Boat / Ship Construction / Repair Expert Witnesses

Harry Munns is an internationally recognized expert in the field of Boats, Boating Business, Boater Education, and Maritime Law. A United States Coast Guard licensed master since 1985, Mr. Munns has extensive coastal and offshore sailing throughout the United States and Caribbean. he has been Captain of numerous private and commercial, power, and sail vessels to 90 feet.

Background Experience - Mr Munns was Technical Director of the American Sailing Association (ASA) before moving into an executive position, which he held for 14 years. He has served on various boards, committees and panels including the American Sailing Association BOD, Sail America BOD, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Education Standards Panel and the City of Redondo Beach, CA Harbor Commission.

Mr. Munns' boating education credentials include design, implementation and maintenance of a worldwide education system. He has coordinated national and international communications and media. In conjunction with the U. S. Coast Guard, he was instrumental in creating national boating safety education standards beginning in 2000 and continuing until 2020.

Litigation Support - Harry Munns has worked as an expert witness in many Boating Injury and Negligence cases since 1985. He has worked on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving organizations such as the IRS and Princess Cruises. He has provided case analysis, written opinions, phone consults, deposition testimony and testimony in court.

Areas of Expertise:

View Harry Munns' Consulting Profile.

Gerald (Gerry) Nielsen, PMP,  founder of Ocean Ridge Maritime, is a Project Management Professional with over 35 years of experience in the Commercial Maritime, Offshore, and Cruise Industries. Mr. Nielsen serves as an Expert Witness, Consultant, Project Manager, Surveyor, and Auditor for the Maritime and Offshore Industries. 

Past Positions Include:  

• Rig Assurance, Preservation (Stacking), and Reactivations - Transocean Offshore Drilling
• Global Consulting Operations (VP) - ABS Nautical Systems
• Maritime Audit Services (Director) - Carnival Corporation
• Environmental and Safety Management (Director) - Cunard Line Limited
• Designated Person Ashore - Cunard Line and Seabourn Cruise Line
• New Construction Surveyor - American Bureau of Shipping
• ISM / ISO Auditor - American Bureau of Shipping
• Shipboard Engineer - Exxon Shipping Company and Global Marine Drilling

Litigation Support: Since the Exxon Valdez incident and response, through development of DOJ mandated Compliance Programs, to conducting ECP Audits as Third Party Auditor, Mr. Nielsen has been providing consulting services related to litigation.  In recent years, Ocean Ridge Maritime has been engaged for Jones Act Injury Cases, Regulatory (Environmental) Compliance Audits, Technical Opinions related to Oil Spill damages, and MARPOL Compliance.

Areas of Expertise:

View Ocean Ridge Maritime's Consulting Profile.

POWERPLANT Specialists, LLC., (PPC) is a technical services company providing highly specialized support services for Industrial Power Generation Systems, Cogeneration and Combined Cycle Power Plants. PPC specializes in Design, Performance, Forensics, Construction, Design Defects, Cost Analysis for Lost Operations, Maintenance, and Repair. PPC has extensive international experience and is OSHA Lockout / Tagout Certified. Areas of Expertise

• Power Generation
• Marine Propulsion - Conventional / Alternative Fueled Systems
• Microturbines
• Boilers
• Industrial Gas Turbines
• Diesel Engines
• Cogeneration
• Geothermal
• Landfill
• Digester Gas
• Wind and Solar Powered Generation Systems