Russell Hodge appointed to lead new Pirie & Smith division

Russell Hodge appointed to lead new Pirie & Smith division

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Pirie & Smith, marine consultants and surveyors to the marine and energy sectors, has appointed recognised industry expert Russell Hodge to head up its new Dynamic Positioning (DP) Engineering and Assurance Division.
Russell, who has more than 30 years’ experience on a global level, joins the company as Dynamic Positioning Technical Authority. He is a leading expert in the fields of DP, failure mode & effect analysis, DP trials & audits, accident investigation and the design of shipboard power and control systems.
The new division represents a growth area for Pirie & Smith, one of Scotland’s oldest firms of marine surveyors. Two additional team members have already been brought on board with that number expected to double by the end of the year.
Russell began his career as a shipboard Electrical Technical Officer working on first generation DP drillships, construction and diving vessels. This was followed by 20 years’ onshore experience in the USA, Far East, Europe and South America providing DP services to O&G clients, rig and ship owners, underwriters and original marine equipment manufacturers. He has also written the syllabus and delivered DP maintenance courses and regularly presents papers on DP at industry conferences.
Charles Clark, MD of Pirie & Smith, said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of one of the industry’s leading practitioners in DP and look forward to developing this new service line alongside our traditional marine survey and consultancy services.
“Russell will head a team of DP experts which will enable us to provide a fully independent service to clients. We have already recruited Zane Berry and Sean Fuller who both have significant experience in DP assurance and FMEA development and plan to appoint two more DP engineers by the end of the year.”
Russell said: “The contracts already secured confirm that there is an industry need for a cost effective, safe and vigilant approach to DP assurance. I look forward to working with new clients and to adapting existing and new technologies to support continuous testing and verification methodologies which will assist our clients reduce the cost burdens of traditional techniques while also maintaining, and in many cases improving, assurance standards.”
Based in Aberdeen, Pirie & Smith has been in operation since 1904. It services local and international clients in the offshore, marine, fishing, renewables and insurance industries.

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