Ian Biles
Master Mariner, BEng (Hons), MA, CEng, DipMarSur
FNI, MIIMS, MRINA, MIMarEST, MSCMS, AMS (SAMS), MEWI, MRIN
Ian started sailing with his father at the age of 12 in Coypu Dinghies and progressed to Mirror, Enterprise, Wayfarer and 420's. Developing a love of sailing and most things nautical, Ian went to sea upon finishing school. He sailed world wide for 23 years (1975 to 1988) on a range of commercial ships and spent his leave sailing yachts around the UK and in the Mediterranean. Throughout this time Ian studied for his commercial and yachting qualifications and he passed his Ocean Yachmasters in 1982 followed by his Class 1 (Unlimited) Master's Certificate in 1984.
In 1988 Ian was recruited by Shell International Marine whereupon he returned to University of Southampton on an Honours degree course in Naval Architecture. Following this he went on to take a Master's Degree in Business Management.
Ian began his own marine surveying and consultancy business in 1992. The company has developed to offer technical advise and services to Owners, Operators, Managers, Banks and Insurance Companies in both the leisure and commercial marine sectors. The company currently has 32 surveyors in 5 different countries.
Ian has been closely involved with the International Institute of Marine Surveyors being elected as President in 1999. He has been heavily involved with all the institute's education and training activities and up until December 2008 he was the Insitiute's Education and Training Director and the Course Director for the Diploma in Yacht and Small Craft Surveying.
Currently Ian sits on The Boat Retail & Brokerage Committee of The British Marine Federation and has been involved with the development of the BRBA Qualification
Chris Fairgrieve
BSc (Eng), CEng, SCMS, AIIMS
Chris learnt to sail on a '505' dinghy in Tenby in 1957 while is army father was based in Pembrokeshire 9as it was then!). During the school holidays he worked as a deckhand on the Caldy Island support vessel.
In 1967 he joined the navy as a Weapons Electrical Engineering officer. After gaining his engineering degree at the Royal Naval Engineering College in Portsmouth he served in submarines and surface ships.
In 1980 he left the navy to pursue a second career in the IT industry. Subsequent jobs have included project managing weapon developments in the Sea Harrier Aircraft, developing integrated databus systems for naval vessels and aircraft and writing a guide for the RN on how to design their combat systems. In the late 1980's he ran his own company 'Smart Power' developing a power monitoring system for yachts and powerboats. During this period he edited a guide for installation of electrical cabling and equipment for the BMF and wrote a number of articles in the yachting press on batteries and cathodic protection. He finished his IT career working with the DuPont chemical company in Geneva, one of the main partner suppliers to the Alinghi syndicate.
In the last 3 years Chris has moved backed to working full time with his first love - yachts. He is now a IIMS qualified marine surveyor working as a consultant for Maritime Services International in Gosport. In this role he carries out operational surveys on superyachts and writes/edits educational material for the recreational marine marketplace.
Chris is a qualified RYA Yachtmaster and still harbours an ambition to spend a year sailing across the Pacific (wife permitting!)
Jonathan Hadley-Piggin
BSc (Hons) MA Dip Law MINI MRIN MHCMM ACI Arb Solicitor
Jonathan Hadley-Piggin is a partner at Ashfords, a major national law firm in the UK. Jonathan attended Nautical College sponsored by BP Shipping where he gained a class III Certificate of Competency. Following time at sea he joined the Royal Navy and attended Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, gaining a commission in the Royal Navy and, sponsored by the Navy, read for a degree in Maritime Commerce and Law at the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST). In the Royal Navy he specialised in navigation serving in frigates and nuclear submarines before leaving the Navy to pursue a career in law. Jonathan trained with the 'City' firm from Stephenson Harwood where following qualification he specialised in commercial charter disputes and salvage. In 1997 he moved out of London to concentrate on the leisure sector acting for yacht owners, insurers and marine companies both in the UK and abroad. Jonathan is a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) and an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (PYA) and the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.
Gary Webster
DipMarSur, MarTechEng, TechEng, AssocIIMS, AMImarEST, CAE
Gary was taught how to sail at the age of 13 by his uncle as part of The Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. Most weekends were spent racing in dinghies around the South of England.
He started his Engineering apprenticeship in 1978 and spent many years in the heavy diesel industry. In 1989 Gary became a consulting engineer for a large International insurance company diagnosing and investigating engineering claims. This work also took him to Canada as an independent consultant.
Throughout this period Gary has used his spare time working and repairing yachts and eventually moved to Spain with his family in 2002. Here he has used his insurance and engineering knowledge in to developing his own surveying company on the Costa Blanca.
Pete Crispin
Pete came into the marine surveying industry via a non-traditional route, but one that is becoming more and more common. After fourteen years in the music industry and then eight years running a clothing brand he started training as a marine surveyor in his late 30's. It wasn't a complete change of direction as he owned various sea, river and canal vessels throughout his time and lived on narrow boats at Little Venice in London for fifteen years until his girlfriend said enough was enough and could she have proper central heating and a bath please. Pete has built up considerable experience since changing careers and now regularly works both in in the UK and internationally. His regular work consists mostly of Superyachts in the Caribbean, oil tankers in small African countries and narrowboats wound Brentford way.