Capt. Michael Fowkes

Michael is a marine professional with over 20 years’ experience across a broad range of maritime sectors. Beginning his career in the fishing industry before moving into the merchant fleet, serving on product tankers, salvage and emergency response tugs, anchor handling vessels, and offshore diamond drill ships. He holds a Class 1 Certificate of Competence and has served as Master on offshore, salvage and towage vessels.

He has substantial expertise in marine safety and casualty investigation, regularly acting as lead investigator and expert technical witness. His practical experience is supported by a Master of Science degree, NEBOSH certification, and accreditation as an ISM and ISO 9001 Lead Auditor.

A significant portion of his career has been focused on salvage and emergency response. He has been involved in numerous complex international operations fulfilling many functions. Michael is a Lloyd’s Special Casualty Representative and he has led high-risk projects including refloating grounded vessels and managing distressed ships, demonstrating calm, decisive leadership in demanding conditions.

Michael is widely recognised within the industry for his technical capability and balanced, evidence-based approach which underpins his appointment as an expert witness in litigation and arbitration, where he provides independent opinion on complex marine and operational matters.