Our Professionals
Principal Surveyor
MICHAEL L. COLLYER
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. He joined the firm in 1985, with extensive commercial sea-going experience, 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, he was also the President of a marine towing and construction company.
He has been certified as an instructor in Navigation and Seamanship by the Massachusetts Department of Education and has practical teaching experience in these and related subjects. 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.
He holds 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, as well as other organizations.
Senior Surveyors
NEIL C. ROSEN, NAMS-CMS
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.
DEAN B. HOSTETLER, NAMS-CMS
Dean serves on the Board of Directors of MSC, and is our compliance, safety and emergency response management specialist, leading our Regulatory Compliance Group. A 1977 graduate of Maine Maritime Academy with a degree in nautical science, he has extensive experience sailing aboard deep draft ships, offshore anchor handling supply, ocean tow/salvage vessels and private vessels worldwide, sailing as a USCG licensed Master or ships officer. Since stepping ashore in 1993, he has operated his own company offering maritime consultant 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 250 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 a Certified Marine Surveyor by the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) with over 15 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, has been a certified AWO Responsible Carrier Program auditor and is a member of the Port of Providence Propeller Club. He is 40-hour Hazmat certified and is a USCG certified fishing vessel drill conductor and instructor.
NEIL G. STODDARD, SAMS-AMS
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 both Rhode Island and Connecticut property & casualty adjusters licenses and is a charter member of the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS).
DANA P. COLLYER, NAMS-CMS
Dana is one of our senior marine surveyors who specializes in commercial fishing vessels, tugs and barges, and hull and machinery out of our Fairhaven, MA office.
He served four years in the U. S. Coast Guard, both as an auxiliary engineer on a 378’ cutter in the Northwest and Alaska, 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 boat hauler, using their specialized hydraulic equipment. 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), barge and tug surveys, On and Off Charter surveys, load and stow inspections and off shore trip and tow surveys along the East and Gulf Coasts and the Caribbean, and marine 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 New Bedford Fishermen Safety Training Program.
Dana is a Certified Marine Surveyor by the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) and has received accreditation from the American Boat & Yacht Council, participates in the safety training of commercial fishermen and is a USCG and AMSEA certified fishing vessel drill conductor and instructor. He is Ultrasonic Thickness Gauged qualified and has his is 40-hour Hazwoper certification.
CRISTOPHER R. MACDOUGALL
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 1995 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.
Claims Manager
JEFFREY D. DUBIOUS
Jeff joined the Fairhaven office staff in 2009 from the high-tech sector. With his background as a key- client/OEM sales account manager in both foreign and domestic markets, Jeff brings that experience to his current role as a critical member of our P&I claim team. His responsibilities include Jones Act liability investigations, administration of seaman’s benefits, evaluation of claim exposures, negotiating compromised resolutions, and executing seaman’s releases. His ability to also closely assist in legal defense efforts when amicable settlements are unattainable has proven invaluable to a number of marine insurance underwriters and their assured parties. Jeff also has gained additional experience within the commercial yacht, hull and cargo, and third-party liability arenas. He is currently working to attain his AIC certification, and is an active member of The Mariners Club of Massachusetts.
Associate Surveyors
WILLIAM BENNS
William 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 is familiar with a wide variety of construction methods including fiberglass, steel, aluminum, carbon, and wood, 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. Bill then took his shipwright skills to the Gannon & Benjamin boatyard in Vineyard Haven, MA, where he worked on a series of build and restoration projects from antique catboats to 55-foot wooden schooners.
In addition to his many years of hands-on experience, Bill has ABYC training in Electrical, Corrosion, and Systems. He holds 100-ton master licenses in sail and steam with offshore endorsements and is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. 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
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.
RUSSELL A. KEANE
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.
LAURENCE P. MINOTT JR. ESQ
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.
CHRIS VON HOHENLEITEN
Chris is a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, holding a degree in Nautical Science and a minor in Naval Architecture, with over 40 years of sea going experience. He has had the opportunity to work aboard Panamanian, Russian, Chinese, South Korean, Norwegian, Romanian, French, Japanese, Marshal Island, Bahaman and U.S. Flag vessels; in the capacities of crew member, charter representative or surveyor. As a holder of a USCG Unlimited Tonnage Master’s License and Class 2 Unlimited DP License; Chris has sailed as Captain aboard petroleum, grain, RO-RO/Container, Cable and MODU vessels. Sailing Master, he was directly responsible for all aspects of shipboard operations, including crew and vessel safety, its navigation, cargo handling, maintenance and execution of charter party terms and voyage orders. Knowledge of voyage analysis, budget review, accounting, payroll requirements, approval of stores purchases, and the preparation of shipyard and dry-dock specifications. He is a certified DNV ISM Auditor and has been involved with different companies obtaining their Certificate of Compliance.
Chris has also sailed as Master aboard U.S. Government vessels. He is certified to government safety, security and communication standards. One of the vessels is the SBX-1, which is a very unique. The SBX-1 is column stabilized and operates constantly in DP. Also, the vessel has a special requirement to maintain the documentation and inspection requirements of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, ABS and Solas.
When not working aboard a vessel, Chris has held several shore side positions. Working for Texaco in their Marine Department and then handling refinery contract disputes. He has also been a cable engineer, for undersea cable installations. As a lover of boats, Chris was a commercial lobsterman, covering Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound. He also enjoys offshore sailboat racing.
General Manager
THOMAS E. BOSWORTH
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.