John Gibson, a Marine Engineer with a combined First Class Certificate of Competency, a first class honours degree in Mechanical and Marine Engineering and a Master of Engineering degree in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, joined Brookes Bell in 1996 and became a partner in 2001.  With a career at sea spanning more than 20 years in ranks up to and including Senior Second Engineer and Cargo Engineer, and ashore in ship vetting for an oil major, John has considerable LNG, LPG and oil tanker experience, on both motor and steam turbine vessels.  His main work involves casualty investigations, surveys and machinery salvage and repair disputes, on a wide variety of ship types including oil and gas tankers, general cargo and bulk carriers.  He is a member of the Institution of Fire Engineers and has carried out fire investigation work.  John has acted as expert witness in court and arbitration hearings.

 

   

ALAN P. CHAPMAN

 

Mobile: +44 (0)7515 597963

Email: alan.chapman@brookesbell.com

CV: Alan Chapman

 

Alan Chapman is a marine engineer with a First Class Certificate of Competency. He joined Brookes Bell in March 2010. Prior to joining Brookes Bell, Alan was at sea over a period of 28 years serving on a variety of geared and non-geared container ships (with capability for both plug in self contained reefer units and blown air reefer plants), conventional reefer ships and general cargo ships.  Alan spent a period of time in Hamburg as superintendent, and has experience standing by several newbuilds, both during and after commissioning.  He has sailed in engineering ranks up to and including Chief Engineer, and has experience of modern large common-rail injection systems on slow speed marine diesel propulsion engines.

 

DAVID K. SPENCE

 

David Spence, a Marine Engineer with a First Class Certificate of Competency and an honours degree in Nautical Studies, joined Brookes Bell in 1978.  He was a partner of the firm from 1981 to 2008 and is now a consultant.  Previously he served on a variety of steam turbine and slow and medium speed diesel cargo vessels and tankers in ranks up to and including Senior Second Engineer. He assisted in the design and installation of crude oil washing systems.  His main work is in the field of hull and machinery surveys on many ship types including extensive involvement in major casualties, hull and machinery damages, sulphur cargo related damages, structural failures and repair disputes. This work has led to attendance in court, arbitration and formal inquiries, both in the United Kingdom and overseas.  David is a Past President of the Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors and Past Chairman of IMarEST North- West Branch. 

 

  

 

Brian Boorman, a Chartered Engineer with an Extra First Class Certificate of Competency (Steam & Motor), joined Brookes Bell as a Partner in 2008, having gained extensive surveying and consultancy experience during over 21 years with three London based consultancies. Brian sailed in all ranks up to and including Chief Engineer and sailed on general cargo, tanker, container and small bulk carrier vessels propelled by steam turbines, slow and medium speed diesel engines. He also has experience as a superintendent engineer in the operation, management and maintenance of a group of ships. He has considerable experience of attending and investigating many casualties including: collisions, groundings, sinkings, salvage, fires and hull and machinery failures/damages and repairs. He has given expert witness evidence in the high court and in arbitration, has acted as an independent technical assessor and has sat as an arbitrator on several occasions.

 

 Duncan Tanner, an Incorporated Engineer with a B.Eng degree in Marine Technology and a First Class Certificate of Competency (Motor) joined Brookes Bell in March 2010.  Before joining Brookes Bell, Duncan was at sea for a nine year period on various ship types serving in ranks up to and including Chief Engineer.  He also worked as a Superintendent.  As well as normal day to day ship operations, Duncan supervised several dry docks and refits including a ship conversion project.  As a surveyor before joining Brookes Bell, Duncan attended most ship types and carried out Hull and Machinery damage surveys for machinery damage, collisions, groundings and fires.  He has attended on behalf of Hull & Machinery Underwriters and Owners’ P&I clubs.  He has also carried out P&I entry surveys, general condition surveys, pre-purchase inspections, and witnessed trials and factory acceptance tests.

TREVOR OWEN-THOMAS
MIMarEST

Mobile: +86 13917981899
Email: trevor.owen-thomas@brookesbell.com
CV: Trevor Owen-Thomas

Trevor Owen-Thomas is a Registered Incorporated Engineer with a Combined Class 1 Certificate of Competency.  A former Chief Engineer Officer, he has invaluable practical experience of the operation and maintenance of a wide variety of vessels including general cargo, refrigerated cargo carriers, oil and chemical tankers, container, passenger and LPG vessels.  After completing his sea service, Trevor held various Superintendent, Technical and General Management positions, before joining a well known Hong Kong based consultancy company in 2003.  He started AMS Shanghai Ltd in 2004.  He speaks several foreign languages including Mandarin and has gained invaluable insight, understanding and expertise of the large scale ship repair and shipbuilding industry generally in China.  He specialises in new builds, major hull and machinery repairs and is able to impart expert advice on matters such as sale and purchase, speed and consumption and unseaworthiness. He has carried out numerous dry dockings, large scale repairs and conversion work in China.

CHARLES J. BEVIS

 

Charles Bevis, a Marine Engineer with a combined First Class Certificate of Compentency and a degree in Marine Engineering rejoined Brookes Bell as an Associate in October, 2006 from Seawise Maritime Services Ltd where he was Managing Director.  Prior to joining Seawise he had been with Brookes Bell for eight years.  Charles became a partner in 2008.  Charles was at sea for 20 years, serving on a variety of vessel in all ranks upto Chief Engineer.  He has over 20 years extensive experience as a surveyor and consultant, invetigatin and reporting on a  wide range of marine casualties and disputes including warranty, condition appraisal, loss-of-hire, collision, fire, grounding, unsafe berths, off-specification fuel, hull, machinery and fixed and floating structure damage and failure and a wide variety of other technical issues.  He has prepared reports and given evidence in Arbitration and High Court.
 

BSc, I Eng, MIMarEST, MAE

 

Brendan Cuffe, a Marine Engineer with a First Class Certificate of Competency and a degree joined Brookes Bell as a Partner in 2008, having gained ten years surveying and consultancy experience with two London based consultancies.  Brendan spent 15 years at sea in all ranks up to Relief Chief Engineer and has experience of both slow and medium speed engines and their associated equipment.  His surveying and consultancy experience includes bunker quality disputes, main and auxiliary engine failures, contact damage and rudder failures, rudder stocks and propellers, cargo gear performance disputes, hull damages, personal and asbestos related injuries, pre-purchase and Class record inspections.  Work undertaken also includes the preparation of cases for litigation and arbitration and giving evidence as an expert witness in both Court and Arbitration.

 

MIMarEST

 

 

Bruce holds a variety of professional qualifications including a current marine engineer class 1 certificate of competency and a commercial pilot’s licence.  During his sea-going career, Bruce sailed on a variety of vessels from conventional bulk carriers, self unloading bulk carriers, refrigerated hold container ships, passenger ferry’s to products and crude oil tankers, products/chemical tankers and high speed catamarans.  He served as Chief Engineer before taking up shore based roles as Engineering Manager then later Operations Manager.  In 2002, Bruce took up a position in the offshore oil and gas industry, on various F.P.S.O. installations as a maintenance specialist and maintenance supervisor.  He has been involved with the implementation, operation and auditing of risk management, accident and incident investigation, planned maintenance, safety management and quality assurance systems.  Bruce moved to Ningbo, China to work for Det Norkse Veritas (DNV) as a Senior Surveyor and Lead Auditor (ISM/ISPS) before joining AMS Shanghai in 2010.  Bruce has attended vessels at many shipyards giving him great insight and experience in ship repair and conversion in China.