authoritative reading and the existing education route
Read DNV: ultrasonic thickness measurements for an example of service-supplier and reporting requirements, and DNV: inspection of ship records for the distinction between class status, certificates and survey reports. These resources concern their stated services and should not be treated as universally applicable numerical standards. For an actual vessel, use the current rules, authorised drawings and competent surveyor’s decision.
The general language method remains with Master Art of Translation (EDKSG-TRANS-MASTER-WORLD-000); terminology learning belongs to the protected Vocabulary Learning Hub; grammar and precise interpretation connect to How English Works: Translation and Meaning Across Languages. This article addresses the narrower translation problem of hull gauging and survey evidence.
A ship repair team needs more than a plausible sentence. It needs the right ship, right structure, right reading, right reference, right reviewer and right outstanding action. Protect that chain, and a translated report becomes a reliable means of communicating original evidence—not an invented measurement or an unauthorised certification.
How to compare a gauging grid without inventing a structural judgement
Take an invented plate grid with four points: A1 10.6 mm, A2 10.5 mm, B1 9.2 mm and B2 10.4 mm. A report may provide a design or nominal dimension separately and state that additional gauging is needed around B1. The translator should retain each coordinate and value; copying the three higher values while omitting B1 would present a distorted record. Replacing B1 by an arithmetic average would also change the evidence. Measurement distribution can matter, so the original grid and legend must remain attached to its diagram.
Do not add a statement that the plate has failed or passed because one point is lower than the others. Whether a particular location requires renewal depends on the applicable structure, rules, acceptance process and sufficient validated measurements. The translator can flag that B1 differs from neighbouring observations and that the surveyor requested follow-up. Such factual wording directs attention to a real record discrepancy while keeping engineering judgement with the authorised surveyor. Every recalculated statistic in an explanatory note should identify its input readings and should not replace an official report field.
Repair sequence: planned, started, completed, inspected and accepted
Marine repair paperwork often moves through a chain of separate records. A structural renewal might appear first as a recommendation in a survey report, then as a yard quotation, a repair specification, a work permit, a completion declaration and finally an inspection or class endorsement. Each item has a different evidential role. Translating ‘work to be carried out’ as ‘work completed’ prematurely closes a serious question. Equally, translating ‘weld inspection passed’ as ‘entire hull approved’ extends a finding beyond its original scope.
A strong translation uses explicit action verbs tied to named people and times. ‘Yard submitted repair proposal’ belongs to the yard. ‘Surveyor requested additional measurements’ belongs to the surveyor. ‘Material certificate received’ states receipt, not acceptance. ‘Further review pending’ remains pending. When documents disagree, preserve the issue and revision numbers and seek the competent organisation’s decision. This separation helps international shipyards coordinate without turning a polished bilingual report into an unauthorised repair approval.
A final numerical and diagram audit before release
Run two independent comparisons against the source: a location audit and a value audit. The location audit checks tank or hold name, port/starboard designation, frame number, structural member, measurement-point ID and drawing revision. The value audit checks the unit, decimal place, original/reference thickness, actual reading, any stated percentage loss and whether a number represents a minimum, average or individual measurement. Neither audit requires a translator to make a structural acceptance decision. It requires the discipline to copy and explain evidence faithfully.
Finish by checking the signature and disposition lines. Is the sheet preliminary or final? Was it merely received by the class surveyor, or reviewed and accepted? Are additional measurements requested? Does any finding have a future date attached? Has a later correction changed the governing value? An international client may read only the English summary, so the summary must direct them back to the definitive source and describe unresolved work without implying the ship is fit for service. That is how a technically readable translation avoids becoming a false certificate.