C. Edward Scott Marine & Marina Operations Expert

A lifetime of marine and marina/boatyard operations experience ranging from small single-handed sailboats to large ocean-going towing vessels and Articulated Tug and Barge (ATB) provides extensive and specialized expertise within both commercial and recreational marine operations. Marine expertise is further enhanced by skills and experience in sailmaking and marina/boatyard operations. The comprehensive combination of professional and recreational marine experience provides a unique and robust perspective where recreational boating expertise enhances commercial operations knowledge, and vice versa.

A United States Coast Guard licensed professional mariner in vessel operations including, but not limited to marine systems, navigation, and regulatory compliance across the marine industry. Within professional marine career, maintained exemplary safety record spanning over two decades of operations while navigating in high-risk environments including shallow draft channels, long distance ocean voyages, and high-density waterways. Skills include, but are not limited to, collision/allision avoidance, vessel maneuvering, crew management and safety, workplace safety, marina/boatyard operations, vessel inspections, cargo operations management.

Collision Avoidance, Maneuvering, and Navigation Safety

• Navigated vessels in compliance with COLREGS, Rules of the Road, industry standards and regulations through 20+ years of commercial operations
• Navigated vessels both as part of a bridge team coordinating between Captain, Mates, Pilots and other relevant team members, and as the sole watchstander in the wheelhouse, making navigation decisions using bridge resource management principles while maneuvering and operating vessels in varying traffic, wind, sea, tide, current, and visibility conditions.
• Planned and executed voyage plans for commercial towing operations, including but not limited to operations involving, navigating shallow draft channels, high traffic density waterways, and offshore routes
• Conducted root cause analysis reviews of incidents aboard vessels and investigated company and industry wide incidents and accidents. Reviewed human factors and error chains that led to casualties to improve safety practices and procedures.

Crew and Vessel Management, Inspections and Safety

• Managed crews on commercial towing vessels and maintained regulatory compliance.
• Conducted extensive safety drills, using real world scenarios when possible, including but not limited to fire, abandon ship, launching of life raft, man overboard, collision/allision, loss of tow, loss of steering, loss of power, loss of propulsion, medical emergencies, and Captain/Mate incapacitation.
• Supervised the scope and implementation of all training aboard the vessel including Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), working aloft, Lock Out/Tag Out, hoist and crane operations, ladder safety, confined space entry, engine room safety, vessel-to-vessel, and vessel-to-dock transfers, securing vessel for sea, and general maintenance procedures.
• Oversaw all maintenance, repairs, and supplies/stores to ensure seaworthiness of the vessel including ensuring all equipment was operational, sufficiently supplied with fuel, water, lube oils, spare parts, and food stores per industry standards.
• Maintained all vessel logs and conducted inspections to ensure compliance with and readiness for all inspections regarding Safety Management System (SMS), Towing Vessel Safety Management System (TSMS), US Coast Guard CFR requirements, American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Ship Inspection Report Program (SIRE), International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and internal company audits.
• Ensured regulatory compliance with State and Federal reporting requirements for Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), Customs and Immigration, Ballast Water Reporting and State Environmental agencies.
• Supervised petroleum barge loading and discharge operations and monitored compliance with all tests and procedures and verified loading/discharge sequence to ensure vessel stability and seaworthiness.
• Participated in safety incident reviews and implemented lessons learned from company and industry accidents to improve operational procedures to reduce risk factors.

Towing and Mooring Equipment and Operations

• Developed expertise in marline spike seamanship, through decades of hands-on practice with knots, splicing and material selection.
• Designed synthetic fiber line towing gear, analyzed breaking strength and safe working load limits based on tug and barge specifications and anticipated environmental loads in the operating area.
• Performed regular inspections of lines and related equipment to identify wear patterns, degradation from chafing, cyclic fatigue, environmental degradation (UV Exposure and weather), and general deterioration.
• Conducted crew training, supervision and management, including workplace safety, communication protocols, tow wire and shackle safety, mooring line hazards, snapback zone identification, line handling best practices, making and breaking tow procedures, knots and splicing techniques, chafing gear applications, proper line care and storage, recognizing failure indicators and other line/wire hazards (bights/loops, pinch points, fishhooks).
• Determined appropriate mooring arrangements considering anticipated environmental conditions, vessel traffic and facility construction (fendering systems, bollard/cleat capacity and placement), determining required number of lines, line materials, and types of leads (bow, spring, breast) to ensure vessel and crew safety.
• Conducted regular inspections and oversaw maintenance of wire towing gear including tow wire(s), shackles, tow winch brake(s), level wind, slip alarm, and associated equipment for signs of fatigue failure or defects.
• Conducted line and tow wire incident reviews implementing corrective actions and lessons learned from equipment failures to improve operational safety.

Commercial Passenger Vessel Operations

• Planned and executed mooring, boarding and disembarkation arrangements relevant to passenger vessels ensuring premises safety. Including, but not limited to, private docks and alongside large commercial and other vessels.
• Maintained and inspected required safety equipment per USCG regulations and industry standards.
• Performed daily engine, generator, HVAC, and all other systems inspections documenting and correcting any deficiencies.
• Trained and supervised crew members with varying experience levels in vessel operations and safety protocols.
• Operated in wind, tide, current and visibility situations ensuring passenger and crew safety.

Recreational Boating and Marina/Boatyard Operations

• Captained small power boats and single and double-handed sailboats, operating in various weather conditions while managing operational risks, visibility limitations, and detection challenges inherent to small vessel operations.
• Captained and crewed racing and cruising sailboats, operating in every position aboard and gaining expertise in sail controls, rigging systems, and equipment failure modes. Sailed in wide range of weather conditions, including severe winds understanding vessel stability and equipment limits.
• Captained and crewed single and twin-engine power boats from center-console outboards to large displacement-hull. Understand safe speed requirements, and maneuvering limitations in various weather, harbor and traffic conditions and the effects of the wake the vessel generates and its potential impact.
• Maintained every class of vessel previously listed during normal operations and while working in sailmaking and marina/boatyard industries.
  • Hauling and launching procedures using travel lifts with proper load distribution and blocking techniques.
  • Building, installing, and repairing sails understanding material properties and failure points.
  • Installing, tuning, and repairing masts, rigging and sail control systems including working load calculations.
  • Installing, maintaining, and repairing vessel systems including engines, generators, fuel systems, plumbing, electrical, lighting, running gear (shafts, propellers, rudders), through-hull fittings, bilge pumps, drains/scuppers, galvanic protection (zincs), windows, hatches (doors), woodwork, hull/deck fiberglass.
• Marina/boatyard infrastructure maintenance including dock construction, fendering, mooring arrangements, utilities, and safety systems (lighting, ramps, handrails).

Marine Electronics

• Install, operate, and troubleshoot electronics and navigational equipment including, but not limited to GPS, Chart Plotters, Radar, Depth Sounder, Magnetic and Gyroscopic Compasses, Auto Pilot Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) and Automatic Identification System (AIS).
• Operate and maintain all Global Marine Distress Safety Systems (GMDSS), safety and emergency communications equipment including marine VHF radios, Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), Search and Rescue Transponder (SART), Single Sideband Radio (SSB), Navigational Telex (NAVTEX), and satellite communications ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Train crew members on proper equipment use in normal and emergency scenarios, emphasizing equipment limitations.

Professional Experience

Provide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of personal injury and/or property damage litigation matters in the marine domain within the commercial and/or recreational boating industries.

Captain of a wide range of towing vessels in Centerline Logistics Atlantic fleet, moving inland and ocean-going petroleum barges. This included twin and triple engines, near coastal and ocean tow wire towing vessels. Also commanded the more modern towing vessels known as Articulated Tug and Barges (ATBs) and Dual Mode ATBs, on domestic and international routes. Within this role:

• Development of safety and operational procedures for new tug and barge combination.
• Oversaw bringing towing vessel in compliance with Towing Vessel Safety Management System (TSMS).

Captain  2013-2023

Captain on every class of tug in Vane Line Bunkering’s extensive fleet, including medium to large tow wire tugs and ATBs that operated on inland, near costal and ocean routes moving petroleum barges. Operations included inter-harbor terminal moves, bunkering (fueling commercial vessels), and port-to-port terminal moves, both domestically and internationally. Throughout this tenure, complex tug/barge operations conducted in challenging waterways on domestic and international routes. Additionally, spearheaded company expansion into new West Coast operations including the Pacific Northwest, LA/Long Beach, and San Francisco Bay area. Within this role, also:

• Managed long-haul petroleum barge operations across U.S. and Caribbean waters.
• Oversaw vessel maintenance, crew scheduling and safety protocols.
• Created procedures for tug and barge to comply with new local reporting requirements
• Supported training and development of junior crew and mates.

Mate  2007-2013
Second-in-command aboard towing vessels ranging from small inland tugs to large ocean-going towing vessels and ATBs, moving a wide range of barges. These vessels operated on domestic and international routes. The mate is expected to be able to perform all the same navigation and maneuvering duties as the captain of the vessel. There are numerous day-to-day tasks that are delegated to the mate aboard a towing vessel, these include safety inspections, vessel deck maintenance and line (rope) maintenance supervision. Within this role, also:

• Collaborated with the captain to develop a vessel specific GMDSS log and inspection procedures, as it was the first tug in the class equipped with GMDSS and working internationally.
• Responsible for all customs and immigration paperwork while working internationally.
• Design and constructed specialized heavy towing gear used while operating in the Caribbean islands.

A.B. (Able Bodied) Deckhand  2004-2007
Worked as AB Deckhand on medium to large tugs. This included working on Vane’s first in its class, new tug. This presented numerous challenges and learning opportunities as it was, at the time, the largest tug in the company’s fleet. Responsibilities as AB Deckhand included, but not limited to:

• Large line splicing and maintenance.
• Hands-on training for new deckhands.

Served as captain aboard every vessel in Watermarks fleet. This ranged from small water taxis to large charter yachts. As captain you are also in charge of engineering tasks including daily engine checks, fueling of the vessel, checks of sanitary systems and others. This is all being done, depending on the size of the vessel, either as the only crew member or with a crew of personnel holding no USCG credentials. Passenger and crew safety was always paramount on every voyage. This is achieved with proper training of the crew in how to be diligent in their monitoring of the passengers and potential hazard locations on board. Within this role:

• Vessel maneuvering in congested and heavily trafficked areas.
• Planned, evaluated, and executed docking arrangements for non-standard docking facilities including private piers and alongside other vessels.
• Navigated complex vessel maneuvering challenges during extreme weather events, ensuring passenger and crew safety through vessel maneuvering skills and real-time operational adjustments.

Captain on Echo Hill’s two historic wooden Chesapeake Bay work boats. Both vessels operated as commercial fishing vessels until acquired by the school. There were many skills needed that were carried over from my years on recreational and commercial vessel and then some new ones that had to be learned quickly, including handling fishing gear (Crab Traps and Bottom Trawl Nets), wooden boat maintenance, student safety and education.

Introduction to the sailmaking world began at a very young age in the family-owned sail loft. Over years of observation and being a helper learning the trade naturally turned into a job and further expansion of that knowledge and skills. Became increasingly involved in every aspect, from repair to design and manufacturing of sails and canvas products, only enhanced the understanding and skills when it came to sailing and boating in general.

• New sail construction and sail repair.
• Sail and Canvas hardware installation.
• Sail installation and removal.
• Sailboat mast, rigging and sail control hardware installation and maintenance.

Rounding out the maritime knowledge that has been acquired of a lifetime on boats is working at a marina/boatyard in every aspect of its operation. Hauling and launching boats from a travel lift, securing boats on land with block and jack stands, overall recreational boat maintenance, dock repair and construction, dock plumbing, electrical and lighting, and fuel dock operations are just some of the many skills and experience gained while working in a marina/boatyard.

• Securing boats in the water and on shore in preparation of severe weather and hurricanes.
• Power boats and sailboat hauling and launching.
• Boat maintenance.
• Dock maintenance and safety.
• Fuel dock operation and environmental regulation compliance.

Additional Marine & Marina Experience

• Began formal Sailing training at age of nine (9) and continued through college. Progressed from small single-handed sailboats to ocean racing sailboats. In that time became experienced and skilled with all crewing positions and functions onboard. This has built a deep understanding of the complexities of the sail and rigging systems on-board sailboats and their safe operations.
• Massachusetts Marine Academy Varsity Sailing Team (2000-2004), including 2001 Winner - Kennedy Cup National Offshore Championship and competed in the 2002 Student Yachting World Cup in Toulon, France.
• Captained and crewed on vessels from single engine boats to large coastal multi engine power boats on inland, coastal and ocean waters. This time and firsthand experience gave a thorough understanding and knowledge of the numerous systems onboard a power boat, including engine and generator maintenance/repair, installation of electronics, plumbing and electrical systems, other vessel systems (bilge pump, sanitary systems, etc.), and general vessel maintenance.
• Performed out of water maintenance on both power boats and sail boats. Including hull sanding and application of anti-fouling paint, through-hull instillation, inspection and replacement of sacrificial anodes, propeller and shaft inspections and installation, and many other tasks that can only be accomplished in a marina / boatyard.

Professional Credentials

Domestic - USCG
Master Of Self-Propelled Vessels of Less Than 1,600 Gross Register Tons (GRT) Upon Oceans
Master Of Towing Vessels Upon Oceans
Third Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of Unlimited Tonnage Upon Oceans
Radar Observer (Unlimited)
Able Seafarer (Unlimited)
Lifeboat Operator
Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC)
GMDSS (Global Marine Distress and Safety System) Radio Operator’s License
Marine Radio Operator Permit

International - Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers (STCW)
Master. Of Less Than 3,000 Gross Tons (GT)
Officer in charge of a navigational watch (OICNW)
Rating forming part of a navigational watch (RFPNW)
Vessel Security Officer (VSO)
Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties
Security Awareness
GMDSS Operator (Global Marine Distress and Safety System)
Able Seafarer - Deck
Advanced Firefighting
Basic Safety Training
Medical First-Aid Provider
Proficiency in survival craft and rescue boats other than fast rescue boats (PSC)

Certified Marine Electrical Advisor, American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC)
Certified XL Tribometrist, in accordance with the provisions of Excel Tribometers, LLC

Education

B.S., Marine Transportation, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

Continuing Education

• International Association of Marine Investigators 36th Annual Training Seminar, Tulsa, OK, 2026
• AC Dock Pedestal Testing – ABYC, 2025
• Electric Shock Drowning: The Invisible Killer – ABYC, 2025
• Electrical Safety in the Marina & Boatyard – ABYC, 2025
• Introduction to Boatyard Basics – ABYC, 2025
• Preparation for the Marine Fire Scene – CFI Training, 2025
• Marine Fire Investigation - IAMI, 2025
• Maryland Safe Boating Certificate, 2022
• Bridge Resource Management Refresher (with Simulation), 2019
• Leadership and Managerial Skills, 2015

Professional Memberships

• American Waterways Operators (AWO)
• American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC)
• International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI)
• Association of Marina Industries (AMI)
• Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (SEALI)

Working Groups & Committees

AWO – Falls Overboard Committee
AWO – Recreational Boater Safety Committee

v. 06/12/26