Posted on: 17 June 2024
Solis Marine has announced a series of appointments across its UK and Singapore based businesses as the companies scale their operations to meet global demand for technical and engineering excellence in the shipping and marine energy sectors.
In the UK, Richard Pemberton (pictured left) is appointed principal naval architect working with Solis Marine Engineering (SME) in the company’s Falmouth headquarters where he will head up clean shipping operations.
Richard joins SME from the University of Plymouth where he was a lecturer in marine design, bringing with him a background in the decarbonisation of the shipping and offshore industries.
He said: “There are massive challenges associated with moving shipping towards zero emissions and Solis Marine are at the forefront of doing this, collaborating on projects which are delivering real vessels operating with net zero emissions.”
SME forms part of a consortium awarded funding by Innovate UK to design a new class of low-carbon installation vessels for the floating offshore wind market. The consortium is led by Morek Engineering. Other ongoing projects include work on a hydrogen fuel cell conversion of a survey vessel, Tranship II, led by OS Energy, and a methanol hybrid vessel and supporting digital tools, CHAMP2, led by Purple Sector.
In Solis Marine’s London office, Alvin Forster (pictured middle) has been appointed head of marine engineering services. Alvin will deliver services to clients worldwide, including P&I and H&M insurers, brokers, lawyers and shipowners. His role involves detailed hull and machinery damage surveys and investigations, preparing expert reports for arbitration and court proceedings, investigating fuel quality issues and offering comprehensive loss prevention support to marine insurers, shipowners, managers and operators.
Alvin said: “This was a wonderful opportunity to join a world-class marine consultancy and help develop the marine engineering services division. As shipping faces fresh challenges on its journey of decarbonisation as well as continuing to manage the more traditional ongoing risks and issues, this is an exciting time to be part of the industry and support those stakeholders who need expert technical advice.”
Based in both London and Hull, master mariner Captain Jamie Simpson has joined directly from sea, bringing with him more than 10 years’ command experience on passenger/cargo liners trading worldwide and ROPAX ferries operating in the Dover Straits and Irish Sea. He has extensive experience of ship handling, including having held various pilotage exemptions, passage planning and navigating with ECDIS (various manufacturers) and integrated bridge systems.
Jamie has previously worked as a marine consultant based in the Middle East where he carried out instructions and attended salvage and wreck removal operations.
In Singapore, master mariner Captain Jamie Simpson (pictured right) has joined Solis Marine with a focus on marine incident investigations, encompassing a wide range of scenarios including shipboard fires, collisions, groundings, salvage operations, expert witness testimony, offshore and towage operations and comprehensive casualty management.
Captain Ken Ellam, partner and general manager of Solis Marine Singapore, said: “Steve complements our existing team of mariners and his work as a fire investigator provides clients with a much needed service, especially with the increase seen in ship board fires.”
Two further appointments include Angitt Prakosa who joins as a surveyor based out of Jakarta, supporting of Solis Marine’s casualty work in southeast Asia, and a senior naval architect to lead project engineering services in SME’s UK office this summer.
Solis Marine chairman Nigel Clark said: “These latest appointments reflect an ongoing commitment to invest in our technical capabilities, providing best in class services to the Group’s clients across Asia and Europe.”
Solis Marine is led by co-founders Ros Blazecjzyk in Singapore and Captain John Simpson in the UK.
