can, serve on specialist ships and grasp all the knowledge that you can”. And that was it. I went on to serve on the floating dock for the next five years. Thereafter, I was lucky once again to get a posting for another five years on an Indian Naval Salvage and Submarine Rescue vessel ‘INS Matanga’ where I learnt a lot about ocean Towage and Salvage.


All those years that I was in the Indian Navy from 1987 to 1998, I would say I was blessed to have some really good mentors, in the form of my seniors and some very superior officers who were supportive of my dream of becoming a Marine Surveyor post my retirement. Invariably everyone always seemed to refer to one name, who even today is considered a Stalwart in the Marine Surveying industry. Time and again I was referred to meet Mr Tony Fernandes and to learn from him the nuances of Marine


As a salvage consultant, you have to be on the hot seat, literally.


Surveying.


It was not till 2010


that I got an opportunity to meet him. I already was a Marine Surveyor by then, but meeting him, I would say, made me gain further finer insights to become a better Surveyor than I already was. I am indebted to all those who guided me and of course Mr Tony Fernandes for who I am today.


Q2. What are your specialisms as a marine surveyor and which aspects of the job have given you most satisfaction over the years?


That is a difficult question Mike. I am still learning and there is a lot to learn yet. I wouldn’t call myself a specialist, but yes if you ask me what type of surveys I like to perform amongst others, I would certainly put a hand on my heart and say any survey related to a maritime casualty, be it a grounding, stranding or refloating. I have undertaken


several assignments on behalf of the P&I Clubs, Hull and Machinery Underwriters and Ship Owners and Managers for casualty matters either as a Surveyor or a Consultant, and these were the assignments that have given me the most satisfaction. The opportunity of being of assistance to an asset and its crew in times of distress is the most satisfying aspect of such assignments.


Q3. What one surveying assignment has challenged you more than any other?


I was called upon to inspect one particular casualty in the Maldives, where many of the local Surveyors had refused to board. That was one assignment that put everything I had learnt to test. When I mean all... literally all skills, right from surveying to diving, from life saving to safety and survival at sea - (I almost came back alive


The Report • December 2018 • Issue 86 | 85


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