Spread the cost of hydrographic and marine survey vessels from £60,000 to £600,000+ with flexible finance options. HP, lease, or refinance
Yes, survey vessels are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £60,000 to £600,000, and most deals are written over 24–84 months with a deposit of around 20–25%. Decisions typically take 3–5 working days. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.
Typical Cost
£60k – £600k
Approval Speed
3–5 working days
Same-day agreement in principle for < £100k
Rates From
5.9% APR
Your estimate
Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.
Pre-filled with a typical survey vessel price. Indicative only, not a quote.
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For UK limited companies with 3+ months’ trading and monthly revenue.
On a purchase price of £200,000: a 10% deposit of £20,000, then 48 monthly payments of £4,219 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £222,512, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.
Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.
| Machine or specification | Guide price | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 6–8m Survey RIB with Sonar Fit-Out (spec class) | £70,000 – £150,000 | Survey-Fitted RIB |
| Catamaran Survey Vessel, 10–12m (spec class) | £180,000 – £380,000 | Catamaran Hydrographic Survey Vessel |
| Monohull Survey Vessel, 12–15m (spec class) | £250,000 – £500,000 | Monohull Hydrographic Survey Vessel |
| Unmanned Survey Vessel (USV) Platform (spec class) | £60,000 – £220,000 | Unmanned Survey Vessel |
Explore business funding options through Fundably
For UK limited companies with 3+ months’ trading and monthly revenue.
Survey vessels used for business qualify for Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting you deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to £1,000,000. HP agreements let you claim capital allowances on the vessel; lease payments are generally deductible in full against profits.
Survey vessels are bought by hydrographic and geophysical survey companies, ports and harbour authorities, offshore wind and renewables contractors and marine science organisations to carry out bathymetric, geotechnical and environmental survey work, usually against contract or framework agreement income. Because survey vessels operate commercially, they must hold Maritime and Coastguard Agency coding for their area of operation, and the coding category directly shapes what a lender will fund, particularly for vessels working further offshore. Survey vessels can carry expensive sonar, multibeam and positioning equipment that may be worth as much as the hull itself, so lenders often need to consider the vessel and its survey fit-out as a combined asset rather than separate items. Onboard sensor and electronics package condition, alongside the usual hull and engine survey, has a significant bearing on resale value.
Some specialist lenders consider businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options may be available. Fundably may use a soft credit check for matching, which does not affect your credit score. A hard check may happen if you choose to proceed with a lender.
Explore business funding options through Fundably.
For UK limited companies with 3+ months’ trading and monthly revenue.
Explore business funding options through Fundably.
Check Eligibility →For UK limited companies with at least 3 months’ trading and monthly revenue.