Ian Biles

Master Mariner, BEng (Hons), MA, CEng, CMarEng, DipMarSur, RYA Yachtmaster (Ocean), Eur Ing, FNI, MRINA, MIMarEST, MRIN, MSNAME, MIIMS, MSCMS, MHCMM, AMS (SAMS), MEWI

Ian started sailing with his father at the age of 12 and as a result when to sea upon finishing school. He sailed worldwide for 13 years 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 various qualifications passing RYA Yachtmaster (Ocean) Certificate in 1982 and Class 1 (unlimited) Master Mariner Certificate in 1984.

In 1988 Ian was recruited by Shell International Marine who sponsored him to return to University and study an Honours degree in Naval Architecture. 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 developed offering technical advice and services to Owners, Operators, Managers, Banks and Insurance Companies in both the leisure and commercial marine sectors.

Currently Ian sits on The Boat Retail & Brokerage Committee of The British Marine Federation and he is probably one of the most qualified and experienced surveyors in the business

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.    

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

Jonathan Hadley-Piggin is a partner in the Marine and Transport Department of Ashfords Solicitors based in their Exeter office. Jonathan attended Warsash Nautical College sponsored by BP Shipping where he gained a class III Certificate of Competency (Deck Officer). Following time at sea with BP he later gained a commission in the Royal Navy and attended Britannia Royal Naval College, then, sponsored by the Navy, read for a degree in Maritime Commerce 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 Stephenson Harwood where following qualification he specialised in commercial charter disputes, collision and salvage. In 1997 he moved to Southampton to concentrate on the leisure sector acting for yacht owners, insurers banks, charter companies and other organisations in the marine leisure sector both in the UK and abroad. He joined Ashfords in 2009.     

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.  

William Wyatt

B.Eng (Hons), MSc, DipMarSur 

Bill started sailing on the Norfolk broads in a Graduate dinghy in 1985 and went on tostudy Ship Science at the University of Southampton, followed by a Master’s degree in Maritime Engineering Science.

Working with Maritime Services International since 1995 he has undertaken a variety of roles from ship management to cargo surveying but has been principally involved with ship surveying from a Naval Architectural standpoint.

Bill is also a qualified Yachtmaster and races with the Junior Offshore Group around the ports of the English Channel