Hodge to Lead Pirie & Smith’s DP Division

Pirie & Smith, marine consultants and surveyors to the marine and energy sectors, has appointed Russell Hodge to head up its new Dynamic Positioning (DP) Engineering and Assurance Division.

 

Hodge, who has more than 30 years’ experience on a global level, joins the company as Dynamic Positioning Technical Authority. He is an expert in the fields of DP, failure mode and effect analysis, DP trials and audits, accident investigation and the design of shipboard power and control systems.

 

The new division represents a growth area for Aberdeen based 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.

 

Hodge 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 U.S., Far East, Europe and South America providing DP services to oil and gas 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, “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.”