Admiralty Expert Witnesses

Maritime, Appraisal & Valuation - Boats marine survey, yachts accidents, yachts fire, yachts marine survey, boats accidents, boats fire, shipyard billing, marine contracts, boat insurance disputes, yacht insurance disputes, boatyard billing, yacht appraisal, boat appraisal, Admiralty

Henry Pickersgill has decades of marine survey experience, especially with yachts, both power and sail. His survey work involves classic sailing yachts to high-tech sportsfisherman to motor yachts. He is megayacht experienced and has international survey experience leading survey teams in Europe and the Caribbean. He is a Certified Marine Surveyor (CMS) by the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMSGlobal) and certified as a Marine Engineer (SNAME) by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Mr. Pickersgill's marine survey experience includes pre-purchase, damage claims, yacht/boatyard service/repair/restoration disputes, insurance disputes, voyage, new construction, accident investigations and expert witness/trial work.

Maritime, Accident Reconstruction - Admiralty, Marine & Maritime Incident Analysis & Accident Reconstruction, Commercial Vessel, Passenger, Cruise Ship, Tug, Barge, Towing, Pilot, Piloting, Navigation, Seamanship, Rules of the Road, Boating Safety, Boating Accident, Yacht, Pleasure Craft, Sailboat, Sailing, Jet Ski & PWC

Captain Timmel began his professional career after attending New York Maritime College serving as an officer in the US Merchant Marines for seven years. He sailed in many different positions, attained his Master’s license, and has been a Tampa Bay harbor pilot since 1989, including serving as President. He has made over 6,500 transits piloting yachts, tugs & barges, and ships of all types and sizes including freighters, tankers, container ships, ferries, cruise and passenger vessels, naval vessels, research vessels, and tall ships. Captain Timmel has taught as an Adjunct Professor at New York Maritime College teaching shiphandling, piloting, watchstanding practices, and seamanship to cadets aboard their training ship, the T/S EMPIRE STATE VI, during Summer Sea Terms. Active in boating and yachting all of his life, Captain Timmel served as Youth Sailing Director, Fleet Captain, Governor, and Commodore of the Tampa Yacht Club and is serving as a Director, Gulf Coast Fleet Captain &...

Maritime, Fire - Maritime / Marine Casualties, Admiralty, Maritime / Marine Collisions, Allisions, and/or Groundings, Marine fire / Marine fires / Marine Firefighting, Towing, Navigation Law, Underway Replenishment , Maritime Accident Investigations / Analysis / Consultation, Cargo Claims, Seaman Claims

CAPT Sean P. Tortora, M.S., U.S.M.S., is a Master Mariner with twenty-five years at sea. He is also an unlimited Master of towing vessels and Master and Commander of U.S Naval underway replenishment vessels. During his career at sea, CAPT Tortora had command of many different classes of vessels, including tankers, dry cargo, break bulk, ammunition, ocean towing, and salvage, special mission, as well as underway replenishment vessels. CAPT Tortora is a native of Long Island, New York. He is a graduate of Chaminade High School and holds a BS in Marine Transportation and MS, with honors, in International Transportation Management, both from the State University of New York Maritime College at Ft. Schuyler. He has served in the first Gulf War 1991-1992, Operation Noble Eagle—the response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and Operation Iraqi Freedom—the second Gulf War from 2002-2010. CAPT Tortora’s decorations include U.S. Navy MSC-Command-at-Sea Designato...