ABOUT US

About Founder / Director Steve Bates

MRINA, MIIMS, Maritime NZ survey P2 steel & aluminium, Dip. Small craft survey
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Steve has an extensive and exceptionally varied background in sailing, design, survey, engineering and interior on yachts and commercial vessels of most types & sizes, which combined with his established network of other professionals allows him to offer an unusually comprehensive package of services.

 

He has a reputation for being polite & friendly, open minded, creative & innovative, thorough and professional, with a positive ‘can do’ approach combined with a strong team ethic and clear constructive communication at all levels from trades and suppliers to rule authorities and clients.

 

He has a Lloyds Academy diploma in small craft survey(distinction), full membership of IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveyors), full membership of RINA (Royal Institute of Naval Architects), and Maritime NZ recognition P2 steel and aluminium (periodic surveys for vessels under MOSS up to 24m offshore or 45m coastal, and coastal barges of any size).

His more than 40 years’ experience includes:

Ocean sailing and local yacht racing (South Africa, Caribbean, USA, UK, New Zealand), including storms and ice conditions.

Yachts and commercial vessels design / construction / refit / repair / service / restoration, wide variety from traditional timber to modern composites, steel, aluminium, GRP and ferro cement (10 years in England & Scotland).

Multi award-winning aluminium & steel superyachts construction, design, fitting out & commissioning, including structure, systems, interior, exterior, acoustics, rules compliance, design integration and management (22 years at Alloy Yachts and McMullen & Wing, New Zealand).

Team leadership & project management (Scotland and New Zealand).

High-tech carbon fibre masts & spars repairs / upgrades engineering design (4.5 years at Southern Spars & Rig-Pro, New Zealand).

Commercial vessel MOSS periodic and pre-purchase surveys (New Zealand).

Commercial vessels engineering, structure or systems design (New Zealand yards & naval architects).

Yacht and superyacht pre-purchase and insurance surveys, sail or power (New Zealand).

Problem solving and consultation on commercial vessels and yachts (New Zealand and worldwide).

Fire extinguishing systems design, installation management, commissioning, testing & servicing (New Zealand and worldwide, marine and industrial).

Hydraulic davits & cranes inspection & testing (NZ commercial vessels, NZ and Australian Navies).

More details available on request, please get in touch

MDSCi Ltd WORK EXAMPLES:

SURVEYS:
Private sailing and motor yachts surveys::
Numerous pre-purchase condition surveys and insurance surveys to various scope either general visual or more detailed including other specialist inspections. Aluminium, steel, GRP & wood, some including oversight of remedial work, and some including design assessment of suitability for purpose.
Commercial & service vessels periodic and initial surveys::
Collaborative & training surveys towards Maritime New Zealand recognition and expansion of recognition category (passenger ferries & tour boats, charter yachts, water taxis, fishing & trawling, aquaculture, cargo, tugs, cable patrol, rescue, lifting appliances etc.)
Commercial & service vessels periodic and other condition surveys::
Independent surveys within Maritime New Zealand P2 steel & aluminium recognition category.
58m aluminium sailing yacht:
Insurance & valuation survey in conjunction with well-known international surveyors Patton Marine USA.
34m steel & aluminium motor yacht::
Pre-purchase condition survey including haul-out & specialist inspections coordination & contracting, followed by safety-critical mini-refit project management for NZ to Florida delivery voyage.
EQUIPMENT & SYSTEMS INSPECTION & TESTING:
Hydraulic davits on Navy ships and offshore trawlers:
Inspection, testing & training for Vest Davit & some other SOLAS hydraulic davits for launch & recovery of RHIBs and rescue craft at sea.
Marioff HI-FOG and UltraFog marine and industrial high-pressure water-mist sprinkler systems:
Systems design & installation assistance, supply, commissioning, inspection, fire investigation, testing & ongoing service support.
Alloy Yachts / Wormald large yachts medium-pressure water-mist sprinkler systems:
Inspection & testing for ongoing Class approval, and maintenance instructions updates.
DESIGN & CONSULTATION / PROBLEM-SOLVING:
Maritime New Zealand 40-series rules revision:
Voluntary and contracted input and consultation / collaboration.
38m aluminium motor yacht new build:
Mechanical & domestic systems schematics & layouts in collaboration with others.
Air conditioning interior integration, Petrol tender & tankage fire protection measures, Li-ion batteries ventilation, Mechanical & domestic systems design support & updates during construction.
71m steel cruise ship:
Oily water separator accumulated sludge problem investigation.
131m Navy ship:
Sliding watertight door problems investigation.
71m steel 1929 classic motor yacht:
Bilge system modifications design for effective priming + New seawater pumps mounting design for original 1929 main engines.
58m aluminium sailing yacht:
Stern tubes corrosion and bearings damage assessment & remedial measures consultation.
Industrial galvanizing plants around New Zealand:
Collaborative review, site inspections and reporting for prospective purchaser of industrial assets with hazardous chemical processes.
11m motor yacht:
Seawater pump failure collaborative assessment for insurance claim.
20m aluminium sailing yacht:
Hull plating corrosion repairs assessment & oversight.
Henriksen lifting hooks on 12.6m Navy support vessels:
Inspection, testing & training for twin hook systems condition and operation on 3 littoral manoeuvre craft.
40m steel passenger vessel:
Shaft couplings consultation & design.
44m steel & aluminium passenger vessel:
HVAC system survey & as-fitted drawing + upgrades design for commercial charter, Galley range fire suppression, SOLAS approved portable fire extinguishers, Fire & Safety Plan collaboration.
85m steel multi-role and dive support Navy ship:
Modifications design for 11 tonne davit and deck area to accommodate new larger fast operational craft.
16m aluminium sailing yacht:
Teak deck seams premature degradation & leaking cabin windows consultation & problem solving.
26m GRP motor yacht:
Generators vibration & exhaust noise consultation.
52m aluminium sailing yacht in Mediterranean:
Fire protection assessment & sprinkler system extension design for water toys Lithium-ion batteries charging & storage.
Numerous aluminium passenger ferries and tourist vessels in collaboration with Lighthouse Naval Architects:
Engine beds & drive line structural and mechanical modifications for new engines,
Vibration, broken engine mounts and other problem-solving assessments and modifications,
Exhaust system problem-solving modifications or dry stack conversions and passenger area modifications,
Stability study light ship surveys & assistance,
Mooring bollards relocation or strengthening,
Overboard boom nets for dolphin tour passengers to enjoy riding in the water while under way.
49m steel RO-RO ferry:
Seawater intake modifications to prevent persistent loss of engines cooling water suction.
57m new steel sand dredger::
System schematics & layouts / details for inclusion in structure, Systems related rules compliance & exemptions, Fire & safety plan, Electrical design liaison etc.
46m steel RO-RO ferry:
Exhaust system major modifications to resolve very high backpressure and seawater back-flooding of centre engine.
Problem solving & re-engineering for rescue boat davit slew control and breakage of bow ramp mechanical locks.
81m aluminium sailing yacht::
HVAC system & hydraulic/machinery noise yard warranty claims independent assessment & proposals for improvement.
57m steel & aluminium motor yacht::
Fire protection assessment for e-bikes & water toys Lithium-ion batteries charging & storage.
26m composite FRP passenger motor yacht::
Design & consultation for Fire Extinguishing, Bilge & Wash-down, Fire & Safety plan, and Engine room ventilation arrangements.
49m Traditional Greek steel motor yacht:
Engine room ventilation grills re-design to prevent water ingress with minimal air flow resistance.
Marine exhaust acoustic piping product:
Rules compliance & marketing consultation.
36m sailing catamaran:
Weight saving design consultation.
39m aluminium motor yacht:
Sprinkler system & Exterior glazing design consultation.
Proposed 43m motor yacht:
Engineering & rules compliance design consultation.
Various large sailing & motor yacht contracts in Europe:
Systems specification & Vessel layout design consultation.