Our Marine Engineer Robert Vart will give a presentation on bunkers and the implications of the 2020 sulphur cap on marine fuels to the American Bureau of Shipping in Hong Kong and Taiwan on 2 and 6 March respectively. The technical committee comprises high-level experts and shipowners who will review IMO regulations on fuel and how to advise shipowners to manage the changes.
We are sad to have lost two of our former Partners who died recently. They were extremely influential in building the firm we are today.
John Knott passed away on Christmas Eve. He died peacefully at home with Sylvia and Richard by his bedside. He was 85. Those of us who worked with him remember him as the energetic and skilled Partner he was, passionately loyal to Brookes Bell and, with the now retired Partners and others, helped build the Partnership from just a handful of people in the 1960s when he started his 30 year career with Brookes Bell. He will be well remembered and missed by those of us who knew him.
Following on, we are sad to announce that Jim Gornall died on 26 January. He was 92. Jim bought Brookes Bell in 1959 and was a leading light in the growth of the firm. He retired in 1988, having firmly established Brookes Bell as Consultants and Marine Experts known throughout the shipping and insurance industry. Those of us who knew Jim and Dorothy will miss him and remember him as the great character he was. Rest in Peace Jim.
Contact Colin Kershaw for further information and funeral arrangements.
Thomas Miller, the international provider of market leading insurance services, announces the acquisition of international marine consultancy, Brookes Bell, for an undisclosed consideration.
Brookes Bell is a leading marine technical and surveying consultancy with offices in Liverpool, London, Glasgow, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. It has served the marine and energy industries since 1903, providing specialist services in areas including emergency response, casualty investigation, salvage and wreck removal operations, scientific cargo expertise, forensic engineering and expert witness services. The firm is also a leader in research and development of ship design support to enhance maritime safety and technology and employs a renowned group of Marine Engineers, Civil Engineers, Master Mariners, Naval Architects, Cargo and Fuel Scientists, Fire Investigators and Metallurgists.
Hugo Wynn Williams, Chairman, Thomas Miller, says: “Brookes Bell’s long-recognised expertise across international marine and energy markets will make an excellent and complementary addition to the Thomas Miller Group.”
Colin Kershaw, Managing Partner, Brookes Bell, says: “Thomas Miller is a business that very much shares the values, vision and foresight of Brookes Bell and we are delighted to have taken this next step in our journey towards further growth and diversity.
“Brookes Bell will continue to operate independently, with no changes to our brand or operational structure, to provide independent and highly respected expert consultancy services to new and existing clients while, crucially, having access to investment to expand.”
Roland Cross / Jon Atkins – Four Broadgate
+44 (0) 20 3697 4200 / ThomasMillerGroup@fourbroadgate.com
Thomas Miller is an international provider of market leading insurance services.
Founded in 1885, Thomas Miller’s origins are in the provision of management services to mutual organisations, particularly in the international transport and professional indemnity sectors; where today they manage a large percentage of the foremost insurance mutuals. Thomas Miller also manages insurance facilities for all the self-employed barristers in England & Wales, as well as trustees of pension schemes, patent agents and housing associations.
Principal activities include:
Brookes Bell is a market leader in marine technical, survey and casualty investigation services to the marine and energy sectors worldwide. Offering unrivalled expertise and experience across all the major marine and scientific disciplines, the firm provides multi-disciplinary consultancy services to clients and is regularly called upon to provide litigation support through expert evidence in courts and arbitrations around the world. The Group also supports ship designers and operators by providing a range of safety services using in-house software tools and risk-based alternative design. Brookes Bell uses only directly- employed expert personnel across disciplines including Marine Engineers, Master Mariners, Naval Architects, Cargo and Fuel Scientists, Fire Investigators and Metallurgists.
Congratulations to Adrian Scales, Brookes Bell Master Mariner and Partner, who was recently awarded Chartered Master Mariner status (CMMar) by the Nautical Institute and Honourable Company of Master Mariners - just the 18th such award to have been made. Adrian has also just recently received his Freedom of the City of London and became a Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.
Our Consultant Master Mariner Graeme Bowles has been re-appointed to the SCR Panel by the Lloyds SCOPIC Committee for a further three year period, until 31 December 2020. Graeme was originally listed on the panel in 2010 and has been appointed as SCR on three LOF salvage cases, as well as on several non LOF cases where his SCR credentials were specifically called for by clients.
On 25 October 2017, the Hong Kong office held a seminar at the Mariner’s Club where the record attendance of 63 clients exceeded expectations and totally justified moving to a new larger venue.
Brendan Cuffe flew in from Shanghai and presented 'Sea Trials – What is Tested and Why?' It found wide appeal amongst our audience and one client commented that was "a good introduction to one of the important parts of a shipbuilding contract and useful for the executive negotiator for the contract as well as the engineer superintendent attending the trial."
Tim Moss and Luigi Petrone, who are now familiar presenters to many in our Hong Kong audience, did a great duo act to present the 'Tao of Sampling' which explained why and how we take samples. One client said that it was "informative and all types of sampling were well explained with practical demonstrations" such as Tim’s showcasing of the ultimate manly hoover – the Pneumac – which has a 6-metre long hose that can suck up cargo such as soya beans for sample collection.
It's fantastic that these seminars are going from strength to strength as they aim to help share information as well as providing a platform to catch up with our clients despite busy schedules. Therefore, we would like to say a sincere thank you to all who attended the evening and helped make it a great success.
Ken Kirby, a senior partner and metallurgist, recently spoke to ‘Energy Engineering’ alongside Grant Greatrex, Managing Partner at ELAN Forensic. The partnership between our two organisations aims to deliver best-in-class expertise for every offshore wind farm project and dispute.
Installed capacity of offshore wind is on the verge of an increase, but there are significant challenges to overcome before the industry can flourish.
Source: Energy Engineering, Issue 73, Page 24-25; http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=66703663-4b66-4440-bab4-863453e74d09
We are pleased to welcome NIKOLAOS KARIMALIS to our team of Master Mariners in Liverpool. Niko has an MSC in Technical Ship Management from the University of Strathclyde and joins us from Danaos Shipping Co. Ltd where he spent 22 years serving on a variety of ships including container ships, bulk carriers, general cargo ships and tankers. Please follow this link for further information about Niko’s surveying and consultancy experience.
The latest Hong Kong seminar on 18 May 2017 brought in a record crowd, with over 40 clients and 12 Brookes Bell staff attending.
Both talks were given by colleagues from our Singapore office who shared with the audience their diverse areas of expertise. First up was Donald Ross who took the audience through loss prevention and claims handling for ports and marine terminals. The audience participated enthusiastically in the ensuing Q&A section, which highlighted a need for a future talk to be given by our master mariners on safe ports and tug assistance.
After a short interval, Dave Myers gave a lively and engaging presentation on Fire Investigation - Engine Room Fires & Self-Heating Cargo. After the talk, Dave was hotly (excuse the pun) sought out by clients to answer more questions as the drinks and canapés flowed.
Thanks to all who participated in another momentous event and maybe next time we will be in an all new seminar venue as it appears we are outgrowing this one!