About us

Master Mariner – Underway Ship-to-Ship Mooring Master / Pilot

Owner - DNA Marine USA LLC offering expert witness services and consultancy to the Maritime Industry

André is currently employed as a Mooring Master in the lightering trade, undertaking underway ship-to-ship transfers of oil, offshore in the USA and South America, having decided to return to sea in the summer of 2012 after over eight years ashore, working as a Marine Consultant in Houston, Texas.

He emigrated from the UK to the USA in January 2004, leaving the London Pilotage Service where he was a first class marine Pilot.  Before becoming a Pilot, André was Master of high-speed ferries, initially hydrofoils, then mono- and multi-hull ro-ro/passenger vessels.

André’s seagoing career formally (he left school with almost 6 months sea time!) began with Cunard Shipping Services Ltd. where he served as a deck officer in various ranks, gaining experience of a wide variety of vessels.

In 2009 he achieved a Pass with Distinction, MA Work Based Learning Studies (Marine Accident Investigation), from Middlesex University, London and he was elected a Fellow of the Nautical Institute in the same year.  Following on from his research degree, André wrote the book Mentoring at Sea – The 10 minute challenge which was published by the Nautical Institute in December 2012 and in October 2013 he was awarded the British Merchant Navy Medal for services to the maritime industry and The Nautical Institute.

In 2013 on request of some former clients, Andre founded DNA Marine USA LLC to offer his services as expert witness and consultant based on his over 40 year’s experience in the maritime industry.

In July 2022 he was elected President of The Nautical Institute.

Trevor is a highly-respected Master Mariner with over 45 years’ sea-going and maritime industry experience, starting with BP Tanker Co. Ltd. His experience includes over 15 years in command of cruise ships and ro-ro passenger ferries and extensive experience in marine consultancy.

Trevor is Chairman of the Institute’s Technical Committee and was the Technical Editor for the third edition of the NI’s publication The Nautical Institute on Command.

On Trafalgar Day 2015, Trevor was awarded the UK Merchant Navy Medal for services to safety on high-speed catamaran ferries and to The Nautical Institute.

Captain Mahmoodi is a leading maritime professional in Pakistan with over 40 years of international experience in the maritime sector. He is a Master Mariner and gained a Masters in Marine Management in 1986 from the USA.

He established The Nautical Institute’s Branch in Pakistan 1989 and is now Chairman.

He has been Managing Director and Chief Executive of “M” International Services (Pvt) Ltd from its beginnings in 1986 and is actively involved in shipping, crewing, trading and maritime activities in Pakistan and internationally.

In 1998 he set up the private sector Maritime Training Institute, Karachi, Pakistan which has become a leading training provider winning several national and international awards.

His experience extends to the offshore and port development sectors including dredging and underwater cabling.

He is a law graduate (LLB Hons) Second Class Honors from the New Buckinghamshire University, United Kingdom and a postgraduate (MBA) from the University of Colombo. He has started his higher education from the University of Moratuwa and further Maritime higher education was completed at the CINEC Maritime Campus. He also a Member of the  Company of the Master Mariners of Sri Lanka and the Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistic and Transport( CMILT). He also a Goodwill Maritime Ambassador appointed by the IMO.

He is a Fellow and was a council member of The Nautical Institute, and former Secretary of the Sri Lanka Branch from 2014 to 2020.

Peter has had command and extensive experience piloting ships in most ports of Australia and many overseas ports, including those in the Red Sea. He offers extensive maritime operations experience comprising a mix of operational and strategic expertise gained through; merchant maritime service, 23 years’ service in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), marine services management, generalist port pilot, Great Barrier Reef (Check) Pilot, and Master of cruise ships. Highlights of his career included military and commercial command and undertaking a sabbatical in Malaysia, where he studied regional politics and International Relations to earn his Master’s Degree in Defence Studies - International Relations (UNSW).

Peter is an internationally renowned lecturer-at-sea, delivering highly reported lecture packages to cruise ship passengers. His recreational sailing interests include the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (and training), the Sydney to Hobart yacht race as a participant, and Director at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania where he sails regularly and currently manages volunteers manning the Hobart Race Liaison Centre for the annual Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Peter is presently at UTAS / AMC conducting PhD research investigating the perception of ‘sea blindness’ in Australia’s strategic maritime LNG trade dynamic. He is an AIN VP, VP of the Nautical Institute, and a member of the Company of Master Mariners.

Captain Pelecanos holds executive positions in a number of organisations with a stake in a diverse range of maritime-related businesses.

He has a special interest in Safety Management, Human Factors, and Pilot Training and has been the author of over 50 papers on these subjects.

Kaushik is one of the Founding Members of the Nautical Institute (NI) ‘Armillary Club’ and 1 of the first 3 Assessors of NI for the Chartered Master Mariner (CMMar) and continuing. He is the first Asian origin Chartered Master Mariner and first in SE/ FE Asia & China. He brought the World’s first ‘Green Award’ to the LNG ship and the Operator. He is an expert in LNG safety, operations, joint venture, start-ups and change management.

Kaushik is the ‘Council Member’ of IMarEST & HKIMT; and Technical Committee member of ABS, BV and LR. He is the IMarEST PRI Assessor for Chartered Marine Technologists and Chartered Marine Engineers. He is the Fellow of 4 esteemed institutions. Kaushik has done his Master in International Trade Laws (LLM) from UK, after gaining professional competency from the UK. He is Harvard qualified Negotiator and Expert Witness. Kaushik was involved in the first LNG commercial STS operations of Japan, Indonesia, and Argentina. He was involved in 3 LNG terminal commissioning activities. He was Consultant to SIGTTO and KVH Videotel production which achieved ‘Insight Award’.

Peter enjoyed a first career in the British Royal Navy, that included over 20 years at sea and 5 years in command of submarines.  He also gained a civilian BSc (Hons) in Systems and Management.  He joined the International Chamber of Shipping in 2001 and for several years led ICS representation on maritime safety, security and environmental issues at the IMO and elsewhere.   He served as Secretary General of ICS from 2010 until 2018 when he retired.  The membership of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) comprises the key national shipowners’ associations from around the world and represents more than 80% of the world’s merchant tonnage. 

Peter is now working as an independent maritime consultant for a number of clients predominantly on the environmental performance of shipping, security and migrant protection.

Peter is a Fellow of the Nautical Institute and chairs the NI Executive Board.  He is a Younger Brother of Trinity House and Honorary Fellow of the World Maritime University.

Duncan completed a 40-year career with the Swire Group in 2019, having first commenced a seagoing career with the Bank Line.

He has been shore based for over 30 years in various senior management positions around the World including Japan, West Africa, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Australia and Singapore. Businesses managed include stevedoring, coastal shipping, ocean fleet, crew management and offshore oil & gas.

He has been involved with a number of industry related organisations including the working group for Maritime Labour Standards at the ILO, representative at APEC Ministerial, various sub committees of the Hong Kong Ship Owners Association and Singapore Shipping Association. Also appointed to the High Court in Hong Kong as Nautical Assessor.

Duncan joined the Nautical Institute in the 1970’s and has been an active member throughout. Past positions include membership of the Fellowship Committee, Chairman of the Singapore and Hong Kong branches, Trustee and member of the Executive Board.

Most recently he has been reappointed to the Executive Board as Honorary Treasurer where he also sits on the Finance & Audit Committee. Duncan has now been appointed to the Chair of the newly established Nautical Institute Foundation.

John joined The Nautical Institute from the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Tasmania where he was a Professor in the National Centre for Ports and Shipping. During his seven years at AMC he had a two years leave of absence to set up the Angolan Maritime Training Centre. Before joining AMC he spent two years working in the Vanuatu Maritime College.

John’s varied career prior to these appointments included four years in senior positions with Flagship Training in the UK, 10 years with Warsash Maritime Centre as a senior and principal lecturer in simulation and operations, and two years as a marine pilot in Walvis Bay. He served at sea from 1975 for 16 years, gaining command in 1987.

David Patraiko is the Director of Projects for The Nautical Institute, and coordinates its Technical and Professional Development Committees. He is responsible for developing and managing major Institute projects and he represents the professional interests of members in general shipping, training and technical forums.

Much of this work is aimed at assisting members of the Institute with continuous professional development. He has led research and produced many papers and articles on training, electronic navigation, the associated ‘Human Element’ effects created by technology, and Marine Spatial Planning. He is currently involved with the international debate on e-Navigation and is Chairman of the IALA e-navigation working group for Strategy and Operations, Chaired the Industry ECDIS Training Group, and is Chairman of the Green Awards Board of Experts.

After a brief period as an independent consultant and surveyor, in 1997 he accepted the position of Project Manager for The Nautical Institute, and became Director of Projects in 2003. A graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (US), he sailed on a variety of international vessels in his twelve years in the Merchant Navy (1985 – 1997). He holds an Unlimited Master Mariners licence, and was awarded an MBA degree from Henley Management College (UK).