Chris is a Mariner with 13 years sailing experience on a range of vessel types including FPSO, ULCC, VLCC and petrochemical tankers, as well as offshore safety-standby, supply and seismic survey vessels.
Chris has established a 20-year career in Asia since coming ashore. He worked as a Casualty Investigator with a major Maritime Law Firm and a Consultant at a leading Global Maritime Consultancy.
Chris is an assured presence in the initial stages of a marine incident; he has been involved in the investigation stages on numerous casualties. Chris has considerable practical and operational experience over a range of vessel types, including liquid and dry bulk, gas, passenger, container, cement, dredger, tug/towage, offshore and other specialised builds.
Equally at home extracting and assessing electronic evidence, taking statements, reviewing historical records, or leading on-site investigations, Chris’ investigations have previously taken him all across Asia and into Europe to protect the interests of clients. Chris has also been called upon to give closed-door expert evidence into government agencies tasked with the creation and maintenance of maritime policies, expert evidence into civil and criminal court and arbitration actions, and witness of fact evidence in arbitration.
Additionally, Chris’s written expert reports have been widely used in both court and arbitration proceedings in London, Singapore, and Hong King.
Chris' Career Highlights
Emergency Response
Chris has the following experience attending live incidents:
H&M representative for grounded general cargo vessel under SCOPIC salvage in China.
Numerous cargo liquefaction incidents, including as permanently embarked P&I representative during salvage for a grounded bulk carrier after liquefaction in the Philippines.
Additionally, novel cases such as the recovery and loss mitigation for heavy weather loss of multiple seismic survey towed streamer cables in heavy weather in China.
Dispute Resolution
Chris’ experience includes the following:
London Arbitration concerning compaction damage to 60,000 tonnes of bagged cement clinker delivered to Sri Lanka.
Personal injury claim resulting from sea-strike deceleration of hydrofoil ferry service heard in Hong Kong.
Two-vessel collision in congested river transit area heard in Hong Kong.
London Arbitration concerning spoiling dispute of 55,000 tonnes bulk soybean.
Norwegian Arbitration concerning reported piracy and law enforcement actions.
Investigations
Examples of Chris’ work in this area:
Numerous and high-profile collisions, including the well-known MSC Joanna c/w WD Fairway [2007, China], Hebei Spirit [2007, Korea], Neftegaz-67 c/w Yao Hai [2008, Hong Kong], Sea Smooth c/w Lamma IV [2012, Hong Kong], Sanchi c/w CF Crystal [2018, East China Sea], MSC Apollo c/w FMG Sydney [2020, India], Chinagas Legend c/w Fahd [2023, Suez], Solong c/w Stena Immaculate [2025, North Sea]
Numerous and high-profile groundings and allisions, including the well-known Sea Empress [1996, UK] and Rena [2011, New Zealand].
Numerous stability and lashing suitability assessments, including timber cargo short loading on deck due to ballast surveyor negligence, breakbulk short loading due to loadline immersion, and steel plate and coils.
Numerous packed and bulk dry and liquid cargo loss or damage incidents from multiple causes such as heavy weather, poor routing or handling of vessels improper lashing or shoring of cargoes, structural failure and improper procedures, including the well-known One Apus [2020, North Pacific], Cosco Nagoya [2021, North Pacific] and Co Kobe [2022, North Pacific].
Numerous vessel damage incidents from multiple causes, including cargo hold damages from stevedores and equipment, shell and hold structure penetrations on bulk carriers from collisions and corrosion, cargo crane collapses from stevedore misuse, improper maintenance work and structural failure, tank structure failure from erosion such as liquid cargo cavitation.
Numerous fires onboard vessels, including the Felicity Ace [2022, Azores] and Morning Midas [2025, North Pacific].
Numerous cargo spill and pollution response matters across Asia including mass container losses, released dry cargoes (such as after collision), released packaged chemicals, edible oils and mineral / hydrocarbon oils, and including the drafting of expert advice to port authorities and the MSA in China to permit the free passage or release of vessels involved.
Advisory
Chris’ experience includes the following:
Auditing offshore support vessels on behalf of a major oilfield services provider, before their use in-field, in Europe.
Preparation, execution, and assessment of vessel drydocking and repair plans in China.
Advising the commercial department of an offshore vessel owner in the drafting of bespoke sub-contractor contractual terms in Europe.
Overseeing salvage sales of large quantity damaged edible goods, including large quantity bulk seeds/grains and reefer containerised goods in China.
Arranged for rapid Class approval to load cargo onto hatch covers of Handymax bulk carrier, after cargo refused for loading in China.
Consulting and Projects
Examples of Chris’ work in this area:
Conducting more than 1,000 vessel risk assessment and loss prevention audits in South Asia, South East Asia, and Europe.
Led a team to undertake government and coastguard study into vessel licencing and safety at a major city port, by comparison to similar large ports globally. Presented closed-door findings to government and related safety agencies.
Managed the production of vessel-traffic risk assessments for construction projects in Hong Kong and China
Plan and undertake port and berth suitability surveys in Indonesia, and China.
Risk assessment for nickel ore mine and associated offshore cargo loading facilities on behalf of large bulk carrier operator in Indonesia.
MARPOL compliance auditing and advice to at-risk vessels.
