Brookes Bell Expands Marine Casualty Capability

Brookes Bell has strengthened its marine casualty capability with the addition of two listed special casualty representatives (SCRs) boosting the total number of SCRs within the company to five.

SCRs are highly specialist salvage and wreck removal consultants and, as such, number only around 50 globally. They are appointed by the Lloyd’s of London’s SCOPIC Committee for their exceptional level of expertise in the field of salvage and wreck removal.

Joining the Brookes Bell team are William Leschaeve and Michael Riddell.

Riddell is a senior master mariner, based in Brookes Bell’s Singapore office. Following an initial career at sea with Safmarine, he later served on ocean-going salvage tugs responsible for ocean towage and emergency response. Ashore, Riddell has extensive experience in emergency response, wreck removal, ship stability, condition surveys and other related work.

Leschaeve operates from the Brookes Bell London office and is a senior naval architect. He has significant experience working for a classification society as well as a number of notable marine consultancies. Leschaeve specializes in marine casualty investigations including groundings, collisions, capsizes, cargo and total losses.

The SCR role was created in 1999 as part of the revisions to the Lloyd’s Open Form (LOF) and the implementation of the SCOPIC (Special Compensation P and I Club) clause. In essence, SCOPIC ensures the salvor receives special compensation (including their expenses and a fair rate for tugs and equipment used in the salvage operation) in circumstances where the salvage fund is insufficient to allow them to recover adequate compensation. The SCR oversees this work on behalf of all parties and their insurers.