Maritime Expert Witnesses in California

Maritime, Slip Trip & Fall - marina safety, boating accidents, collisions/allisions, investigation, ship, yachts, seaworthiness, captain responsibilities, crew, passenger safety, Rules of the Road, equipment failure, sinking, drowning, vessel operation, safety, sport fishing, charter boat, jet ski, kayak

Captain David G. Bacon, a U.S. Coast Guard licensed vessel captain and Boating Safety & Compliance Consultant who is available as an expert witness on cases involving; boating accidents, slip & falls, personal injuries, collisions and allisions, issues of responsibilities and liabilities aboard vessels and on gangways and docks and piers, drowning and vessel grounding or sinking. I am available to travel for investigations, inspections and testimony. Passenger/crew interaction, training and safety orientation are areas where many liabilities are created due to negligent actions/inactions, and I have experience opining on those issues based upon Rules of the Road and other regulations, and standard duty of care and safety protocols. I have served as a vessel charter captain for 35 years, specializing in; crew training, safety procedures, crew drills and practice, passenger safety orientation. During that lengthy career I have had no accident or injury claims because I am a diligent...

Long Beach, California

Maritime, Legal - Machinery damages, Ship Explosions, Professional Indemnity, Oil Pollution, Marine Engineer, Personal injuries, Super Yachts, Lithium ion fires, Oily Water Separator, Audits, Hull damage, Law, Maritime Fires, Drydocking, Marine Casualty, Cruise Ships, Marine Surveyor, Class, Cargo, Propulsion

Andrew E. Madden, Esq. brings a distinctive and rare combination of legal, technical, and operational maritime experience. He is a California attorney, marine surveyor, and former UK-licensed Chief Engineer, with several years of seagoing service on a variety of commercial ships around the globe and 12 years’ experience as a Senior Surveyor and Senior Maritime Auditor with Lloyd’s Register. He also has specialist experience in the superyacht sector. Through The Law Office of Andrew E. Madden, P.C. — “Where Maritime Experience Informs Legal Strategy” — he provides focused maritime legal support informed by real-world vessel operations, casualty investigation, marine insurance claims, hull and machinery issues, cargo matters, audits, surveys, and technical dispute analysis. He is also President of A.M. Marine Surveys LLC (www.amarinesurveys.com), a separate marine surveying and consulting company. This dual background allows him to assess maritime matters from both the legal and engin...

San Francisco, California

Maritime - Longshore Industry, Maritime Labor Consulting, Stevedore, Collective Bargaining Agreements, Longshore Jobs, Labor Relations

Richard Marzano has spent over 25 years in the longshore/maritime industry, working in both marine terminal operations and labor management, becoming a West Coast longshore expert. With nearly 15 years in labor relations, bargaining with the ILWU and administering the ILWU-PMA Agreement(s), Mr. Marzano has in-depth knowledge of ILWU/West Coast longshore hiring and employment practices and processes, working and dispatch rules, benefits administration, the ILWU-PMA grievance procedure, the ILWU-PMA reasonable accommodation process (re. the Americans with Disabilities Act) and its application on US West Coast ports.

California

Maritime, Transportation - Vessel Safety Training, Vessel Risk Management, Vessel Maintenance Management, Research Vessel Operations, Accident Root Cause Analysis, Small Passenger Ship Operations <1600 Gross Tons Domestic, Vessel Risk Assessment, Vessel SMS, Sport Charter Boat

Professional Summary Ronald J. Short is a highly proficient, motivated, and dynamic licensed Master with extensive experience in vessel management, both internationally and along coastal regions. He has worked with various types of vessels, including passenger, supply, oceanographic, break bulk, and special purpose explosive carriers. Ronald excels in maintaining effective working relationships and employs a high-energy, hands-on approach to management, demonstrating excellent communication skills and critical thinking during vessel operations. He is committed to continuous learning and applying new technologies and industry trends. Key Skills: • Ship Piloting and Navigation • Operations Management • Productivity Enhancement • Crew Training and Management • Marine Research Operations • Critical Problem Solving • Safety and Emergency Procedures • Team Building & Leadership • Process Improvement • Maritime Safety Training • Client Relationship Management • Cost Containment • Mainten...

San Diego , California

Maritime, Maritime - Seamanship, Sailing Yachts, Motor Yachts, USCG Navigation Rules, Bareboat Charter contracts and disputes, Racing Rules of Sailing, Jones Act, Injuries, Accidents, Dismastings, Sinkings, Collisions, Allisions, Navigation, Engineering, Boatyard and Insurance Company repairs and disputes

Professional Sailor since 1989. USCG Licensed Captain since 1990. World Sailing Group 3 (professional) Competitor since 2004. (retired) US Sailing Offshore Safety at Sea certification 2004-Present ASA certified Advanced Sailing Instructor 1992-Present ASA certified Coastal Navigation Instructor 1991-Present ASA certified Bareboat Chartering Instructor 1991-Present US Powerboating certified Advanced Powerboating Instructor since 2010. (retired) RBPA certified Twin Inboard Powerboating Instructor 2009-Present RPBA certified Single Inboard Powerboating Instructor 2009-Present RPBA certified Directed Thrust Powerboating Instructor 2009-Present Owner Offshore Nautical LLC. Seamanship/Maritime Consultation. Established 2008 Owner Privateer Maritime Inc, San Diego Sailing Academy and San Diego Powerboating Academy established 1989. I retired from on the water instruction in December 2021. I am an expert in seamanship, navigation, boathandling, docking, anchoring, mooring, and man overb...

Vallejo, California

Maritime, Engineering - Marine Engineering Casualties, Personal Injury, Shipbuilding & Repair, Hull & Machinery Damage, Cargo Damage, Protection & Indemnity Surveying, Hull & Machinery Surveying, Marine Warranty Surveying, Offshore Oil & Gas, Marine Salvage, Diesel Engines, Steam & Gas Turbines, Boilers, Marine Insurance & Claims, Dock Damage

Matthew Fenton held an unlimited U.S. Coast Guard Chief Engineer's License from 1990 until 2025 as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering Technology from the California Maritime Academy. He worked in the Far East for twenty-four years before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area in August 2021, where he founded Nicomar LLC and provides expert witness, consultancy and survey services globally. During his 43-year career in the marine and offshore industries, Matthew has served as a senior officer and Chief Engineer on chemical tankers and roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) vessels and as a junior officer served aboard bulk carriers, survey vessels, and passenger/cargo ships before coming ashore as a Superintendent Engineer, then moving into marine consultancy in 2000. Clients have employed him as an expert witness in a range of cases, including stern tube bearing failures, vessel performance and fuel consumption issues in newbuildings, charter redelivery, and floating ...

San Francisco, California

Maritime - Maritime Casualties, Personal Injury, Root Cause Analysis, Ship-handling, Sailing yachts, Motor yachts, Charter contracts & disputes, Sail Racing Rules, Jones Act, Dis-masting, Capsizing, Sinking, Collisions, Yacht Design & Engineering, Boatyard repairs, Insurance disputes, Cruise ships

Merchant Marine Officer, Master Mariner, Near Coastal Inspected Passenger Vessels, Steam Motor & Sail for 34 years. STCW 95 and Radar Observer Unlimited, Navigation, Safety Regulations, Shipboard Safety/Security, Deck Seamanship, Rules of the Road, Experienced Towing & Rescue of Yachts and Small Craft. Maritime Smuggling. Naval Architect-Marine Engineer, Full Member SNAME 40 years, Expert on Diesel failure analysis, Experienced Engine Rebuilder, Engine replacements, Electrical Propulsion Controllers, Solar Panels & controllers, High voltage storage batteries, Diesel generators & Inverters, 12VDC, through 96VDC. 125VAC & 240 VAC. Expert on all shipboard mechanical systems, fuel oil, lube oil, fire protection, all piping and pumping, HVAC, • Chairman, SNAME Motor Craft & Service Craft Panel (SC-4) Small Craft Technical & Research Committee (Since 2006). • Principal National Fire Protection Association-NFPA Motor Craft Committee (2011), • Member of five American Boat and Yacht Coun...

Santa Barbara, California

Maritime, Slip Trip & Fall - marina safety, boating accidents, collisions/allisions, investigation, ship, yachts, seaworthiness, captain responsibilities, crew, passenger safety, Rules of the Road, equipment failure, sinking, drowning, vessel operation, safety, sport fishing, charter boat, jet ski, kayak

Captain David G. Bacon, a U.S. Coast Guard licensed vessel captain and Boating Safety & Compliance Consultant who is available as an expert witness on cases involving; boating accidents, slip & falls, personal injuries, collisions and allisions, issues of responsibilities and liabilities aboard vessels and on gangways and docks and piers, drowning and vessel grounding or sinking. I am available to travel for investigations, inspections and testimony. Passenger/crew interaction, training and safety orientation are areas where many liabilities are created due to negligent actions/inactions, and I have experience opining on those issues based upon Rules of the Road and other regulations, and standard duty of care and safety protocols. I have served as a vessel charter captain for 35 years, specializing in; crew training, safety procedures, crew drills and practice, passenger safety orientation. During that lengthy career I have had no accident or injury claims because I am a diligent...

Los Angeles, California

Failure Analysis, Metallurgy - Automobile, Aircraft, Tools, Appliance, Engineering Expert, Construction, Construction Defect, Corrosion, Maritime, Machinery, Materials selection, Glass, Medical Implant, Medical Device, Manufacturing Design, Plumbing Expert, Products Liability, Fire & Explosion, Product Design, Pipe

Joseph Quinn, MS, PE, is a Forensic Metallurgy and Metallurgical Engineering consultant. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Metallurgical Engineering and is registered in 7 states (CA, PA, UT, NV, AZ, CO, WA) with the Model Law Engineering (MLE) designation. He has provided over 1,000 Failure Analysis investigations on metallic and non-metallic (glass, plastic, rubber, and composite) materials or products. Mr. Quinn provides metallurgical and materials consultation, expert witness testimony, and forensic failure analysis in civil litigation matters for defendants and plaintiffs. He has received awards in the International Metallographic Contest and has delivered several presentations on metallurgical engineering and failure analysis subjects at universities, ASM meetings, and industry events. He has served as Past President of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in California and remains active in industry standards development, technical societies, and pro...