ABOUT
Our aim is to be the consultant of choice for customers who demand honest, impartial advice within our areas of
expertise. We will never accept work which believe we are not qualified to undertake. We will minimise our
carbon emissions, and our profits will be used to support charitable causes.
expertise. We will never accept work which believe we are not qualified to undertake. We will minimise our
carbon emissions, and our profits will be used to support charitable causes.
Alan Loynd
Branscombe Marine Consultants Ltd. was founded in 2007 by Captain Alan Loynd, whose qualifications and experience are described below.
Qualifications and Memberships
- Master Mariner (Foreign Going) 1980.
- BA (Honours) Open University 1996.
- Fellow of The Nautical Institute.
- Fellow and founding Vice President of The International Tugmasters
- Association. Chairman 2012-2015.
- Freeman of The Honourable Company of Master Mariners.
- Member of The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Sea Service
Joined Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1969 as Deck Cadet and served as Cadet and Third Officer on stores replenishment vessels, ammunition ships, replenishment tankers and landing ships.
Joined the Swire Group in 1975 as Second Officer and served in ranks up to Master in The China Navigation Co., Swire Pacific Offshore and Hongkong Salvage & Towage. Gained experience in passenger vessels, general cargo, container and combination carriers, straight supply vessels, anchor handlers, wellhead stimulation vessels, seagoing tugs and salvage tugs.
Joined the Swire Group in 1975 as Second Officer and served in ranks up to Master in The China Navigation Co., Swire Pacific Offshore and Hongkong Salvage & Towage. Gained experience in passenger vessels, general cargo, container and combination carriers, straight supply vessels, anchor handlers, wellhead stimulation vessels, seagoing tugs and salvage tugs.
Shore Postings
Captain Superintendent, Tuvalu Maritime School (1983 to 1985). Seconded to the Australian government to re-establish the maritime school in this remote Pacific nation, source development funds, train seafarers and find them employment on international vessels. Also advised the Government of Tuvalu on shipping matters, conducted marine enquiries and helped organise the visit of HM The Queen, and a South Pacific Forum heads of government meeting.
Assistant Manager, Operations in The China Navigation Company (1985 to 1986). Responsible for the day-to-day operations of 10 deep sea vessels trading in the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.
Terminals Manager, Hongkong United Dockyards (1986 to 1987). Established a container yard on newly-reclaimed land at HUD.
Assistant Manager, Operations in The China Navigation Company (1985 to 1986). Responsible for the day-to-day operations of 10 deep sea vessels trading in the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.
Terminals Manager, Hongkong United Dockyards (1986 to 1987). Established a container yard on newly-reclaimed land at HUD.
Hongkong Salvage & Towage
Served as Marine Superintendent and Master of seagoing tugs before being promoted to Fleet Manager. Responsible for fleet operations, safety, and special projects. Salvage Master during salvage operations and Master for ocean towing. In control of budgets for operations and special projects. Established the container division and won contracts to build and operate 6 unique container vessels for the Hong Kong government. Developed overseas towage contracts in Australia, Indonesia, Mexico and the Middle East as part of the company's expansion plan. Responsible for investigating all damage and casualties to company vessels, and complaints of damage to client vessels. In charge of producing salvage reports, and seeing them through to arbitration. Involved in the design and construction of more than 30 vessels for HKST and clients. Many of these vessels were selected as ‘significant ships‘ in the years they were built.
Promoted to General Manager, Marine and Senior Salvage Master in 1997.
Appointed Executive Director of Australian Maritime Services in 2003, and transferred to Melbourne to run a newly-acquired subsidiary operating harbour tugs in three major Australian ports. Returned to Hong Kong in 2004 once the company was established.
Promoted to General Manager, Marine and Senior Salvage Master in 1997.
Appointed Executive Director of Australian Maritime Services in 2003, and transferred to Melbourne to run a newly-acquired subsidiary operating harbour tugs in three major Australian ports. Returned to Hong Kong in 2004 once the company was established.
Public Service
Committee member of the Hong Kong branch of The Nautical Institute since 1988. Chairman 2001 - 2003.
Member of the Port Operations Committee Working Group on the Regulation of Maritime Traffic in HK Waters 1992 to 1996.
Appointed by the Governor to be a member of the Pilotage Advisory Committee and PAC Working Group in 1995, and re-appointed by the Chief Executive of HKSAR after 1997. Served as a pilot examiner and sat on a number of pilotage enquiries and Boards of Discipline looking into incidents involving pilots. Member of the working group which helped establish the system of continuous professional development for Hong Kong pilots.
Assessor on various Marine Courts of Enquiry and Boards of Investigation in Hong Kong.
Member of the Steering Committee on Oil Spill Response from 1999 to 2007.
Appointed as an Ambassador for the MARS and CHIRP accident and incident reporting schemes in 2014.
Member of the Port Operations Committee Working Group on the Regulation of Maritime Traffic in HK Waters 1992 to 1996.
Appointed by the Governor to be a member of the Pilotage Advisory Committee and PAC Working Group in 1995, and re-appointed by the Chief Executive of HKSAR after 1997. Served as a pilot examiner and sat on a number of pilotage enquiries and Boards of Discipline looking into incidents involving pilots. Member of the working group which helped establish the system of continuous professional development for Hong Kong pilots.
Assessor on various Marine Courts of Enquiry and Boards of Investigation in Hong Kong.
Member of the Steering Committee on Oil Spill Response from 1999 to 2007.
Appointed as an Ambassador for the MARS and CHIRP accident and incident reporting schemes in 2014.
Branscombe Marine Consultants
Captain Loynd took early retirement from the Swire Group in April 2007 to form Branscombe Marine Consultants Ltd.
Publications
Published works include:
Ip K.W. and Loynd A.D. Hong Kong Tugmasters’ Perceptions of their Tugs’ Manoeuvrability and the Implications for Training (1998). Proceedings of the 15th International Tug and Salvage Convention, Cape Town 1998. ABR Publications.
Loynd A.D. and Lee H.L. Towards a Carbon-Neutral Tug Company (2008). Proceedings of the 20th International Tug and Salvage Convention, Singapore 2008. ABR Publications.
Captain Loynd has also lectured on salvage, towage and heavy lift operations to a marine surveying course at Hong Kong City University, and is a regular contributor to maritime periodicals. He runs a popular two-day course on investigating marine accidents for UNI-Strategic of Singapore.
Ip K.W. and Loynd A.D. Hong Kong Tugmasters’ Perceptions of their Tugs’ Manoeuvrability and the Implications for Training (1998). Proceedings of the 15th International Tug and Salvage Convention, Cape Town 1998. ABR Publications.
Loynd A.D. and Lee H.L. Towards a Carbon-Neutral Tug Company (2008). Proceedings of the 20th International Tug and Salvage Convention, Singapore 2008. ABR Publications.
Captain Loynd has also lectured on salvage, towage and heavy lift operations to a marine surveying course at Hong Kong City University, and is a regular contributor to maritime periodicals. He runs a popular two-day course on investigating marine accidents for UNI-Strategic of Singapore.