Northwest Maritime Consultants, LLC

Transcription

1 Robert T. Mester PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Northwest Maritime Consultants, LLC present; Managing Member. Northwest Maritime Consultants, LLC provides professional services in marine damage survey, accident investigation, marine salvage, ICS Incident Command coordination, private aids to navigation, undersea technology and general marine consulting. Mr. Mester is a highly experienced marine salvor with extensive knowledge and experience in vessel location and salvage and recovery operations. He is recognized as an expert in salvage operations and marine salvage law. He is responsible for the drafting of Washington State s current laws regarding marine and aircraft salvage. Mr. Mester is also recognized as an expert in the field of undersea technology and is highly skilled in operation and management of sonar, ROV and submersible operations. ICS Coordinator on the recovery of the vessel MV Justin which sank off Alki Beach. Worked with USCG and the salvage company to ensure proper communication, operations and cooperation with multiple Federal and State Agencies. ICS Coordinator on the deconstruction of the ex-liberty ship Davy Crockett on the Columbia River. The $22M project required working with the US Coast Guard and the salvage company to ensure proper communication, operations and cooperation with multiple Federal and State Agencies. Design and installation of Private Aids to Navigation for the Ports and Municipalities in the Pacific Northwest. Has conducted side scan sonar, imaging sonar and ROV inspections of dams, bridges and other municipal infrastructure, throughout the Pacific Northwest. Represented two major insurers for 12 vessels destroyed in the Harborview Marina Fire in Gig Harbor in Resulted in prompt service and settlements to vessel owners while significantly reducing costs to clients of the salvage and wreckage disposal. Consultation and investigation of sources of oil spills in Commencement Bay.

2 Underwater Admiralty Sciences present; Co-Founder. Underwater Admiralty Sciences, a non-profit organization developed to promote the exploration, identification, documentation and recovery of submerged cultural resources. UAS provides professional services, expertise and guidance to promote, preserve, present and protect the marine environment with special emphasis on submerged cultural resources and maritime heritage. Robert Mester is a co-founder of the organization and is currently the Director of Undersea Technologies and Operations. Mr. Mester oversees the employment of the proper technologies and field operations of the organization s projects with the other directors, Board of Advisors, staff, volunteers and necessary state and federal agencies. He has worked on the following projects: A-20 recovery operations in Labrador, Canada, The project included participation from the Canadian Air Force, Memorial University in St John s, NL, the North Atlantic Aviation Museum and the Provincial Government to Present. Obtained salvage rights and planned salvage of US Army Air Corps A-20. Planned and conducted sonar search for US Army Air Corps aircraft in Bavarian Lakes in Germany, Development of education programs with the Naval Undersea Museum Foundation and Bainbridge High School and a separate program with the Museum of Flight. Planning and development of the B-314 Pan Am Clipper Discovery project. Labrador B-17G Recovery project documentary. Recovery of a B-17G Flying Fortress from the remote wilderness of Labrador. Creation of the recovery plan and coordination of the expedition planning for the B-17G Project. Consultation with Washington State agencies concerning the adverse affects of construction on the historic remains of the original Tacoma Narrow Bridge Galloping Gertie. Planning, deployment and recovery of fisheries studies technology for the Squaxin Indian Tribe. Location and recovery of a Cessna 170 aircraft and human remains from southern Puget Sound. Frequently presents on the topics of aircraft recovery and submerged cultural resources.

3 Underwater Atmospheric Systems, Inc ; Founder Developed to provide state of the art undersea technological services to the marine industry through the use of side scan sonar, hardsuit single atmosphere diving systems and ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) technologies: Projects included: Hardsuit oil field inspection and repairs in the North Sea 1993 to Geological survey for the US Navy using side scan sonar at three different sites off Key West, Florida. Side scan sonar and sub bottom profile survey for the Government of Panama. Side scan sonar survey and location of a World War II Imperial Japanese Navy Submarine in the Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 17,067 FSW Side scan sonar survey, location and identification of World War II Allied and Axis combat aircraft near St. Petersburg, Russia. Location of Lord Horatio Nelson s favorite ship of the line, HMS Agamemnon, which contains the only known cannon to survive from the Battle of Trafalgar. Location, exploration and ongoing salvage of a 17th century armed freighter carrying a battalion of infantry to Uruguay in the early 1800 s. Spanish submerged cultural resources on the English Banks, Uruguay; graveyard to 1,000 ships. Located and identified for recovery more than 150 WWII era military aircraft worldwide Robert Mester was one of the founding members of Pro Sea, an international organization formed to address the efforts and concerns of professional salvors world wide, and their interactions with archaeologist and government agencies. Admiralty Law Present Mr. Mester is not and admiralty attorney, but has extensive expertise in admiralty law from and its application involving salvage and ownership of submerged cultural resources, shipwrecks and aircraft wrecks. He has been instrumental in the following: Drafted the current shipwreck and aircraft wreck laws for Washington State in Assisted in drafting the Federal Shipwreck Act of 1991 to include the rules and regulations. Placed the submerged remains of the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, Galloping Gertie on the City, County, State and National Register of Historic Places.

4 Consulted by attorneys regarding laws of admiralty and shipwreck legislation of Received an ACE, (Award for cable excellence), for a documentary produced about the bridge and its nomination to the historical register Has been active in federal actions involving submerged wrecks up to and including action before the US Supreme Court. In 1991 Mr. Mester negotiated and obtained the first foreign salvage contract with the Office of Prefectura and the Presidency, in the country of Uruguay Robert Mester negotiated other Admiralty/Salvage agreements in the countries of Russia, Canada, Venezuela, Panama and Newfoundland. In 1993, as a member of ProSea, (Professional Shipwreck Explorers Association) ProSea successfully addressed UNESCO s effort to stop all salvage worldwide Robert Mester helped revamp new rules and regulation with Washington State s Submerged Historical Shipwreck and Submerged Historical Aircraft laws Robert Mester and company has entered into a consulting role on the recovery of two WWII era Bird Cage Vought Corsair aircraft in a freshwater lake in Maine. The aircraft are Royal Navy aircraft with human remains. Maritime Ventures, Inc Founder MTV (Maritime Venture Inc.,) was formed to manage the location and recovery project on the S.S. Governor located off Point Wilson in 240 FSW Port Townsend, Washington. April 1 st 1921 The SS Governor and the SS West Hartland collided at 11:40 PM and the Governor sunk claiming 4 lives and a considerable amount of gold and personal possession in her pursers safe. Robert Mester performed the first arrest and in Rem action on a shipwreck for salvage in Washington State waters. Robert Successfully secured the vessel from the state s control and performed a salvage operation in 1987 using a saturation system owned by Can-Dive, Vancouver BC. Worldwide Divers ; Diver Performed commercial diving services that routinely involved placement of explosives for clearing shipping lanes and underwater construction of new port facilities, docks and other marine structures.

5 A majority of the work occurred in the South China Sea in and around Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. Part of the team that recovered human remains of the crew from the Imperial Japanese Navy Submarine I-169 in Truk Lagoon. Logged over 2000 hours underwater in various commercial applications. MILITARY SERVICE United States Marine Corps ; Force Recon - scout Rank E-4 Training Platoon Honor Man, Top Secret Clearance, Jump Qualified Explosives and demolition, Land mines Warfare and Booby Trap trained (Top Graduate), expert marksman, escape and evasion, POW trained, Hydrographic surveys, IBS school. Tours of Duty - Viet Nam, Okinawa Units Served 1 St Force Recon, 1 St Marine Division EDUCATION 1 st Marine Division, 3 rd Battalion 9 th Marines Fort Steilacoom Community College 1973 to 1974 Graduated AA degree University of Puget Sound 1974 Political Science and Pre-law Professional Association of Diving Instructors College 1974 Graduates as Open Water Instructor #8029 Klein Side Scan Sonar school 1992 Certified as a Side Scan sonar operator and technician CLE (Continuing Legal Education - University of Washington) 1993 Symposium on, Laws of Admiralty