About our surveying team.

Our surveying services were started on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands in 1998 when Geoff Williams and two partners created a marine surveying and consulting company. During the following ten years, Geoff has surveyed yachts throughout the Caribbean region, ABC Islands, Central America, USA, Spain, France and South Africa  specializing in fiberglass sail and motor yachts from 30 to 100 feet.

In September 2002 Geoff started his own company in the British Virgin Islands, West Indies Marine Surveyors Ltd., with a vision to create a team of surveyors who would offer Boat Owners, Buyers, Insurance Companies, Financial Institutions and Underwriters a reliable surveying service producing accurate, high quality reports. We use our own well tested and highly successful survey format using digital photography and Internet technology. 

Geoff is a member of SAMS, The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, who have a membership of over 900 in the USA and in countries around the world. Our reports are based on the requirements set down by SAMS and we are guided by the Recommendations of ABYC (The American Boat and Yacht Council). Geoff Williams is a full member of The Society of Consulting Marine Engineers & Ship Surveyors (based in London) www.scmshq.org - they are an authorized certifying authority for MCA - Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the United Kingdom. Geoff is also a member of FEMAS, The Federation of European Maritime Associations of Surveyors and Consultants (European Union) www.femas.info  

Keeping up to date with new technology is important to us - we regularly attend IBEX (The International Boat Builders Exhibition and Conference) in Florida to keep up to date with new concepts in boat building and repair techniques, fiberglass & core material development as well has new designs in boating hardware. We also take the opportunity to make contact with other surveyors, boatbuilders from around the world and the suppliers of boating equipment. At every opportunity during our travels we endeavor to visit boat building facilities - recent visits include factories in South Africa, US and Holland.   

Accredited Marine Surveyor (SAMS) - The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (USA).

Member: The Society of Consulting Marine Engineers & Ship Surveyors (London).

Member: FEMAS The Federation of European Maritime Associations of Surveyors and Consultants (EU).

Master Mariner / Class 1 (unlimited tonnage).

Geoffrey Williams was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He became a member of the Royal Cape Yacht Club in 1972 and was a keen offshore yachtsman, cruising and racing along the South African coast. In 1976 he joined the Merchant Marine as a Navigating Officer with Safmarine and travelled worldwide. He later specialized in Ocean Towing and Salvage and sailed as Chief Officer on the world's most powerful salvage tugs, Wolraad Woltemade and the John Ross. After qualifying as a Master Mariner (Foreign Going) / Class 1 (unlimited tonnage) he became Captain of a number of Oceanographic research ships operating in the Southern Ocean. Yacht surveying started in 1983 in Cape Town and continued through to the Caribbean in 1991. After completing the construction of his yacht and sailing across the Atlantic, Geoff was to work as Technical Manager and Operations Manager in the Yacht Charter Industry in St Martin, French West Indies (with a fleet of Wauquiez / Centurion Yachts) and later in the British Virgin Islands. Yacht surveying services has taken him through the Caribbean chain, Central America, USA, Mediterranean and South Africa.

Geoff has French citizenship and is making regular trips to the South of France - 5 weeks on Tortola followed by 2-3 weeks in France - during 2008, offering services both in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean regions. Please contact him regarding his schedule.

Robert Ansell was born in the United Kingdom and followed a technical path through college obtaining a Diploma in Engineering. He then spent five years managing a charter fleet in the Greek Islands. For 14 years he was the Technical Manager of a fleet, which has now become one of the world’s largest charter yacht bases - located in the Virgin Islands, maintaining a fleet of up to 200 yachts. 
Responsible for their general maintenance and the eventual phasing-out of these vessels from the charter fleet, enabled Robert to inspect and complete many detailed in-house surveys, while working together with independent marine surveyors, repair contractors, boatyards, insurance adjusters, boat manufacturers and maintenance staff. Many yacht owners have relied on Robert’s expertise during the charter program of their yacht – taking care of their floating investment. 
Robert joined West Indies Marine Surveyors in January 2007 and he has quickly built a great reputation for his detailed surveys and report writing. His surveys have taken him down the Caribbean Island chain.