Meet the Team: Andrew Kingshott

For Andrew Kingshott, the route into marine engineering was not entirely straightforward. Growing up in High Wycombe, he initially considered a career in the Royal Navy before studying electronic engineering and computer systems at university. However, the pull of a career at sea remained. During his final year, he discovered the Merchant Navy, a route that combined structured training with practical experience.

“I quite liked the idea of it being a traditional apprenticeship,” he explains. “You had the practical side alongside the education, and that really appealed to me. It felt like a way to properly understand how things work, not just in theory.”

Andrew secured a cadetship with Maersk and trained at Warsash Maritime Academy, later qualifying as an Engineer Officer of the Watch. Much of his early career was spent in the offshore oil and gas sector, working on subsea construction and project vessels where reliability was critical.

“When you’re working with the equipment every day, you start to see how it really behaves,” he says. “You understand how systems respond under pressure and how things don’t always operate exactly as they are supposed to on paper.”

That hands-on experience, combined with a natural curiosity, shaped his approach to engineering. Rather than accepting issues at face value, Andrew has always been focused on understanding the root cause.

“I’ve always been interested in the ‘why’ behind a problem,” he explains. “You might start with something that looks simple, but the more you look into it, the more you realise there’s often a bigger story behind it.”

In 2019, Andrew moved ashore to join Charles Taylor as a consulting engineer, working closely with adjusters on a wide range of claims. The role gave him insight into how technical findings are used in practice and reinforced the importance of clear, well-supported conclusions.

“When you’re reviewing reports and seeing how they are used, you start to understand what really matters,” he says. “Clarity is key, especially when findings may be challenged.”

Andrew joined Brookes Bell in 2025, attracted by the opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary team and contribute to its Hull and Machinery services.

“I was looking for somewhere I could continue to develop, but also work alongside people with different expertise,” he says. “Brookes Bell offered that. You have access to a wide range of knowledge across the business, which is invaluable when dealing with complex cases.”

In his current role, Andrew carries out marine engineering surveys and investigations, supporting clients across a range of technical and claims-related matters. For him, the most rewarding aspect is helping clients make sense of complex situations.

“You’re often asked whether something makes sense, or whether a particular course of action is reasonable,” he explains. “Being able to give that guidance, based on experience and evidence, is something I find very rewarding.”

Looking back, Andrew sees his time at sea as a defining part of his career.

“It gives you an understanding that’s difficult to replicate elsewhere,” he says. “You’ve seen how things work in real conditions, and that shapes how you approach problems.”