Build the file around evidence, not assumptions
When cargo is found damaged, evidence can change quickly. Packaging may be removed, cargo may be repaired, wet materials may dry, or units may be moved away from the original position. Early attendance helps capture the condition before those changes make later analysis harder.
A professional damage survey distinguishes between what was directly observed, what was reported by others and what may only be a probable cause indicator. That distinction makes the final report more credible and more useful to insurers, cargo interests and recovery teams.