BOATING ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR John Garfitt I.E. P. Eng.

Flying Bulldog Sailing School Ltd  January 2020 – Present

Owner/Chief Instructor

· ISPA Yachtmaster Ocean – Sail

· ISPA Yachtmaster Offshore – Power

· ISPA Instructor Evaluator (IE)

· FBSS is a Transport Canada approved RBS (Recreational Boating School) 

· Teaching focus: ISPA International Certificates of Competency for: Coastal Navigator, Coastal Skipper, Yachtmaster Offshore, Yachtmaster Ocean for sail and power boats

· Single-handed sailing program

· Purchased and refit Warlock, a 1982 Baltic 51 centre-board cutter for the purpose – now an Inspected Vessel under the Transport Canada Small Vessel Compliance Program (SVCP)  

International Sail & Power Academy (ISPA), Vancouver, BC, Canada April 2018 Present

Director of Quality Assurance

· Responsible for the quality and content of the ISPA curriculum

· Certified and evaluated instructors in accordance with ISPA guidelines

· Past President of ISPA (1997 – 1999)

· ISPA BOD (1996 – 2002)

Pacific Adventure Sailing  2008 - 2012

Owner/Chief Instructor

· ISPA Yachtmaster Ocean - Sail, IE

· Part time sailing business teaching the ISPA syllabus

Crusader Sailing School  1994 - 2002

Owner/Chief Instructor

· ISPA Yachtmaster Ocean – Sail, IE

· Part time sailing business teaching the ISPA syllabus

PUBLICATIONS, AWARDS AND AFFILIATIONS

· Registered Professional Engineer (Mechanical), APEGBC 

· The Hydrodynamics of Log Boom Towing, Marine Technology 

· Remedial Forestry Road Construction Options, The BC Professional Engineer 

· Pierce County Ferry Fleet Dual-Fuel Conversion Study

· Alaska Marine Highway System - MV Columbia Propulsion System Replacement Study

· Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard Ferry Authority Propulsion & Steering System Replacement Study

· APEGBC Award of Excellence for technical writing 

· BC Provincial Engineering Communications Prize 

· Carl Reinhardt Scholarship, McGill University 

· Member: APEGBC, ASTM, ASME, ASQ

· ISPA Yachtmaster Ocean, Sail - Instructor Evaluator 

· Federation of Canadian Artists – active member

· Canadian and UK citizenships

EDUCATION

BASc (Mechanical Engineering), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 1992

BSc (Honours, Geological Sciences), McGill University, Montreal, Canada 1981

Executive Coaching with R W Benwick Associates 2014 - 2016

The Vertical Journey with Dynamic Achievement Inc. 2012 - 2016

 

Engineering Manager (same employer) Dec 2010 – Mar 2014

· Built, directed, mentored and motivated a team of 15 design engineers in the lifecycle management of waterpark ride systems.

· Slashed the cost of poor quality by leading a team that successfully developed and deployed an engineering 3D CAD/PLM (product lifecycle management) software system for (SolidWorks/DBWorks) whose deliverables yielded a 16% increase in manufacturing capacity, reduced the cost of poor quality from 6 figures per year to near zero and enabled international outsourcing 

· Mentored the design team, ensured standards compliance, operational and product excellence

· Managed product standards compliance test programs

· Prepared and defended successful SR&ED (scientific research and experimental development) grant applications

· Chaired the ASTM F24 Committee on Amusement Rides and Devices

· Promoted to VP Quality & Continuous Improvement after 3 years based on results achieved in engineering

Weatherhaven Inc., Burnaby, BC, Canada Sep 2009 – Jun 2010

Project Engineering Manager (contract position) 

· Directed a team of medium support vehicle system (MSVS) prototype design engineers and liaised with design partners, National Research Council (NRC) and Department of National Defence (DND).

· Designed compact HVAC systems, architect of configuration management strategy, established documentation standards

Northern Marine LLC,Anacortes, WA, USA  Feb 2007 – Mar 2009

Engineering Manager

· Built the engineering department and owned the design of several large ABS/MCA classed FRP tri-deck motor yachts and trawlers valued up to US$35M.

· Advised clients on optimal vessel design and machinery systems to enhance vessel utility, safety, reliability and compliance

· Ensured vessels were commissioned and regulatory class certificates obtained

· Managed engineering finances, recruitment and performance

Zodiac Hurricane Technologies Inc., Delta, BC, Canada Oct 2005 – Feb 2007

VP, Corporate Quality, MilPro Division

· Revitalized corporate quality at the Military & Professional Division that delivered a variety of specialized custom rigid-hull inflatable interceptors to 14m LOA, worth up to $300K each.

· Dramatically improved all aspects of business activities by focusing on building the brand, enhancing customer relations, capturing requirements, quality assurance and after-sales customer care

· Enhanced ZHTs reputation by healing relationships with top-level European and US military clients

· Restructured supplier and distributor relationships and resolved IP rights

· Defused product liability cases by putting a human face on the company

· Drove Continuous Improvement (Lean) by incorporating lessons learned into our culture and practice

· Managed Quality budgets and KPIs

OceanWorks International Corp, North Vancouver, BC Aug 2004 – Jun 2005

Assistant Project Manager (contract position)  

· Co-managed the construction of the PRMS/LARS, (Pressurized Rescue Module System / Launch and Recovery System) a land/sea/air-transportable, 2000’ deep-submergence, manned rescue vehicle system for NATO submarines.

Elliott Bay Design Group, Seattle, WA, USA Jan 2002 – Apr 2004

Senior Marine Engineer 

· Senior marine engineer on all aspects of ship systems design

· Wrote technical guidance papers to advise clients on ship refits, propulsion, steering systems and fleet dual-fuel conversions

· Performed ship lifecycle analyses and performance studies, FMEA, machinery system design and wrote contract technical specifications for new construction and refits

Queenship Yacht Works Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada Mar 2001 – Dec 2001

VP Operations & Engineering 

· Directed all aspects of design, production and QA at a luxury yacht manufacturer that built 10, 22 - 35m multi-million dollar yachts during my tenure

· Achieved on-time vessel delivery for the first time in the company’s history

Catamaran Ferries International Inc., North Vancouver, BC Feb 1998 – Oct 2000

Senior Design Engineer (contract position)  

· Assistant Manager of a 30-man multi-disciplinary engineering department 

· Achieved large incremental improvements in product quality, cost and delivery by realigning non-performing contractors, correcting deficiencies in designs and planning on the construction of 3, 1000 PAX, 250 vehicle high-speed aluminum catamaran ferries worth $155M each

· Ensured vessel certifications were achieved by collaborating with owners, Transport Canada and the Classification Society (DNV)

· Developed route and ferry loading simulations

· Consulted on dockside tests, sea trials and systems validations

Van-Dive Marine Engineering Ltd., Richmond, BC Sep 1992 – Feb 1998

Project Manager  

· Expanded the operations of a marine construction company into the South East Asian market

· Managed all aspects of submarine pipeline and underwater infrastructure construction projects in Indonesia, Malaysia & Canada

· Directed mixed-gas diving, ROV and support vessel operations

· Achieved DNV qualified supplier certification for the company

· P&L responsibility for all projects

· Invented a structural rehabilitation system for reinforced concrete pilings (patent applied for) 

· Eliminated the need for a planned US$15M pipeline replacement when directional drilling recommendation was adopted on a steep underwater slope at Lehir Island, PNG