Q. What do you think are the key factors facing the modern marine surveyor and are they well equipped and knowledgeable enough to cope in an ever changing marine sector?
A. The young marine surveyor these days will struggle to get meaningful experience to be able to, for example, do a proficient pre-purchase survey. My peers and I were probably the last lucky enough to have been “hands-on” through a large range of marine related topics. I had part time jobs as a sailmaker, sailing instructor and in a small shipyard. I rebuilt petrol and diesel engines for fun. There was no health and safety back then which probably helped to educate the ones that survived. This is very good back-ground knowledge not possible to be replaced or replicated by classrooms alone. The young surveyor must be a practical person with a sound marine engineering background, be a listener and an apprentice for as long as necessary to learn the trade.
Q. How important is it to bring IIMS members (and other surveyors) together in Palma each year to network and what do you believe they get from these meetings?
A. The meetings are important to help keep abreast of marine tendencies, to hear what the institute is up to first hand and to meet and share information with colleagues. You also get to hear from your peers about mistakes that have been made and hopefully how to go about avoiding making the same mistakes. These type of meetings are essential and fundamental, especially for surveyors who are not placed in active marine centres and don’t get to meet other members on a regular basis. The Institute must also make sure that their practising surveyors are of an appropriate professional standard through continuous professional development (CPD), if they are to represent the IIMS.
Q. Palma is becoming seen as an increasingly popular destination as a superyacht centre of excellence and refit destination. Why is this?
A. The geographical location is good. There is a particularly good marine infrastructure with many years’ of experience. There is a lot of professional expertise here with fair competition between the companies. It must be one of the best refit centres in the world. Then again, possibly the main reason could be that the crews and their families also are comfortable here drawing the yachts back year after year.
Q. What has the resurgence in the Palma Superyacht Show in recent years done for the prestige of Majorca, the boating and surveying business locally?
A. The PSS has provided a useful point of focus for the mediterrean marine industry. The organisers have recognised the potential and have been able to come up with a vibrant format encompassing sellers, buyers, crew, shipyards. Almost everyone involved in the industry would find something of interest at the show. Another benefit not often mentioned is that politicians are forced to realise the importance of the industry to the local economy.
Q. What one piece of advice would you give a younger, up and coming surveyor?
A. Be an apprentice, listen and learn. Learn to respect the sea, preferably by sailing on it.
Q. The Report Magazine understands you are a keen sailor and enjoy nothing more than taking to the open sea. Please tell us something about your love of the sea and yacht racing.
A. I have a pretty full program of regattas, one design racing with the FLYING FIFTEEN which is a very technical boat on boat racing where every gain or loss of a metre during a half hour race is significant – great fun and thrills with a respectably sized fleet here in Mallorca. Also, I am beginning to sail a JEANNEAU SUNFAST 3200 in short-handed offshore races where in recent times computer generated weather routing has added another dimension to the sport of offshore racing. These boats are now fast, stable and safe and with the weather routing you should not sail yourself into nasty weather surprises, leaving you free and able to enjoy the challenge and the exhilaration.
The Report • March 2018 • Issue 83 | 73
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