Steven Salt

Steve joined ABL Group in 2013 and specialises in shipyard construction disputes and technical investigation.

Since joining in 2013, Steve has been involved in in marine engineering consultancy to legal firms, P&I clubs, Shipbuilders, H&M insurers and shipowners. He has investigated and provided advice in technical and shipbuilding disputes, and appeared in London Arbitrations as an expert witness.

Steve has carried out investigations on behalf of insurers and shipowners on many vessel types including bulk carriers, tankers (oil, gas and chemical), refrigerated cargo vessels, tugs, offshore support ships and semi-submersible drill rigs.

Prior to his time at ABL Group, Steve gained his wealth of knowledge and experience in marine engineering and ship operation with 24 years sailing on vessels as a certificated Marine Engineer, followed by 17 years ashore in the shipping industry in various roles. He started as an engineer cadet in 1979 and went on to spend 10 years as Chief Engineer on sophisticated gas and chemical tankers. He also spent considerable time engaged on new-build projects supervising the construction and delivery of chemical and LPG carrier vessels in Far East and European shipyards.

Steve moved to shore based employment in 1999 and worked within Ship-owning and Shipmanagement companies in UK and Cyprus as a technical superintendent and operations manager responsible for tankers, bulk carriers, Ro-Ro and offshore FSU facilities. He went on to a position as Senior Technical Superintendent for a major ship management company spending four years in shipyards in Europe, Singapore, China and Vietnam. During this time Steve managed over 20 dry-docking refits and other engineering projects before being promoted to Fleet Manager for a mixed fleet of Aframax, Products and Chemical tankers.

Steve’s initial involvement with marine consultancy came about in 2010 when he returned to the UK and started a project management company offering marine engineering consultancy services to the marine industry both in UK and Cyprus. In 2011 he was engaged as expert witness in a new-building dispute on behalf of shipyards in China and presented evidence at London Arbitration.

In 2012 Steve successfully studied for a Diploma in Marine Investigation and later in 2014, gained a Certificate in Maritime Disputes and Arbitration, augmenting the skills he can offer in marine engineering, operational and technical marine practices as well as new build/shipyard investigations and contractual issues. His practical experience covers a wide range of marine machinery and equipment including 2 stroke/4 stroke diesel engines for main and auxiliary power, boilers and inert gas systems, cargo pumping systems, cargo refrigeration plant, fuel treatment plant and most other types of marine auxiliary machinery.

Steve is a Chartered Marine Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST), a Chartered Engineer of the European Engineering Council, a Member of the Society of Consulting Marine Engineers and Ship Surveyors and has recently been admitted as an associate member of the Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators. He sits on the IMarEST panel of the special interest group for Alternative Fuels in Shipping.