Meet the Team - Dr Ian Moody

With a distinguished academic background in materials science and a career spanning decades in metallurgy and engineering, Dr Ian Moody, Managing Metallurgist at Brookes Bell, brings an exceptional level of expertise and hands‐on experience to our team.

Ian’s journey began at Imperial College, where he spent seven years, completing his PhD in extractive metallurgy. “I developed a particular focus on the thermodynamics of the extraction process of zinc from zinc oxide bearing slags,” he explains, reflecting on his early academic challenges and the need to repurpose waste materials for safer disposal. This early interest in engineering materials has remained a constant throughout his career.

Before joining Brookes Bell, Ian honed his skills at British Steel and various non-ferrous stockholders. His role at British Steel saw him travelling around the globe—auditing mills in China, India, and beyond—ensuring that international standards were met even in the most challenging environments. “As part of my work, I visited various mills to ensure they fully understood and adhered to the required specifications, as materials must consistently meet rigorous international standards,” Ian recalls. This hands-on experience provided him with a profound understanding of quality control, technical audits, and the vital role of material specifications in ensuring safety and performance—insights that he has brought into his work at Brookes Bell.

Since joining Brookes Bell in 2022, Ian’s work has focused primarily on metallurgical investigations that range from in-depth analyses of engine failures caused by substandard bunker fuels to wire rope failures and cargo claims caused by offshore corrosion issues.

“About half of the cases I’ve encountered involve questionable bunker fuel or substandard fuel that has caused engine damage on vessels. It’s a recurring issue that demands thorough analysis and the development of robust solutions, and I find it both challenging and rewarding to pick apart these mysteries,” he notes, underlining the complex challenges he faces daily. His work is not merely reactive; it is about understanding the entire lifecycle of materials—from initial selection and design to long-term maintenance and failure prevention.

“It involves selecting the appropriate grade of material from the outset, which ultimately prevents these issues from occurring later on,” he explains, emphasising the importance of getting the fundamentals right before problems arise.

Ian’s expertise is not confined solely to laboratory investigations. His role requires him to work closely with the multidisciplinary teams at Brookes Bell, including marine engineers, fuel chemists and even naval architects, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of any incident.

In addition to his technical investigations, Ian is also passionate about sharing his knowledge. He believes that understanding the “finer points of metallurgy” is critical—not only for resolving current issues, but for shaping the future of the maritime and offshore industries. “Over the past 250 years, we’ve seen so much progress in metallurgy, yet it’s still amazing how often the same errors keep happening. That history really drives me to keep learning and to stick with time-tested principles, always with the goal of making our future safer and more sustainable,” he reflects.

At Brookes Bell, Ian’s work stands as a testament to the vital role that deep technical expertise plays in modern maritime consultancy. His investigations and recommendations not only resolve immediate technical challenges but also help prevent future failures, ensuring that our clients receive a service rooted in rigorous science and practical experience.

We are proud to have Ian Moody as part of our team. His global experience and his passion for metallurgy make him an asset to Brookes Bell and a trusted adviser in the industry.