Certispec Services

What Certispec Services does

Certispec Services Inc. is an independent marine surveying, inspection, sampling, and laboratory testing company founded in 1992 by Wayne Todd, a former inspector, and now led by his son Glen Todd as President. The company operates from its Vancouver, Canada headquarters and runs a coast-to-coast Canadian presence plus international offices in Houston (US), Trinidad & Tobago, Bahamas, and Guyana (Caribbean), and Yaoundé (Cameroon, Africa). It serves enterprise clients in maritime/shipping, mining/minerals, oil and gas/petroleum, petrochemicals, and agriculture — including long-tenured customers such as Canpotex (since 2008), Sultran Ltd (~20 years), and Pacific Coast Terminals.

The company organizes its offerings into four service lines: Marine Services (draft surveys, bunker surveys, on/off-hire surveys, SIRE inspections, preshipment inspections), Quality Control Services (tank calibrations using manual methods and optical/laser scanning, loading supervision, loss control, bias testing, additives addition), Laboratory Services (mineral, fertilizer, petrochemical, agricultural, petroleum, and microbial testing), and Inspection Services (shore tank sampling and gauging, stockpile surveying via GPS and laser scanning, product sampling, inventory inspections, DAFF/AQIS government inspections). Core technology centers on precision measurement instrumentation including laser scanning and 3D imaging for tank calibrations, GPS-based stockpile surveying, and laboratory testing capabilities. Certispec holds ISO 17025 (laboratory competence) and ISO 9001 (quality management) certifications and maintains memberships in TIC Council, Chamber of Shipping, GAFTA, FOSFA International, ASTM International, and AOCS.

The business operates as a B2B professional services firm on a project-based fee model with quote-based pricing determined by project requirements, commodity types, and geography. Revenue is generated through four streams aligned with the service lines above, delivered via direct enterprise field sales and dedicated regional contacts. The company is family-owned with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity, and is privately held with 251-500 employees.

Name

Certispec Services

Legal name

Certispec Services Inc

Website

https://certispec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Certispec Services is an independent marine surveying, inspection, sampling, and laboratory testing company serving enterprise clients in maritime, mining, oil & gas, petrochemical, and agriculture industries across Canada, the US, Caribbean, and Africa. Founded 1992.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Surveying and Inspection Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (541370), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Surveying, Inspection & Claims (EDAOANAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN), Marine Systems Commissioning, Testing & Certification Support (TLAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Marine surveying services
• Cargo inspection services
• Laboratory testing analysis
• Quality control inspection
• Commodity sampling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burnaby

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Marine Surveying Services: Professional services including draft surveys, bunker surveys, on/off hire surveys, SIRE inspections, and preshipment inspections for maritime operations. Revenue generated through project-based professional service fees.
2. Laboratory Testing Services: Testing and analysis for minerals, fertilizers, petrochemicals, agriculture, petroleum, and microbial samples. Services support quality control and regulatory compliance requirements.
3. Inspection Services: Comprehensive inspection services including shore tank sampling and gauging, stockpile surveying, product sampling and inspections, inventory inspections, and DAFF/AQIS government inspections.
4. Quality Control Services: Tank calibrations, loading supervision, loss control, bias testing, and additives addition services to ensure quality and compliance in various industries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Certispec Services provides independent marine surveying, inspection, sampling, and laboratory testing services to clients in the maritime, mining, petroleum, petrochemical, and agricultural sectors. The company's portfolio is organized across four service lines—Marine Services (draft, bunker, on/off hire, SIRE, preshipment surveys), Quality Control (tank calibrations, loading supervision, loss control, bias testing, additives), Laboratory Services (mineral, fertilizer, petrochemical, agriculture, petroleum, microbial testing), and Inspection Services (shore tank sampling/gauging, stockpile surveying, product sampling, inventory and DAFF/AQIS inspections).

Product overview

Certispec Services is an independent marine surveying, inspection, sampling, and testing company offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized into four main categories: Marine Services, Quality Control Services, Laboratory Services, and Inspection Services. The Marine Services division covers draft surveys, bunker surveys, on/off hire surveys, SIRE inspections, and preshipment inspections for maritime operations. Quality Control Services include tank calibrations, loading supervision, loss control, bias testing, and additives addition for petroleum products. The Laboratory Services division provides specialized testing for minerals, fertilizers, petrochemicals, agriculture, petroleum, and microbial analysis. Inspection Services encompass shore tank sampling and gauging, stockpile surveying, product sampling, inventory inspections, and DAFF/AQIS government inspections. The company operates across Canada, the United States, Caribbean, and Africa, serving clients involved in the transportation, storage, or sale of commodities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Draft Surveys
• Bunker Surveys
• On/Off Hire Surveys
• SIRE Inspections
• Preshipment Inspections
• Tank Calibrations
• Loading Supervision
• Loss Control
• Bias Testing
• Additives Addition
• Mineral Testing
• Fertilizer Testing
• Petrochemical Testing
• Agriculture Testing
• Petroleum Testing
• Microbial Testing
• Shore Tank Sampling & Gauging
• Stockpile Sampling & Surveying
• Product Sampling & Inspections
• Inventory Inspections
• DAFF/AQIS Inspections

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of industry experience leading the market in Vancouver

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• TIC CouncilcoreOthersInternational inspection body membership providing industry credibility and standard compliance. TIC Council is a global trade association representing independent testing, inspection, and certification companies.
• ISO 17025coreOthersAccreditation demonstrating laboratory competence and ability to produce precise and accurate test and calibration data. Essential for laboratory testing services credibility.
• ISO 9001coreOthersQuality management system certification demonstrating commitment to quality standards and continuous improvement in business practices.
• Chamber of ShippingsupportingOthersIndustry association membership providing maritime industry representation and networking within the shipping sector.
• GAFTA (Grain and Feed Trade Association)supportingOthersTrade association membership for companies involved in grain and feed trade, providing standard contracts and arbitration services for the agricultural sector.
• FOSFA InternationalsupportingOthersProfessional federation for the trade of oils, fats, and agricultural commodities, providing standard contracts and dispute resolution services.
• ASTM InternationalsupportingOthersStandards organization membership ensuring compliance with international standards for testing methodologies and materials specifications.
• AOCS (American Oil Chemists Society)supportingOthersProfessional society membership for scientists and companies involved in fats, oils, surfactants, and related materials, supporting petroleum and petrochemical testing services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS SA: Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC), operating across agricultural, mineral, petroleum, and maritime inspection verticals. Comparable because SGS directly competes with Certispec in marine surveying, cargo inspection, and laboratory testing for the same commodity customer base, but at vastly larger global scale.
• Bureau Veritas: Major TIC conglomerate with Marine & Offshore division offering SIRE inspections, bunker surveys, draft surveys, and laboratory testing. Directly comparable to Certispec's marine services portfolio and overlapping customer base of shipowners and charterers, but with global geographic reach and broader service lines.
• Intertek: Global TIC provider with extensive cargo inspection, agricultural commodity testing, petroleum testing, and mineral analysis services. Comparable to Certispec across multiple verticals including agriculture, petrochemicals, and minerals, though Intertek operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Inspectorate (part of Bureau Veritas): Commodities inspection and testing brand within Bureau Veritas, focused on minerals, metals, coal, fertilizers, and agricultural products. Directly comparable to Certispec's mineral and fertilizer testing portfolio and bulk cargo inspection services.
• TUV SUD: Global TIC company offering petroleum and chemical testing, marine services, and quality control audits. Comparable to Certispec's petroleum/petrochemical laboratory testing and ISO-aligned quality control services for industrial clients.

Direct peers

• Cotecna Inspection SA: International testing, inspection, and certification company with strong presence in agricultural commodities, minerals, and petroleum testing. Directly comparable to Certispec's lab and inspection service offerings for soft commodities and mining, often operating as a regional specialist competing for similar cargo inspection mandates.
• ALS Limited: Global testing services provider with significant mineral testing, petroleum testing, and environmental analytical services. Directly comparable to Certispec's laboratory testing offerings in minerals, fuels, and agriculture, serving overlapping mining and oil & gas clients.
• Saybolt (part of SGS): Specialist petroleum and chemical inspection and testing brand now part of SGS, with deep expertise in bunker surveys, shore tank gauging, and petroleum quality testing. Comparable to Certispec's marine petroleum inspection work and laboratory petroleum testing offerings.

Emerging players

• Tricon Energy / Cargo Inspectors Ltd. Independent cargo inspection and laboratory testing firms serving bulk commodity traders and shipping clients. Comparable to Certispec's regional marine surveying and lab testing services for dry-bulk and petroleum cargo flows, typically operating as smaller specialists competing for the same anchor accounts.

Regional players

• Petroleum Services Co. (Middle East): Regional petroleum inspection, sampling, and testing firm serving Middle Eastern and adjacent markets with bunker surveys, shore tank gauging, and petroleum lab analysis. Comparable to Certispec's petroleum testing and marine inspection offerings but operating in a different geography without direct overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/certispec_group
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/certispec-services-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Certispec Services