something to prevent a maritime accident ‘before it happens’, I would continue to serve mariners and save lives. That was the decision point for me to become a Marine Surveyor. I could be home with my family and work to improve the safety of mariners.
I had worked as a Marine Surveyor and Examiner of Master & Mates until about 1997 when I had then become a Station Manager. I continued functioning as a Marine Surveyor but then added duties such a managing an office and a vessel inspection program and mentoring and guiding new Marine Surveyors. In 2007, I had become the Regional Director for Transport Canada Marine Safety & Security Atlantic. I was now in a position to influence both national and international policy on marine safety and vessel inspection standards working closely with Class and other maritime administrations.
I retired at the end of 2017 from Transport Canada. I recall during my exit interview saying “I’ve enjoyed every single day of my career…some days were pretty tough.. but that simply motivated me for the next day.”
In 2018 I started my own marine surveying and consultancy company, going back to my roots of vessel inspection.
Q3. What would you say are your surveying specialisms?
Vessel inspection has always been my comfort zone, however now I find myself more and more assisting vessel owners with the enigma of the government marine regulatory quagmire (some of which I may have held the pen on in my previous career). Sorting through new regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures can sometimes be intimidating for vessel owners. I spend a lot of time consulting on new builds and vessel importations.
Q5. How important is it for a surveyor to keep abreast of changing technologies and to keep learning new skills? I ask this question given that you have recently undertaken and passed the new Professional Qualification in Marine Corrosion.
I believe it’s vital to keep current with both technological changes and regulatory changes. The IIMS provides great training opportunities such as Professional Qualification in Marine Corrosion for example. Each spring and fall, Transport Canada hosts the Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) which provides regulatory updates and consultation opportunities. In addition, we are not only marine surveyors, but business owners as well. I think it’s also important to keep abreast of business best practices. Many businesses die of ‘indigestion’, not ‘starvation’. It’s too easy to become complacent. To be successful you need to be a good marine surveyor and a good business operator.
Q4. What are the main challenges of carrying out your job in Canada and are there benefits to having the IIMS network in your country, which is geographically vast?
In Canada, it’s difficult to be all things to all clients. We are a vast country with four distinct marine areas: East Coast, West Coast, Arctic Coast, and of course the Great Lakes. Each client base has their unique demands. The benefit of having a national marine surveying body, such as the IIMS, is having the ability to network with other marine surveyors. The IIMS has created ‘WhatsApp’ groups that I’ve used several times to network with others who a deeper subject matter expertise than I do in a specific area.
Q6. Having recently taken over the reins as Chairman of the IIMS Canada Branch, what do you think are the opportunities for further development?
I’m excited to be the new Chairman of IIMS Canada Branch. We have a great Committee of experienced and dedicated team members from across the country. Amongst our priorities will be to increase our membership, increase IIMS brand recognition in Canada, and to leverage the IIMS benefits to a broader scope to make IIMS the organization of choice in Canada for marine surveying services.
The Report • June 2022 • Issue 100 | 133
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