Location: L Block Lecture Theatre, South Shields Marine School, Grosvenor Road entrance, South Tyneside College. NE33 3EN
Speaker: Simon Graves, Principal Inspector, Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Refreshments available from 17:30 at Costa, L Block
Simon joined the MAIB as an inspector in 2021, transferring from an assistant director role at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) where he was responsible for technical services (operations). Simon holds an honours degree in engineering from Newcastle University, which he studied for after qualifying as a chief engineer.
After a long career at sea serving on a wide variety of ships, ultimately as chief engineer on cruise ships, Simon joined the MCA as a surveyor. He moved with his family to New Zealand for a position in ship management before joining Maritime New Zealand, dealing with the operational port and flag state aspects of the organisation. Simon returned to the UK, and the MCA, in 2010, where he progressed to a principal surveyor role before promotion to assistant director.
With the arrival of COVID-19 Simon was faced with managing risk while developing and implementing a regulatory framework to keep UK ships trading under the most trying circumstances. He was also part of the multiagency team that developed the roadmap for returning the cruise industry to service after the dark days of the pandemic
