I am a licensed USCG Master since 1963 and have held a USCG Engineering License > 4000 H.P. My experience goes all the way back as a boy of six starting in my family's business of party and commercial fishing boats (a family business which goes back to the 1920's in New York). As I grew older I worked in the engine repair facilities and boatyards the family owned. At 14 I was docking 140' boats. I have done hundreds of inspections, depositions and court cases since the mid-1980's including work on the BP Deep Horizon oil spill. I have testified as an expert witness in cases worldwide as well as the U.S. and Florida. I have done accident reconstruction on small craft, yachts, as well as commercial fishing and work boats and large ships including the newest 1000' long passenger ships. These include collisions, sinkings, fire, groundings, death cases including alcohol related. I have also done diminished value claims. My business has built over 150 vessels in Fiberglass, composite, wood, steel and aluminum under the USCG Hull Identification AMS and in earlier years, before Hull Identifications, the "Ocean Horse" label. I have attended most of the marine engine schools over the years and did some work for GM on the early upgrades of the 53 and 71 engines as a young engineer. I am a certified FLIR Infrared Thermographer as well as a certified Non-destructive Testing Audio gauger and have all the latest equipment including engine computers, bore-scopes, and ultrasound equipment in addition to the infrared thermal imager and audio-gauge. I attend various schools and seminars throughout the year on accident reconstruction, electrical, and vessel construction. I do work for the Polish Registrar of Shipping, Lloyd's of London, as well as several French and domestic insurance companies. I have testified in Courts in the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, The British Virgin Islands, and Mexico.
My services include all Marine litigation.
A&LMARITIME EXPERTS, LLC
Marine and Maritime experts.
Accident Inspections and Investigations
21636 Silver Bay Place
Land O Lakes, FL 34637
Office (727) 647-7112
captaleiner@gmail.com
C/V of CAPTAIN ARLEN LEINER-certified in the U.S. Federal Court System
(1) Numerous experiences as a certified expert witness in the Marine Field in the past 30+ years, including Diminished Valuation, Accident Reconstruction, Vessel collisions, Sinking’s, Fire Reconstruction, Injury and Death, Cruise ships Accidents, Jones Act investigations, and noncompliance, Boat Construction, Repair, and Quality Control, Marine Engines, and Installations, Testifying in the United States, Great Britain, BVIs, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, France, Poland, and Greece.
(2) Experience with Docks (loading and unloading), Boatyards, and Marinas and Marina Dockage, Boat Construction, Repair, and Quality Control, Boat and Ship Construction, as well as Management of New Construction and Repair.
(3) Experienced boat builder Ocean Horse Label (before HIN’s) 178FRP Commercial boats, 3 Steel, 3 Aluminum, 7 Wood, 8 sail 5 FRP and 3 Steel, and from 2007 on under the AMS HIN Experienced and licensed operator (Master since 1963).
(4) Experienced Marine Engineer License 4000 Horsepower or greater from 1970 to 1993 (not renewed due to lack of use).
(5) Appraiser for recreational, commercial charter, and fishing vessel safety (Certified to give the USCG inspections of commercial fishing vessels, sail, and commercial workboats).
(6) Inspector of over 16,000+ boats and ships for condition, valuation, insurance, donation, finance, risk, disaster, salvage, damage, repair, hull, moisture, delamination, corrosion analysis, wood, Kevlar, FRP, including Ships, Submarines, Submersibles Landing Craft, Barges, Tow Boats, Jack-Up Rigs, Tankers, Mega Yachts, Yachts, Commercial fishing, Sportfish, Sail, Houseboats, Pontoon, Boat Trailers, I/O engines, Outboard gas engines, Gas and Diesel Inboard Engines, Freight, Sea Trials, On and Off Hire Surveys, Trip and Tow Surveys, as well as Cargo by all shipping methods. Extensive knowledge of scaffolding and ladders as well as the use of ladders and scaffolding to board vessels in boat and shipyards as well as the proper securing of ladders to vessels due to the use in boatyards in New York, as well as thousands of boarding of boats and ships in boat and shipyards to inspect vessels.
(7) Inspect MOLEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, Pumps, Motors, and Electrical Panels, in two Plants in St. Petersburg, Florida. Using FLIR Infrared Thermal Imaging to test motors.
(8) FLIR INFRARED THERMAL IMAGING and Bore-scoping of marine vessels and land-based properties for mold and water intrusion. This includes specialized work for the United States Government and LOCKHEED-MARTIN as subcontractors.
(9) Certified Internationally NDT testing (Audio gauging Steel and Aluminum).
(10) I learned Steel and Aluminum Construction under the tutelage of Duckworth Boats.
(11) Equipment Associated with Boats and Ships.
(12) 2010 POLISH REGISTRAR OF SHIPPING Inspection Course (2 weeks) on CE examinations and ship inspections (Gdansk, Poland).
(13) Certified Diver, Familiar with Deepwater work as well as shallow work, including remote as well as attached tankage, Deepwater saturation work.
(14) Engine Surveys and Inspections: Diesel Engine Schools Attended, GM Detroit Diesel and Gas (all venues), YANMAR, VOLVO PENTA Diesel, CATERPILLAR, JOHN DEERE, MAN, MTU, DEUTZ, LEHMAN, PERKINS, IZUSU, CUMMINS, and ONAN. Gasoline Engine Schools, MERCURY, MERCRUISER, VOLVO PENTA, YAMAHA, EVINRUDE, HONDA, SUZUKI, TOHATSU.
(15) ABYC Electrical ABYC Electrical Systems.
(16) ABYC Collision Investigation.
(17) First Marine Claims Seminar.
(18) Knox Claims Seminars2007, 2009, 2012, 2014.
(19) ABYC Composites Course.
(20) ABYC Electrical Corrosion Course.
(21) ABYC Composites Course.
(22) IBEX Composites Course.
(23) IBEX Advanced Composites Course.
(24) IBEX Surveying and repairing Advanced Composites.
(25) IBEX Improving Gel Coat Quality.
(26) IBEX Demystifying Propeller Design.
(27) IBEX National Meetings 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 ,2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2019
(28) WORKBOAT National Seminars, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2018
(29) IAMI National Seminar 2003 (Panama City Beach, FL), 2008 (Baton Rouge, LA).
(30) SAMS® National Seminars 1999, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017.
Education and Work Experience
(1) 2008 to present A & L MARITIME EXPERTS, LLC, AAC MARINE, LLC.AAC MARINE GROUP, LLC. Combining all affiliate CORPORATIONS including family boat building and boat repairs and boat yard.
(2) 2010 to Present. Worked on Litigation against BP during Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
(3) Full-time MARINE SURVEYING and MARINE LITIGATION
(4) 1970-2008: President, KNOT Just Maritime Services, SAGA Marine, Davie Marine Engine Rebuild, and AAC Marine Surveyors, LLC.; Marine surveying of boats and engines including pre-purchase as well as damage, Vessel, and ship deliveries around the world which included commercial Tug and Barge Handling, as well as Yacht deliveries and Private Captain for large sport-fishing boats. Boat handling and operational experience including running and operational hands-on experience of Ships to 650 feet, Commercial Fishing Boats including, large trawlers, factory style vessels, shrimp boats, long line commercial fishing boats, offshore scallop boats, and commercial grouper fishing boats. Manufacturing and Construction of commercial boats. Owner of Davie Marine Engines, LLC, rebuilds marine diesel and gasoline engines.
(5) 1967-1979: Manager of the family-owned party fishing boat fleet, Brooklyn, NY; Management fleet of seven boats between New York, Mass., and Florida for the family. I Spent half a year working for GM, as an engineer on upgrades concerning GM Diesel 53, 71, and 149, as well as early views of 92 series marine engines. Additional work as United States Government subcontractor in Vietnam and Cambodia.
(5) 1963-1969 Part-time and full-time captain of family party fishing boats, in New York, summers and weekends, helped run family-owned repair yard in New York, in addition to repairing boats and engines in our family-owned boatyard.
(6) 1963-1966 University of Toledo; BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering/ combustion Engines.
CERTIFICATIONS/SPECIALTIES/PROFESSIONAL-MEMBERSHIP (past and present)
International Bureau of Shipping (INSB).
International Institute of Marine Surveyors (IIMS)
Registered US boat builder under HIN: AMS.
International Association of Marine Investigators (IAMI). (Fraud and Accident Investigation Certified)
Over 650 court cases since 1992.
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME).
US Surveyors Association (Certified Master Marine Surveyor).
National Association of Marine Surveyors.
American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC).
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS®), (Accredited Marine Surveyor) #695. (past)
USPAP Certified.
US Boat Exchange.
Learned sailing at Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, held sail endorsement.
Certified Diver.
USPAP Certified
Member Boat US CAT team.
USCG 100 Ton Masters in 1962
USCG High-Speed License since 1991
USCG/Oceans Merchant Marine Master, 11th Issue since 1967.
Military Sea Lift Command as a subcontractor.
Completed all STCWs for US and International Requirements.
Unlimited Towboat license since 1967.
Certified to Inspect Commercial Fishing, Work Boats, and give “stickers”.
Marine Engineering License Greater than 4000H.P.
Level 3 Internationally Certified INFRARED THERMOGRAPHER (over 8900 vessels inspected since 1995).
Internationally Certified NDT Audio gauge certification.
Maritime Law Classes at New York University
Approved Subcontractor to Lloyds of London.
Certified and approved to testify in US Federal Court.
Certified and Accredited Engine and Electrical Surveyor.
Associate to PRS (Polish Registrar of Shipping).
IMCI and EUROCONTROL, both European CE marking Notified Bodies.
Maritime Services International- UK, Surveyor, and Marine Expert.
United States Government Approved Marine Expert for The U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Litigation.
Additional Information
I have been a licensed USCG Master since 1962 and have held a USCG Engineering License > 4000 H.P, in addition to an unlimited towboat license. My experience goes all the way back as a boy of six starting in my family's business of party and commercial fishing boats (a family business that goes back to the 1920s in New York). When I was older, I worked in the engine repair facilities and boatyards that my family owned. At 14, I was docking 140' boats. I have done hundreds of inspections, depositions, and court cases since the mid -1980's including work on the BP Deep Horizon oil spill. I have testified as an expert witness in cases worldwide as well as in the U.S. and Florida. I have done accident reconstruction on small craft, yachts, as well as commercial fishing and work boats and large ships including the newest 1000' long passenger ships. These include collisions, sinkings, fire, groundings, and death cases including alcohol-related. I have also done diminished value claims. My business has built over 150 vessels in Fiberglass, composite, wood, steel, and aluminum under the USCG Hull Identification AMS and in earlier years, before Hull Identifications, the "Ocean Horse" label. I have attended most of the marine engine schools over the years and did some work for GM on the early upgrades of 53,71 and 149 engines as a young engineer. I am a certified FLIR Infrared Thermographer as well as a certified Non-destructive Testing audio-gauger/ and have all the latest equipment including engine computers, bore-scoping, and ultrasound equipment in addition to the infrared thermal imager and audio-gauge. I attend various schools and seminars throughout the year on accident reconstruction, electrical, and vessel construction. I do work for the Polish Registrar of Shipping, Lloyd's of London, as well as several French and domestic insurance companies. HAVING BEEN HIRED BY BOTH PLAINTIFF AND DEFENSE AND BEING ACCEPTED AS AN EXPERT WITNESS AND SURVEYOR. MY POSITION IS ALWAYS "JUST THE FACTS."
As a ships Master, Engineer, as well as an accredited and certified marine surveyor I have inspected ships elevators, electrically and hydraulically controlled watertight as well as passenger doors in used, as well as new condition or refurbished. I do condition, appraisal inspections as well as valuation appraisals, Infrared Thermal Imaging, NDT audio-gauging, Accident Reconstruction, including death, fire collision sinking, collapsing hatch supports both mechanical, electric and hydraulic, slip and falls, boatyard accidents, Diminished Valuation, Seaworthiness, Proper Repairs and Build, Boat and ship engines, and Paint condition