About

Established in 2015 Blazeby Maritime Consultants is led by Nigel Blazeby. An experienced leader in the shipping industry he is passionate about profitable, safe and compliant maritime operations. He has worked across a wide spectrum of businesses from public to private, most recently as Managing Director of a large UK fishing company spearheading a team championing significant transformation and growth.  His entire working life has encompassed several maritime disciplines. He is an experienced and qualified mariner (1984 – 2001 including Command experience) and qualified marine surveyor (since 2004) covering both Flag State and commercial work.

Blazeby Maritime can offer a full range of services relating to Vessel builds, regulatory compliance, operational auditing, ongoing surveys, damage assessments and valuations. The company has a strong track record of working with a range of stakeholders, from government maritime regulatory authorities (safety and environmental) through to commercial shipyards and suppliers and harbour authorities. Work undertaken has included:

  • Working with owners, Captains and crews to ensure fishing vessel fleets are compliant for a specific fishery - Blazeby Maritime is currently working alongside a large South Korean Fishing Vessel Fleet which fishes for ILLEX in the South Atlantic fishery.
  • New Build projects (initial concept, specification preparation, build oversight, contract negotiation, sea trials). Examples include:

NICHOLA OF LADRAM a 15m Crabbing vessel built in the NL in 2018, and the GEORGINA OF LADRAM a 35m Trawler built NL 2020.

  • Vessel refurbishment, preparation for classification and preparation for registration/full safety certification (Flag in) with the a Flag State. Examples include:

MAR DE CRETA – a 45m Swordfish freezer vessel working in the Indian Ocean.

  • Major vessel refit oversight including new engine, new generators, hull alterations such as adding a bulbous bow, revising fish handling equipment, superstructure modification. Examples include the €1m refit of the UKFV LLOYD TYLER.  
  • Vessel damage assessments for owners, insurers or P & I clubs); Examples include MV BALMORAL – damage to harbour on berthing.
  • Vessel accident analysis; Examples include the ALGRIE grounding in 2017 for Cattewater Harbour Commissioners. 

Experienced in providing professional opinion Nigel Blazeby has been an expert witness to the UK courts since 2012 for maritime operational issues principally to do with fishing vessel matters.  Cases undertaken have included:

  • Arcoport & Christophe le Moigne v Dart Harbour and Navigation Authority (St Christophe 1) (2020).
  • D&SIFCA v Laura D Fishing Limited, South West Trawlers Limited & Others (2018).

UK based, but with a global reach the company has over the last 5 years conducted major operations and projects in the UK, South Korea, Uruguay, Netherlands, Spain, and the Indian Ocean (Mauritius).  

Nigel Blazeby is a full and active member of the International Institute of Marine Surveyors and a Fellow of the Nautical Institute. Blazeby Maritime Consultants is a UK registered company and carries full P & I insurance with Lloyds of London.