Alex Sinclair - Marine ConsultantProfessional Background

AJ Sinclair BSc. MSc. CEng. FIMarEST. MRINA. AH Sinclair (Administration)e-mail: alex@ajsinclair.com web www.ajsinclair.comPh: +44 (0)20 8466 7264 Mob: +44 (0)7802 310 533

I am an independent Consulting Marine Engineerwith extensive of experience of litigation,arbitration and worldwide casualty investigationextending over thirty years.

Located in London, my consultancy career isfounded on a five-year mechanical engineeringapprenticeship, a career at sea and academicstudy. My principal clients are shipowners,charterers, P&I clubs, marine lawyers, H&Munderwriters, salvors and shipbuilders.

Ro-Ro Sunk by Collision

I hold a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree inMarine Engineering (Newcastle-upon–Tyne) and aMaster of Science Degree and Diploma in TheScience of Corrosion (Imperial College, London).

At sea from 1971 to 1978 I gained a First ClassCertificate of Competency (Motor). During thistime I sailed in a variety of motor ships. Movingin quick succession from Junior Engineer to ChiefEngineer, I gained a great deal of practicalexperience of organising and implementingshipboard maintenance and repair.

Fatigued main bearing shells

My subsequent surveying and consultancyexperience encompasses many major casualties.To date, I have handled more than six hundredinstructions of widely varying types – rangingfrom breakdown of machinery to the completeloss of ship and cargo. From fire and explosionto grounding, flooding, corrosion, fracturedshafts and hull failure.

In addition to a wide range of mechanical andmachinery problems, my experience includesdealing withsalvage, wreckremoval, GeneralAverage, anti-pollutionmeasures, ROVinspection ofwrecks andremoval of liquidcargo and oil fromsunken andstranded vessels.

Damaged Vane Steering

Alex Sinclair – Marine Consultant

Collapsed Dry-dock shores

Holding a Diploma and a Master’s Degree in theScience of Corrosion I am well qualified tocomment on structural failure, corrosion fatigueand wastage. I have dealt with corroded tanks,seawater system, collapsed decks and bulkheads,flooded holds, defective hatch-covers andcomplete hull failure.

Collapsed 'tween deck

I have advised on a wide range of engine-roomand machinery related incidents attributable toissues such as excessive wear, metal fatigue, andfuel related problems. Such incidents haveinvolved main and auxiliary engines, gearboxes,turbochargers, generators, alternators,governors, electrical distribution systems, reeferplant, pumps, fans, steering gear, deck cranesand other machinery. The main and auxiliarymachinery operated at sea and/or of which Ihave gained experience during my career as aConsultant, includes engines made bySulzer/Wärtsilä, MAN B&W, Götaverken, Paxman,Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, IHI, Stork Werkspoor,MAK, Caterpillar and Pielstick.

I have often dealt with dockside plant and withdamage to large machinery carried as cargo.

Contractual disputes have also been a majorfeature of my work. For example, over the yearsI have dealt with cases relating to New-building,Speed & Consumption, Sale & Purchase, BunkerSupply etc. In larger cases I have been called onto correlate the work of specialists and expertsin other disciplines.

As a surveyor and consultant I have undertakeninvestigation on many types of vessel - generalcargo ships, container ships, bulk carriers,tankers, passenger ships, Ro-Ro ferries, highspeed craft and private yachts.

Cracked Main Engine Piston Skirt

I have prepared comprehensive reports inrelation to all cases and have often been calledto provide expert evidence in the High Court andat Arbitration Hearings.

Where necessary, my reports have includedreference to Classification Rules, SOLAS and ISMetc. and where appropriate to the particular caseI have employed mathematical analysis of theengineering and physics involved in the. Mattersinvolving ship stability, sinking, refloating etc.have been analysed with the aid of mathematicalship models. Failed structures, damaged cranes,broken components fluid flow and heat transferproblems have been analysed by manualcalculation or by recourse to computer code.

From time to time I have taken part in seminarsand courses, such as ISM auditing, with a view tocontinuing my professional development.

Alex Sinclair – Marine Consultant

The following pages provide a more formalisedlisting of my qualifications and experience andnotable examples of my work to date.

Professional and AcademicQualifications

Higher National Certificate in MechanicalEngineering.

First Class Engineer (Motor) Certificate ofCompetency.

BSc. (Hons.) Marine Engineering (University ofNewcastle–upon–Tyne).

Fields of study for these qualifications includedmathematics, mechanics, thermodynamics,chemistry, metallurgy, fluid mechanics, navalarchitecture, strength of materials, electricalengineering, automatic systems and dynamics.

MSc. Science of Corrosion (Imperial College,London)Diploma in Corrosion (Imperial College).Fields of study for this included thethermodynamic and electrochemical basis ofcorrosion, corrosion kinetics, modes ofcorrosion, corrosion prevention and hightemperature corrosion.

Container ship Hull Fracture

Professional StatusChartered EngineerFellow of the Institute of Marine EngineeringScience and TechnologyMember of the Royal Institute of NavalArchitectsMember of the Society of Consulting MarineEngineers and Ship Surveyors

Landing on Oil Recovery Vessel

Employment2003 – Date - Independent Self EmployedConsultant.

1983 – 2002 - Partner Brookes Bell JarrettKirman (formerly Brookes Bell & Co.).

1980 – 1983 - Staff Surveyor and AssociateBrookes Bell & Co.

1971 – 1978 - At sea with Stag Line and T&JHarrison Ltd. (some overlap with time atUniversity).

1968 – 1971 - Engineer with Renold and CroftPower Transmission Engineers.

1960 – 1968 - Apprenticeship and postapprentice training.

Damaged Crane Jib

Alex Sinclair – Marine Consultant

Notable CasesThis is far from a comprehensive list of work done over the last few years.

Current cases are not included.

Achille Lauro - Total loss by fire and sinking of large passenger ship - Indian Ocean - 1994.

Sea Prince - Recovery of cargo and stabilisation of grounded and fire damaged VLCC -Korea 1995

Sun Vista - Investigation of total loss by fire and sinking of large passenger ship -Malaya 1999.

MSC Carla - Investigation of cause of hullbreaking into two sections -large laden container ship -Canary Islands - 1999.

High Speed Ship - Investigation into exoticcorrosion of aluminium highspeed ferry hull -Scandinavia 2000.

High Speed Ferry - Investigation of catamaranstability - new-building dispute - Singapore 2000.

Fishing Trawlers - Refloating two vessels overturned in dry dock. These unusual casesnecessitated calculation of the refloating condition at extreme angles of heeland ensuring adequate support of the damaged hulls etc.

Passenger Ferry - Assisting with underwater survey of sunken passenger ferry – Greece 2000.

Grecia Express - High Court hearing relatingto sinking of passenger ferry- London 2001.

Container Vessels - Survey and investigation ofACONCAGUA cause of several major firesMG HARMONY and explosions sustained bySeveral Others large container vessels in

Pacific, Carribean andMiddle East, 1998 - 2000.

Ievoli Sun - Investigation of sinking andremoval of chemical cargo from sunken tanker - English Channel 2000 -2001.

Reefer Ships - Investigation of machinery/temperature control problems relating to anumber of reefer ships Chilly, USA, U.K. Rotterdam etc.

Research Ship - Investigation of the cause of sinking of large research vessel - Norway 2001.

Passenger Ferry - Investigation of various types of machinery failure sustained by passengervessels, engines, propeller shafts, generators etc.

Isle de Seine - Investigation of cause of failure of 5mW alternator – for diesel electricdynamically positioned cable layer - France 2002.

Alex Sinclair – Marine Consultant

RoRo Ferry - Survey and investigation of cause of engine room fire - France 2002.

Sena Deniz - Avonmouth 2003 - Investigation of engine room fire.

Tricolor - 2003 Car Carrier collision andsinking – investigation ofvarious technical issues.

TLI Atsah - 2003 - Engine breakdownTokyo Bay – Salvage case.

Regina - Failed bulkhead – 2003.

Pharos - Steering gear failure – Italy2003.

Bunga - Container ship flooding.Investigation and calculation of rate of ingress to

Pelangi Dua holds – Italy 2003.

Anvil Point - New building Dispute – main engine damage Ireland 2003.

Pelican 1 - Collision and steering gear investigation – Holland 2003.

Darya Rashmi - Collapsed ‘tween deck – Brazil 2003.

Savoie - Steering gear damage –Singapore 2004.

Astro Chorus - Engine bedplate cracking –Singapore 2004.

Linda - Main Engine gearbox damage –Italy 2004.

Panagia Lady - Main Engine damage – Jamaica2005.

Gory 6 Ho - Investigation of loss of 100m dredger arm. Loss of strength calculations,critical study of design 2005 – Singapore.

Aniara - Engine room fire 2005 - Piraeus.

LILLEBORG - Investigation of Near Capsize 2006 due to heavy lift – France.

Setsuyo Star - Investigation of hull damage to large bulk carrier 2006 - China.

MSC NAPOLI - Container Ship Loss – English Channel 2006

ARABIYAH - Damage to MAN main engine camshaft. India - 2006.

ATLANTIC FRIGO Calculation of rate of loss of fluid from reefer system – Sheerness 2007.

Hanjin Pennsylvania Container ship fire and explosion – advising at Arbitration on floodingcalculations and various other technical issues.

Alex Sinclair – Marine Consultant

Repubblica di Genova - Investigation of capsize, water ingress etc. Antwerp - 2007.

Monte Stello - Opinion regarding casualty damage and replacement of two Pielstick mainengine crankshafts – 2007.

AIG Europe - Opinion regarding corrosion of large shore based seawater system – 2007.

Mieke - Court Hearing regarding loss of large motor yacht – Cape Town 2008.

Ariela - High Court hearing concerning extensive machinery damage to dredger -2008.

Collapsed gantry crane - Investigation of cause of collapse of 800mt capacity shipyard gantry crane –automatic control system, structural configuration, electrical supply systems- China 2009.

Polar Star Severe damage to diesel electric propulsion machinery. Investigation ofdynamic power regeneration effects and engine over-speed - 2010.

Deck Cranes Investigation of several instances of damage to deck crane jibs, slewingbearings and other structure - 2010.

Collapsed Gantry Crane

--------------oOo-------------