UK Marine Consultants Limited is an independent marine engineering company offering services to the marine and offshore industry.  The company was started in 2009 and is operated by Neil Griffiths.

Since 2003 Neil has carried out investigations on many types of vessels including bulk carriers, reefers, ferries, dry/general cargo ships, container ships, tugs, together with crude, LPG, LNG, chemical and product tankers.  Clients include ship owners, charterers, insurers, P&I correspondents and legal advisors.  Neil is a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.  He has prepared technical reports for submission to arbitration and provided technical advice on a number of areas including fuel quality, sale and purchase, structural damage and repair, high-profile pollution cases, CPP/propulsion damage, on/off hire condition assessments, and machinery performance disputes.  He has also attended UK arbitration as an expert witness and prepared reports for disclosure in different jurisdictions.

Professional Qualifications

Class One Certificate of Competency (Motor) - Valid until 2027
Cardiff University Law School Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate

Category 1 Thermography

Academic Qualifications
MSc Marine and Offshore Engineering 
BEng Marine Engineering

Professional Status and Membership of Professional Bodies

Chartered Engineer
Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST)

Surveying/Consultancy Experience

Dec 2009 to Present - UK Marine Consultants Ltd

May 2008 to Dec 2009 - Partner at Brookes Bell
May 2005 to May 2008 - Associate at Brookes Bell
July 2003 to May 2005 - Staff Surveyor at Brookes Bell

Sea-Going and Other Experience
Jan to May 2010 - Meridian Marine Management – superintendent 
1998 to 2003 - Sea Containers Ferries – second to chief engineer
1996 to 1998 - Hamworthy Engineering – servicing and commissioning engineer
1991 to 1996 - P&O Containers – third to second engineer
1986 to 1991 - Ben Line Steamers – cadet to fifth engineer

Examples of Assignments Previously Undertaken

• Investigations into main engine and auxiliary machinery performance and failure
• Repair assessment and quantum analysis
• Fuel oil quality disputes
• Marpol-compliance surveys for ship owners and ship managers
• Vessel and service improvement project management
• Thermographic inspection and analysis
• New building disputes
• Refrigerated container failure/damage (electrical and mechanical)
• Sale and purchase disputes, including as superintendent
• Rudder, steering gear, stern tube, propulsion shafting and propeller defects
• Grounding and collision damages, including speed and angle of blow assessment
• Reefer plant under-performance
• Condition, pre-purchase and on/off hire surveys
• Assessment of ship managers' operation of the vessel
• Opinions on Charterparty and Memorandum of Agreement disputes
• Ship's crane failures
• Survey of cargo and dock damages
• Lay-up procedures and best practices
• Freelance marine engineer (Class One Certified and up to date)
• Jack-up rig engineer
• Conference speaker

Selection of Experience with Main and Auxiliary Machinery

• MAN B&W
• Wärtsilä
• Caterpillar
• MTU
• Mitsui
• Sulzer
• Mitsubishi
• SEMT Pielstick
• Daihatsu
• Yanmar
• MaK
• Volvo Penta
• Ruston
• Alfa Laval
• Westfaila
• Hamworthy
• Kawasaki Propulsion
• Kamewa/Rolls Royce
• Lips
• Kongsberg K-chief
• Various types and make of sewage collection and treatment plant including Evac
• Oil filtering equipment (most types and make)
• MacGregor deck cranes
• Liebherr deck cranes
• Tsuji Heavy Industries deck cranes
• IHI deck cranes
• Mampaey
• Hydac