Services

Over the years as a surveyor, marine consultant and expert witness, R.J. Gains has done many onsite investigations into port systems and management, to determine if unsafe practices have been causative in marine casualties.

R.J.Gains has investigated numerous groundings and collisions. These investigations have included traditional methods of forensic investigation including damage assessments, speed and angle of blow, CRT analysis among others. More recently, these investigations have been based upon detailed analysis of AIS data, Voyage Event Recorders and other modern digital tools including ECDIS. R.J.Gains has attended many Salvage and wreck removal operations as insurers representative and as SCR, with all parties approval.

During his 22 years at sea R.J. Gains has a broad range of experience on numerous ship types including general cargo, passenger, OBO, Product Tankers, LPG Gas Carriers for 10 years, and later capesize bulk carriers as Chief Officer and 6 years as Master. This enables R.J. Gains to provide advice on a wide range of issues from cargo stowage, lashing and securing, tank cooling and purging, hold cleanliness and ballast operations etc.

Having assisted P&O Bulk Carriers in the formulation of their Safety Management Systems R.J.Gains is very comfortable with the requirements of the ISM Code and as a qualified Lead Auditor familiar with the associated audit requirements.

Seamanship and navigation covers a wide range of shipboard activities from Passage Planning and ship handling in heavy weather, to mooring operations and personal injuries. With 47 years in marine industry R.J. Gains is very well experienced in providing expert opinions on many aspects of seamanship and navigation.

During his 25 years in Marine Consultancy, R.J. Gains has given oral evidence on more occasions than he can remember, on a range of nautical topics. His area of speciality is unsafe port claims and the application of good navigation and seamanship to avoid dangers. He has given evidence in London, Hong Kong and depositions in US proccedings. He has given evidence on a number of high profile cases including some in the public domain, such as the TOREPO and OCEAN VICTORY.