R. BENSON BAKER
DATE OF BIRTH:15 January 1953
CITIZENSHIP:United States
Benson is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and moved to the Caribbean in 1991. Upon arrival in St. Thomas he purchased and moved aboard his first sail boat and has been living aboard ever since; his current boat is a 1977, Camper Nicholson 31, a proper blue water cruiser. Since moving to the Caribbean, Benson has worked in, on or under the sea in a variety of capacities from dive instructor to delivery captain, accumulating an untold number of hours underwater and approximately 28,000 nautical miles on the open-ocean.
Membership:
Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, (SAMS) Accredited Marine Surveyor #1078.
International Association of Marine Investigators, (IAMI) 2007 to date # 3257;
American Boat and Yacht Council, (ABYC) 2005 to date.
Qualifications and Education:
U.S. Coast Guard Master, 50-Ton, Auxiliary Sail;
American Sailing Association Instructor;
PADI open Water Scuba Instructor;
BS Degree, Georgia Southern College.
PROFESSIONAL MARINE EXPERIENCE:
STAFF SURVEYOR, Caribbean Marine Surveyors Ltd., March 2005 - Present; Surveyor of yachts and small craft for the purposes of condition and evaluation for insurance, finance, purchase and the "phasing out" of yachts from bare boat charter fleets. Am also responsible for representing interested parties such as insurance underwriters, yacht owners or yacht managers in damage surveys.
ASSISTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER, Tortola Marine Management, October 2002 -March 2005: TMM is both a Yacht Management and Charter company with 45 vessels under contract, both sail and motor, mono- and multi-hull. Reporting to the Operations Manager and assuming his responsibilities in his absence, was directly responsible for post-charter surveying of vessels for damage and/or necessary maintenance concentrating on cosmetics, sails and rigging; was also responsible for up-mast electrical work, and managing and supervising engineering maintenance through both in-house employees and outside contractors.
CHARTER YACHT CAPTAIN, September 1994 - January 1997; January 1999 to October 2002:
Working through companies such as Tortola Marine Management, the Moorings, Footloose Charters, and Sunsail was responsible for planning itineraries in conjunction with guests desires, navigation and operation the of yacht and its systems, entertaining guests and maintaining the yacht during charter.
Have also taught sailing courses such as Basic Sailing, Coastal Cruising, Coastal Navigation and Bare Boat Chartering using the American Sailing Association program of instruction.
COMMERCIAL DIVER, MOOR SEACURE, LTD., January 1997 to January 1999: Involved in building, inspecting and maintaining overnight moorings at various sites throughout the British Virgin Islands. Also experienced in under-water salvage techniques and various under-water construction projects.
DELIVERY CAPTAIN: Responsible for conducting pre-delivery surveys of the vessel including all mechanical, electrical, rigging and plumbing systems. Also responsible for all navigation and weather monitoring, the hiring of crew and setting of watch and maintenance schedules while at sea, provisioning, budgeting and financial accounts.
STAFF INSTRUCTOR AND DIVE MASTER, UNDERWATER SAFARIS, May 1992 to April 1993; Responsible for leading certified and non-certified divers on dives at sites throughout the British Virgin Islands. Instructed Open Water certification classes and Resort Courses.