Academic Credentials
  • B.Eng., Marine Technology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1993
Professional Affiliations
  • Member of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology

Mr. Tanner is a Marine Engineer who sailed as Chief Engineer with a Class One (Motor) Certificate of Competency. Since coming ashore, he worked as a superintendent before becoming a surveyor and consultant. 

Mr. Tanner has given oral evidence in arbitration in London and the USA as well as High Court and Criminal Court in London, and the Maritime Court in Lisbon. He has also been involved in mediations.

Mr. Tanner has carried out surveys of most vessel types, and has firsthand operational experience of container ships, dredgers, high speed ferries, reefer ships and seismic survey vessels.  He is familiar with all common marine machinery types found on ships; as well as main and auxiliary engines, this includes boilers, rudders, steering gear, cranes, deck machinery and mooring equipment.

He has carried out damage surveys and investigations relating to machinery failure, involving, amongst others, main and auxiliary engine breakdowns (including cases related to poor fuel quality), steering gear failures, crane, mooring winch and deck machinery failures as well as fires, groundings, flooding and collisions.  He has also carried out bareboat re-delivery surveys, contentious condition surveys and been involved in new build disputes.  As well as law firms and P&I Clubs, Mr. Tanner regularly works for marine underwriters, brokers, ship owners and operators, charterers and shipyards.

Prior to joining Exponent, Mr. Tanner spent 10 years working as consultant / surveyor for two other marine consultancies, being a partner at one for the previous 3 years.  He was a technical superintendent for 6 years, working first with reefer ships and then seismic survey vessels.  At this time, he was responsible for day-to-day operations of the ships, as well as dry docks and repair periods.  He also spent 6 months acting as the site manager / owners' representative for the conversion of a container ship to a seismic survey vessel.  Mr. Tanner was at sea for 9 years serving on container ships, dredgers and high speed ferries up to and including the rank of Chief Engineer.  Prior to this, he spent a year working in a shipyard.