MICHAEL L. COLLYER
President, Principal Surveyor
Mike is the President and Principal Surveyor of Marine Safety Consultants, Inc. He graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a degree in Nautical Science and Marine Transportation in 1971. He joined the firm in 1987, with extensive commercial sea-going experience, having sailed deep sea on Merchant vessels, sailed as a commercial fisherman and had served as a marine law- enforcement officer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. During tenure as the general manager of a large yacht club/marina, he was also the President of a marine towing and construction company.
He has worked extensively in the management of vessel loss claims, and is a recognized expert in vessel construction, repair and valuation appraisal. His experience includes commercial hull condition and safety surveys; workplace safety and marine construction equipment evaluations; personnel training; oil spill management and third- party claims handling. Underwriters with marine interests in the northeast have counted on him for more than 35 years to manage the most serious and complex marine disasters.
He has represented owners, lenders and builders on over 30 new construction projects, and his appraisal practice has included more than 2,500 vessels. He routinely provides important consulting services to his many valued clients on all three coasts, the Great Lakes and inland rivers.
He held a Merchant Marine license as Third Mate, unlimited, oceans; is a Mass licensed real estate agent; is a USCG certified fishing vessel drill conductor and instructor; formerly held a Mass Construction Supervisor's License for many years; and is a member of the United States Naval Institute, National Fire Protection Assoc., Propeller Club of Boston, Mariners Club, as well as other organizations.
NEIL C. ROSEN, NAMS-CMS
Vice President / Senior Marine Surveyor
National Association of Marine Surveyors – Certified Marine Surveyor
Neil is Vice President and Senior Surveyor of the firm. He is a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy with a degree in Nautical Science and is our resident surveyor in our Portland, ME office. He has extensive sea-going experience, both as a Deck Officer aboard ocean-going tankers and towboats, but also as Master aboard coastwise small passenger vessels between New England and Florida, with time also spent on the Great Lakes and inland rivers in this capacity. Shoreside, he was a construction inspector and project manager for over twelve years with a greater Boston consulting engineering firm.
Since joining MSC in 1991, Neil has specialized in the investigation and management of personal injury cases aboard fishing vessels and passenger vessels, as well as condition and damage surveys of yachts and commercial vessels. He holds a USCG license as Third Mate, any ocean any tonnage, with a Radar Observer endorsement. He is a Certified Surveyor by the National Association of Marine Surveyors.
Surveyors / Case Managers
BUD BARRY
Marine Surveyor
Bud is a native of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and a lifelong sailor. He joins Marine Safety Consultants with over 12 years of maritime experience. Bud graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, his qualifications include a USCG 2nd Mate Unlimited Oceans Unlimited Tonnage license, Mate of towing, and a PIC in Dangerous Liquid Cargos. Bud is Certified in Marine Systems by The American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).
Starting his career as a Third Mate & Watch Officer with the Military Sealift Command, Bud worked aboard diverse vessels including ammunition ships, tankers, towing vessels, and submarine tending vessels. Operating in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean, he directed watch teams, oversaw safety protocols, and coordinated logistical operations.
Transitioning to a shore side role, Bud began his career in defense contracting, contributing to the design, testing, and implementation of cutting-edge navigation software and hardware for the Naval Submarine fleet. Subsequently, as a Lead Marine Coordinator, Bud played a pivotal role in establishing the first U.S.-based Offshore Wind Marine Coordination Center for the first major U.S. Offshore Wind project. This center oversaw crucial aspects of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) compliance, emergency response, and the coordination of vessel operations during various construction activities.
WILLIAM BENNS, NAMS-CMS
Surveyor – Wooden Boat Specialist
National Association of Marine Surveyors – Certified Marine Surveyor
William is a National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS), Certified Marine Surveyor. He has worked in the boat industry for over 25 years, during which time he has built, owned, repaired, restored, and operated many different types of craft, working in every aspect of construction and maintenance including developing his own boat designs. He specializes in wooden boat construction and restoration, while also being familiar with a wide variety of construction methods including fiberglass, steel, aluminum, and composite, as well as ship's systems, hull repair, engine repair and maintenance, and boat interiors and finishes.
His interest in wooden boats took Bill to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD, where he worked as Special Projects Manager, building and restoring historically significant wooden boats such as the Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks, the 1909 log built 50' buyboat Old Point, and the presidential yacht USS Sequoia. William then took his shipwright skills to the Gannon & Benjamin boatyard in Vineyard Haven, MA, where he worked on a series of new build and restoration projects from antique catboats to 55-foot wooden schooners.
In addition to his many years of hands-on experience, William has ABYC training in Electrical, Corrosion, and Systems. He holds 100-ton master licenses in sail and steam with offshore endorsements. He has also worked as a charter boat and ferry captain on several different vessels, and is currently based in Edgartown, MA, on the island of Martha's Vineyard.
MARK A. BISNETTE
Marine Surveyor / Regulatory compliance / Instructor
Mark is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Officer with more than 30 years of experience in virtually all aspects of maritime safety and security. As an instructor at the Coast Guard Officer Candidate and Marine Safety schools, Mark has trained hundreds of marine safety professionals. Mark has served as a marine inspector and casualty investigator in the ports of New York, Boston and Hampton Roads. He has extensive environmental response and salvage experience, including Federal On-Scene Coordinator’s Representative duties in Hampton Roads, VA and Providence, RI as well as serving as a response team leader during the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon disasters.
Mark has considerable waterways management expertise, having served on the waterways management staffs in Boston, MA and Providence, RI, where he was involved in planning and execution of major waterway evolutions including Air Shows and Tall Ships Celebrations as well as hundreds of smaller events. As an operations and logistics planner and responder, Mark has planned and participated in Incident and Unified Command organizations for major national security events, including the 2004 G-8 Summit, Super Bowl XXXIX, and 2004 Democratic National Convention.
As a marine safety staff officer in St. Louis, MO, Mark co-authored the Coast Guard’s integrated Western Rivers operations plans, one of the first of its kind in the U.S. He is considered an expert in federal oil spill response funding and has also served as a safety officer for federal response and security operations. At MSC, conducts vessel surveys, pollution and vessel casualty response investigations and provides commercial fisherman safety and survival training. We rely on Mark for his expertise with our Regulatory Compliance Group writing and managing vessel and facility response and security plans. Mark is also Ultrasonic Thickness Gauged qualified.
THOMAS E. BOSWORTH
General Manager
Tom is the General Manager at MSC. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Roanoke College in Salem Virginia. Tom has spent over 30 years in the insurance industry, including being president of a Marine only insurance agency. Tom has held a “Certified Insurance Counselor” designation for 25 years and was involved with all aspects of underwriting, risk management, claims mitigation and settlement. During this time, Tom gained knowledge and understanding of the Federal Jones Act which has been useful in his role at MSC. He is 40-hour Hazmat certified.
He has been on the water his entire life, once holding a CG license to carry passengers in Padanaram Harbor, Dartmouth, MA. Aside from the insurance industry, Tom has worked at an Exxon Coal Liquification Plant in Baytown, TX, spent time building Fortier Boats in Somerset, MA and in general carpentry. He has crewed on boat deliveries and raced for many years on one design boats. He was on the Board of the New Bedford Yacht Club for six years and on the board of the Lloyd Center for Environmental studies for 12 years.
JOHN BURTON
Surveyor / Inspector
John is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point with over 30 years of sailing experience. He started his career sailing deep sea aboard container ships and research vessels. He then transitioned to inland waters where he was captain of large RORO passenger ferries and high-speed passenger ferries based in New London, CT. He was one of the first Captains to go through a USCG type rating class and receive certification as High-Speed Ferry Master as per IMO standards. John then transitioned into tugboats where he was the primary captain for tugs performing ship and barge movements in New London including all dry dockings, sea trials and barge tows for Electric Boat in Groton, which included towing US Navy submarine modules between Electric Boats two facilities. He was responsible for getting all the tugs certified through the USCG uninspected towing vessel program in preparation for Subchapter M.
Since joining Marine Safety Consultants in 2020, John conducts surveys on all types of boats, specializing in passenger ferries, tugboats and barges. As part of our compliance group, John is the primary inspector conducting pre-operation safety audits for our wind farm clients. He is also involved in compliance consulting, especially with subchapter M inspections.
John holds a current USCG 1600-ton master of Inland waters as well as a USCG 200 ton near coastal Master of Towing.
CAPTAIN CHARLES G. GIFFORD
Consultant/Technical advisor
Captain Gifford began his career aboard research vessels in the galley during the late sixties, advancing to Master in 1992. He has served on a variety of vessels, the majority aboard tankships. Presently, Captain Gifford is the Principal for Gifford Maritime, a maritime consulting entity offering expertise for safety, security and promoting the preservation of the marine environment for all interests. Captain Gifford is also engaged with Marine Safety Consultants in Fairhaven, MA as a maritime consultant, compliance specialist and expert witness. Additionally, he is a facilitator at Massachusetts Maritime Academy involved with the Global Wind Organization and WINDA training candidates for working in the offshore wind industry and a facilitator for the Manned Model Program.
Captain Gifford retired from the Woods Hole, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority, as Port Captain, June 2018. His duties included the day-to-day safe operations of ten vessels, management of crews and compliance with regulatory requirements. During his tenure, Captain Gifford provided testimony on numerous occasions with regard to safe navigation and placement of wind tower arrays. Prior, he served as Master with United States Shipping on U.S. flagged Jones Act tankers trading on the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts. He is a U.S. Coast Guard approved instructor for numerous courses at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and has served as an instructor at the Massachusetts Fire Academy - Marine Programs. Captain Gifford was one of two invited speakers from the United States at the premier of Lloyds of London Fire, on Ship’s conference, London, UK in 2003.
He serves as a technical advisor on several maritime committees including the Area Maritime Security Committee for the U.S. Coast Guard providing assistance for maritime casualty response and port security. He is also a charter member of the National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee for DHS. Captain Gifford also functioned as an Expert Witness for the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Division. He is a four term Officer, and presently the President of the Boston Marine Society, the oldest marine society in the world.
DANA P. COLLYER, NAMS-CMS
Senior Marine Surveyor
National Association of Marine Surveyors – Certified Marine Surveyor
Dana is our Lead Senior Marine Surveyor who specializes in commercial fishing vessels, tugs and barges, and hull and machinery, out of our Fairhaven, Massachusetts office.
He served four years in the U.S. Coast Guard, both as an engineer on a 378' cutter, sailing the South Pacific, North Pacific, and Bering Sea waters, as well as a small boat engineer at a search and rescue station in Rhode Island.
From 1996 to 2003 he worked for Brownell Systems of Mattapoisett, MA as hydraulic boat hauler, using their designed specialized hydraulic equipment and boat stands. During the off season, he carried out heavy equipment and diesel engine maintenance for Brownell, as well as learning wood and
fiberglass vessel repair and construction techniques. In 1996, he joined the Mattapoisett Fire Department where he spent seven years as a volunteer fire fighter and heavy rescue. During his time as a fire fighter, he trained personnel in shipboard firefighting, boat handling and oil recovery. He is also a certified medical first respondent.
Since joining Marine Safety Consultants, Inc in 2004 Dana has conducted surveys on all types of vessels (pleasure and commercial), as well as barge and tug surveys, On and Off Charter surveys, load and stow inspections, offshore trip and tow surveys along the East and Gulf Coasts and the Caribbean, and marina liability and valuation surveys. He is our lead CAT team Senior Surveyor who worked Hurricanes Francis, Wilma, Katrina, and Sandy. He has also been a lead trainer since 2005 with the Fishing Partnership Fishing Safety Training Program, as an AMSEA certified drill instructor. Dana is a Certified Marine Surveyor by the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) and is a member and has received certifications from the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC). He participates in the safety training of commercial fishermen and is a USCG Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examiner, and AMSEA Certified Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor and Instructor.
He is Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge qualified and has his is 40-hour Hazwoper certification.
DEAN B. HOSTETLER, NAMS-CMS
Director of Marine Compliance
National Association of Marine Surveyors – Certified Marine Surveyor
Dean serves on Marine Safety Consultants Board of Directors and is our Director of the Marine Compliance Group specializing in emergency response management and regulatory compliance issues.
Graduating Maine Maritime Academy with a degree in nautical science in 1977, he has extensive experience sailing aboard commercial cargo vessels, offshore anchor handling towing, supply and salvage vessels, ocean & coastal towing vessels worldwide. He has sailed as a USCG licensed Master or ships officer. Since stepping ashore, he has operated his own company offering maritime consultant and emergency management services to the industry. His background includes management and coordinated training for a 12-man Salvage Action Response Team dedicated to responding to a cross range of maritime emergency evolutions, including marine firefighting, salvage operations, and oil spill response management operations to OPA-90 compliance requirements. From 1999-2007 he supervised and managed bulk stevedoring operations in the ports of Providence, RI, New Jersey and Sydney, Nova Scotia. Since joining MSC in 2007, he has specialized in marine emergency response management, environmental, security compliance services, safety, project management, plan development, curriculum development and training. In addition, he is a cargo loss and hull/machinery loss surveyor, with extensive experience in bulk cargo losses and cargo facility damage claims.
Dean is the principal writer of over 350 USCG approved Vessel/Facility Response Plans, Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plans, Facility/Vessel Security Plans, Safety, and Operation manuals. He also developed curriculum, trained corporate and front-line personnel in marine safety, emergency response operations, environmental and homeland security compliance evolutions. During the MC-252 Deep-water Horizon spill he served as Operations section Chief on the BP-command staff of a forward operating base, and later as Dry Dock manager for the BP vessel re-delivery team.
Dean is one of our Senior Marine Surveyors and a National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS), Certified Marine Surveyor (CMS) with over 20 years’ experience conducting condition and valuation surveys on commercial ships, tugs and barges as well as private vessels. He is also a certified ISM, Lead Auditor, was a certified AWO Responsible Carrier Program auditor and is a member of the Port of Providence Propeller Club.
He also is an International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) Accredited Vessel Inspector (AVI) and a Flag State Inspector for Antigua and Barbuda W.I cargo vessels.
RUSSELL A. KEANE
Medical Claims Specialist
Russ is the medical claims specialist for our P&I division. Stemming from his work managing ferry boat and commercial fishing injury cases, he developed an in-house cost containment program to combat our clients’ medical bill exposure and has continued to deliver extraordinary results for over 20 years. His work involves direct negotiations with doctors and hospitals to bring medical payments for Jones Act cases in line with healthcare industry norms. Our bill review program is today a growing and thriving entity led by Russell’s vision and experience.
Russell is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) which is the gold standard for overall expertise in the medical billing field.
David A. Ledoux
Marine Surveyor, Auditor & Consultant
David is a 1987 graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point with over 35 years of deep sea sailing experience, 25 of those as an Unlimited Master. Over the expanse of his sea going career, David sailed on tankers, container vessels, RORO vessels and sub-sea fiber optic cable vessels.
David is also certified by the Nautical Institute in London as a Dynamic Positioning Operator, Offshore Unlimited. While sailing to ports in and around the South Pacific, he obtained his pilotage in the port of Apia, Samoa. While on vacation from sea, he was an adjunct instructor for the subjects of BRM, Radar, ARPA, ECDIS and other deck courses at a number of accredited maritime institutions. With the emergence of the IMO ISM code in the 1990’s, David developed and implemented Safety Management Systems for several US shipping companies. As such, he transitioned into an internal lead auditor for those companies tasked with continued improvement of those management systems. During his tenure aboard RORO vessels, he became well versed in the areas of RORO cargoes, special heavy lift and breakbulk cargoes.
After retiring from sailing, David opened his own maritime consulting firm which provided expertise in cargo claims, accident investigations, vessel claims and marine surveys. He was the principal author for deck side test procedures at Eastern Shipbuilding Group during the construction of the USCG Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) ARGUS. The ARGUS is the first of a new series of 25 vessels that will provide state-of-the-art technology as a national security platform under the United States Coast Guard.
David is a lifetime member of the Boston Marine Society and recipient of the Silver Mariner Award from the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
CHRISTOPHER R. MACDOUGALL
Yacht Surveyor / Claims Specialist
Chris is a Fairhaven, MA based yacht surveyor and claim specialist for MSC. A career maritime professional, he joined us in 2015 to assist in the management of yacht damage claims, as well as conduct condition & valuation surveys.
His early career included boat hauling and transportation, during which time he was proprietor of a Florida-based firm providing intrastate boat transportation. He joined The Marine Surveyor’s, Inc in Florida in 1992 as a technical specialist. In 1995 Chris founded his own survey firm in Marion, MA. Along the way he was Yard Manager at Brewer St Boat Works in Newport, production manager at the famous Brownell Boat Yard in Mattapoisett, MA, Director of Sales & Marketing at Brownell Trailers and Boat Stands, and Service Manager at J&J Fabricating in Somerset, MA. In 2009 he joined Travelers Insurance Co. as a marine surveyor in the boat and yacht division where he was a member of the catastrophe team during hurricane Irene. His knowledge of vessel construction, especially composites, as well as his experience with vessel systems, is a valuable asset for boaters and underwriters in the northeast.
MARK MALONEY
Naval Architect / Marine Engineer / Surveyor
National Association of Marine Surveyors – Global Apprentice Marine Surveyor
Mark is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer/Surveyor based out of our new Gulf Coast office in Mandeville, Louisiana. He is a graduate of the University of New Orleans with a BA in English Education and a BS is Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. He has extensive experience working as both a structural plan review engineer and marine surveyor for the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), and is a certified member of NAMS Global and the ABYC.
Additionally, Mark is our subject matter expert on international and national tonnage regulations.
LAURENCE P. MINOTT JR. ESQ
Surveyor
Bud is a retired Coast Guard Officer who served in the CG Marine Inspection/Safety Programs for 14 years from 1972 until his retirement. Between 1969 and 1972 he served as a Deck Watch Officer on three CG Cutters. In 1972 Bud was assigned to the CG Los Angeles/Long Beach Marine Inspection Office where he became a qualified CG Inspector (Hull) and served as the Senior Investigating Officer. In 1976 he was transferred to the Marine Safety Office in Huntington, WV where he also served as the Senior Investigating Officer for the Huntington WV Zone. In 1980 he transferred to the First Coast Guard District’s (Boston, MA) Marine Safety Division staff and served as the Chief, Prevention and Enforcement Branch. During his staff tour he attended Suffolk University Law School (Night Division). Bud graduated in 1986 as well as retiring from the CG shortly thereafter. He joined MSC for about a year and then entered the practice of law in late 1987 in Windham, ME. During his private practice, he has had opportunities to keep his hand in various maritime industry matters through participating in an NTSB Training Seminar and a number of admiralty court actions and has returned to the industry.
NEIL G. STODDARD
Senior Marine Surveyor and marine claims investigator
Neil is a Senior Marine Surveyor and marine claims investigator with Marine Safety Consultants in the Taunton, MA office. He is a former member of the United States Coast Guard and ex former commercial fisherman who joined the firm in 2006 with extensive seagoing experience and twenty-three years’ experience as a marine surveyor.
Prior to coming aboard, he was a Senior Marine Surveyor and Manager with SGS Marine Services in Raynham, MA and spent fifteen years as a staff surveyor with Hull & Cargo Surveyors in Boston, MA. Neil has worked extensively in marine claims management and loss control. His 33 plus years’ experience includes P & I claims investigation and claims handling, hull and machinery claims investigation, and oil pollution management and third-party claims handling. He holds a Connecticut property & casualty adjusters license and is a past charter member of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS).
CASEY SYLVARIA
Surveyor / Claims Manager / Auditor
Casey joined the Fairhaven office as a claims manager in 2022 after 20 years serving the maritime industry in various capacities. Most recently, as a former partner and insurance producer at North Star Marine Insurance Services, now Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Casey is very familiar with a wide variety of marine insurance coverages, policies and markets. Having spent nearly eight years providing high quality service focused primarily to the commercial fishing industry, Casey is well-acquainted with New England fisheries and boat owners.
Prior to becoming an insurance producer, Casey spent the better part of four years working for Dominica Maritime Registry, Inc. where she was the Director of Inspections and Technical Compliance. She was responsible for oversight of a fleet of approximately 200 internationally trading commercial vessels while liaising with a network of inspectors and surveyors worldwide. Her duties ranged from Port State Control response, Flag State vetting and inspections, drafting and reviewing Flag State policies, regulations and ensuring that international regulatory changes were being addressed within the Dominica fleet of vessels. Casey attended as a delegate at multiple meetings at the International Maritime Organization on behalf of the Commonwealth of Dominica. She is also a certified ISM auditor through Lloyd’s Register, received Port State Control certification from Transport Canada and drafted Dominica’s policy in response to the Maritime Labor Convention.
Before working shoreside, Casey held various positions from deckhand to mate aboard various vessels including sail training tall ships, research vessels, and private yachts. Having sailed from Labrador and Newfoundland to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Casey has an affinity and appreciation for the maritime industry.
