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Managing Director, Litigation Lawyer
John Bugeja
John acts as the firm’s managing director, having been involved with the company since 2002. He deals with all aspects of shipping litigation, including both P&I and FD&D issues, marine insurance and coverage disputes and other shipping-related commercial disputes.
John advises on ship arrests, forced sale of vessels, demurrage claims, charter party disputes, stevedore damage and other incidents caused by third-parties, personal injury, crew illness and death, as well as carriage of goods disputes and cargo claims.
John is a qualified advocate in Malta.
Education
2012 – Presented with Warrant to exercise the profession of advocate in the Courts of Malta and Gozo.
2011 – Graduated Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Malta after submission of LL.D thesis entitled ‘Collisions at Sea: Regulations and Defences’.
2011 – Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Maritime Law with distinction conferred by the IMO’s International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.
2009 – Graduated Diploma of Notary Public from the University of Malta.
2008 – Graduated Bachelor of Laws and European Studies from the University of Malta.
Contact
Direct: (+356) 2540 7206
Mobile: (+356) 7904 7880
Email: john.bugeja@hvassallo.com
Director, Litigation Lawyer
Abigail Bugeja
Abigail qualified as an advocate in Malta in March 2011. She advises on all issues arising in relation to admiralty and shipping disputes, insurance, insolvency and contractual disputes with an international dimension.
She advises shipowners and operators, P&I Clubs and insurers, on a wide range of issues relating to personal injury claims, MLC disputes including abandonment of seafarers, collision and pollution incidents, cargo disputes, judicial sales of vessels.
Abigail has significant experience of litigation including Civil Court and Court of Appeal hearings, and has advised on numerous ship arrests and injunctions pursuant to Article 37 of the Merchant Shipping Act. In addition, she has experience of managing cross-border litigation, working closely with foreign counsel.
Abigail started off her career as an advocate with particular focus on ship and yacht registration and sales and acquisitions of vessels as well as the formation and support of shipping organisations and companies, regularly assisting clients in corporate matters and M&A transactions. She assisted major financial institutions and owners in the financing of vessels and ancillary issues.
Education
2015 – Master of Arts in Law with distinction conferred by the University of Malta
2011 – Presented with Warrant to exercise the profession of advocate in the Courts of Malta and Gozo.
2010 – Graduated Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Malta after submission of LL.D thesis entitled ‘The Legal Regimes governing Offshore Installations.’
2008 – Graduated Diploma of Notary Public from the University of Malta.
2007 – Graduated Bachelor of Laws and European Studies from the University of Malta.
Memberships
- Admitted to the Maltese Bar, Superior Courts of Malta
- Member of Chamber of Advocates
- Member of Shiparrested.com
- Member of International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA)
Contact
- Direct: (+356) 2540 7306
- Mobile: (+356) 7990 3264
- Email: abigail.bugeja@hvassallo.com
Claims Manager
Joe Cassano
Joe’s excellent communication skill set, together with a respectable decision-making aptitude, provides clients with the ultimate tailor-made support for claims ranging from potential incidents involving asset damage to business interruptions, potentially leading to third party claims.
Throughout his career, Joe was involved in quality auditing and surveying. During his tenure as a surveyor, he was responsible for damage surveys, pre-shipment inspections, cross stuffing surveys, tallying surveys, refrigerated and frozen cargo surveys, liability claims handling, adjustment and settlement of cargo claims and recovery action. His unparalleled customer relationship abilities and substantial experience in claims management provides cargo clients with the best possible support and solutions thereby ensuring an optimal level of service.
Whilst working in quality administration, Joe also gained extensive experience in ensuring adherence to cargo procedures, customer satisfaction monitoring and internal audits, making him the perfect candidate to ensure that a company’s objectives and goals are achieved.
Apart from the decades of experience, he holds certificates for Quality Auditing (ISO), Health and Safety, Marine Insurance, First Aid, Management & Competence and Cargo Surveying.
Contact
Direct: +356 2540 7203
Mobile: +356 9945 9716
Email: joe.cassano@hvassallo.com
Marine Engineer and Naval Architect
Paul Buhagiar
Having graduated as a mechanical engineer and a naval architect, together with over seven years of experience working in the marine industry, Paul endeavours in providing expertise to third parties by using a skill base and aptitudes within both the engineering and maritime sectors.
His experience in the maritime industry kickstarted as a Flag and Port State Control inspector within the Maltese Maritime Flag Administration – Transport Malta, the largest merchant shipping Flag Register in Europe and the sixth largest in the World, inspecting cargo ships, tankers, ro-ro ferries and passenger ships for compliance with International Regulations.
Paul moved on to a shore position within a chemical tanker ship management office, where his primary responsibility for the following four years, was introducing processes and procedures within the Company’s Safety Management System to comply with the OCIMF Vetting Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ) guidelines, and the Tanker Management Self-Assessment (TMSA), as marine superintendent. He was also responsible in ensuring that company vessels are in line with the said requirements by undertaking constant internal vetting inspections on board company vessels and attending for external oil major inspections in the likes of REPSOL, LUKOIL and BP.
Paul has also provided marine consultancy services throughout the marine industry, including overseeing loadout operations as lashing consultant and attending on behalf of Protection and Indemnity (P&I) and Hull and Machinery (H&M) Clubs specialising in machinery malfunctions and damages to hull and other load line requirements.
Paul is also an appointed Government Surveyor acting on behalf of Transport Malta. In this capacity, he inspects yachts for compliance to the Maltese Flag requirements as set out in the Commercial Yacht Code.
Education
| 2020 | NEBOSH – International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety |
| 2017 | IRCA QMS Auditor / Lead Auditor, Lloyd’s Register |
| 2015 | ISM Lead Auditor, Lloyd’s Register |
| 2013 | Master of Science (M.Sc.) – Naval Architecture, University of Southampton |
| 2012 | Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (B.Eng. (Hons.)), University of Malta |
Contact
Direct: +356 2540 7202
Mobile: +356 9983 4890
Email: paul.buhagiar@hvassallo.com
Master Mariner
Clive Mallia
Clive is a master mariner with an excellent reputation for providing consultancy services within the maritime industry after having served as a master onboard vessels. In his experience, Clive specializes in Ship Management internal, external and Tanker Management Self-Assessment (TMSA) Audits, together with a strong merit for introducing new processes, procedures and statutory manuals to product and gas tanker ship management offices. His experience within the tanker industry has also presented him with numerous opportunities of attending to bunker surveys.
Having passed various OCIMF SIRE Vetting inspections throughout his years of working within the tanker industry, Clive has also successfully provided internal vetting services to tanker ship management offices, by preparing both vessel and crew in obtaining positive results from vetting inspections carried out by oil majors.
Apart from experience within the marine compliance sector, Clive is also an approved mooring master in oil & gas tankers ship-to-ship (STS) operations, providing expertise to tanker masters during STS operations.
All the above experiences have also led Clive to lecture maritime students.
Education
2014 Master Unlimited (STCW Reg. II/2, as amended)
Contact
Office: +356 2540 7900
Mobile: +356 7959 3692
Email: clive.mallia@hvassallo.com
Master Mariner
Gordon Ghirxi
A Master Mariner for the past twenty years, Gordon has extensive experience working in various sectors within the marine industry. After having spent his first eleven years working on board ships in all ranks, Gordon was subsequently employed in a ship management office, where he became well versed in various roles ranging from marine superintendent to fleet operations manager, the latter of which proved highly beneficial to the company after having graduated as a Master in Business Administration in 2008.
Having undertaken specific training relating to incident investigation and risk assessments, Gordon is a member of a pool of experts who has on countless occasions attended to incident investigations on behalf of Marine Safety Investigation Units, Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Clubs, Hull and Machinery (H&M) and cargo insurers, where his experience working in the tanker industry has proved fundamental in delivering a high degree of expertise to our clients, whilst proposing recommendations for the prevention of incident recurrence to the industry as best practice guidance.
Gordon has over the years conducted technical inspections and suitability survey reports for oil and gas tankers and DP platform support vessels assessing the suitability of ships for charterers and buyers.
Apart from having the necessary experience in both ship management and incident investigations, Gordon has also provided professional advice and guidance to masters of vessels participating in ship to ship operations as STS Superintendent.
His expertise in the industry is exploited through education and training by delivering courses related to oil, chemical and gas industries, and is also an examiner at the local maritime administration preparing examination papers for navigation, cargo operations, port operations and cargo handling stowage and securing.
Education
2008 Master in Business Administration
2002 IRCA QMS Internal Auditor
2000 Master Unlimited (STCW Reg. II/2, as amended)
Contact
Office: +356 2540 7900
Mobile: +356 9925 0067
Email: gordon.ghirxi@hvassallo.com
Co-Head of DP, Principal Surveyor
Ursula Smith
Ursula has been employed in the marine industry all her working life, the last fourteen years as a marine surveyor.
Ursula is a co-founder of Dynamic Surveys which started in 2010. This became the DP division within Vassallo Associates in 2021.
Dynamic Surveys undertakes all types of DP work, IHM, eCMID inspections.
Ursula originally trained as a radio officer and has positions both ashore and at sea. Her experience ranges from vessel ownership and management, where she was responsible for ISM, ISPS, Class and Flag requirements, together with the general efficient and cost-effective running of the company vessels, refit projects, suitability surveys and other technical management services.
Ursula is a DP surveyor with extensive experience in writing FMEAs, DP Operations manuals, carrying out annual FMEA proving and reverfication trials.
She is a DNV-approved HAZMAT Surveyor and has carried out numerous IHM inspections on behalf of international clientele. She covers the entire process from the preliminary stages of preparing a ship specific Visual Sampling Check Plan, the actual attendance on board the vessel to collect samples, and preparing the final report for submission to class. She is an IMCA approved AVI eCMID inspector and has conducted inspection on many types of offshore vessels.
Qualifications
DPO basic/DP Maintenance
ISM/ISPS Lead Auditor
Diploma in Marine Surveying (IIMS)
Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA)
BTEC Diploma and HNC in Marine Electronics and Electrical Systems
Marine Radio General Certificate (MRGC)
Contact
- Mobile: (+356) 9926 3572
- Email: ursula.smith@hvassallo.com
Co-Head of DP, Principal Surveyor
Hugh Raynor
A master mariner for over 30 years, Hugh has extensive experience in working with offshore vessels, both on board as Captain, and also as a marine surveyor.
Hugh is a co-founder of Dynamic Surveys, which became the DP division within Vassallo Associates.
Hugh is an IMCA approved DP practitioner and writes FMEAs, vessel-specific DP operation manuals and DP trials programmes. He conducts DP trials on a variety of vessels.
He is a HAZMAT expert, approved by DNV, and carries out IHM surveys. He is also an IMCA approved AVI eCMID inspector and has conducted inspection on many types of offshore vessels.
Over the years Hugh has been heavily involved in marine consultancy, conducting technical inspections, suitability surveys and CMID audits.
Qualifications
STCW 95 Master’s Certificate (Unlimited)
Dynamic Positioning Certificate (Unrestricted)
IMCA approved DP practitioner
IMCA approved AVI eCMID inspector
Contact
- Mobile: +44 (0) 7950 4310 76
- Email: hugh.raynor@hvassallo.com
Principal Consultant
Mike Heath
After graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree at Loughborough University, Mike built up a career in Quality Management at the world’s leading manufacturer of pneumatic and motion control technology, with a global reputation for innovation.
He started out as a Quality Engineer at the business which was focused on helping customers countrywide to solve their factory automation challenges, offering solutions from a range of 12,000 standard items (with some 700,000 variations) and bespoke products for specialised requirements. As a Quality Engineer, Mike focused on metrology, product nonconformance investigations, supplier management, and internal auditing.
Subsequently, Mike took on the role of Quality Manager overseeing Quality Assurance, Quality Inspection, Environmental and Health & Safety teams, and was responsible for reporting on QHSE performance, leading process improvement projects, customer complaints and investigations (root cause analysis, CAPA, 8D), APQP & PPAP, fulfilling compliance obligations, continuous improvement and supplier audits.
He was responsible for implementing, maintaining and integrating certified management systems ISO9001:2015, ISO14001:2015, and ISO45001:2018, while completing an MSc in Strategic Quality Management at the University of Portsmouth, graduating with distinction.
Education
MSc Strategic Quality Management, University of Portsmouth
BEng Mechanical Engineering, Loughborough University
Qualifications
Chartered Quality Professional – Member, Chartered Quality Institute
ISO9001:2015 Lead Auditor, Lloyd’s Register
ISO14001:2015 Lead Auditor, Lloyd’s Register
ISO45001:2018 Lead Auditor, Lloyd’s Register
Core Tools Certification, Industry Forum
PRINCE2 Foundation, The Knowledge Academy
Contact
Office: +44 (0) 203 786 2131
Mobile: +44 (0) 793 504 5359
Email: mike.heath@hvassallo.com
Senior Marine Engineer & Marine Warranty Surveyor
Stephen Ciappara
Stephen is a mechanical engineer and naval architect and is a member of the Society of Offshore Marine Warranty Surveyors (SOMWS).
He has extensive expertise in undertaking condition surveys across a variety of vessels, including pre-bidding, pre-purchase and pre-entry surveys as well as suitability surveys, internal audits and pre-vetting inspections.
Throughout the years Stephen has been involved in a variety of marine operations and projects around the world. Stephen is also in possession of a Seaman’s booklet.
Stephen commenced his career as a Naval Architect at a consultancy firm in UK. Being engaged on international O&G projects, at an early stage, Stephen has developed quickly his knowledge and experience in the offshore industry.
Stephen even worked as a technical and lead engineer in several offshore projects and was responsible to review and approve technical documents related to load-outs, transportations together with installation marine operations.
Stephen has assisted in managing projects under different roles over the years (from Package Manager to Project Manager). He was responsible for managing a complex USD 3m package, in Republic of Congo, involving the suitability of 24 vessels and security of an entire oil field subsea assets from fabrication yard to offshore installation.
As a Marine Warranty Surveyor, Stephen has been heavily involved in approving the engineering documents, managing the suitability of a fleet of vessels and approving, on behalf of the underwriters, their respective marine operations in Norway, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Libya, Qatar and Russia. The projects involved him in the shore pull operations, flexible/rigid pipelay installation across the Bosphorus, Black Sea, Baltic Sea and North Sea; the hook-up installation of FPU in the Mediterranean; and the land transportation of the mass-produced (>1000mT) topsides and their respective sea transportation from South Korea to Finland and then finally to Kazakhstan. Among other heavy lift projects, Stephen was also involved in the installation operation of a 3000mT Topside and its respective jacket.
Education
B. Eng. Hons. (Mech), University of Malta
M.Sc. in Marine Engineering Sciences and Naval Architecture, University of Southampton
Society of Offshore Marine Warranty Surveyors (SOMWS) – Member No. 220
H2S Course, OGUK Medical
STCW95
BOSIET
Contact
Office: +356 2540 7201
Mobile: +356 7732 1358
Email: stephen.ciappara@hvassallo.com
Associate
Zachary Zammit
Zachary read law at the University of Malta and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree in 2020 and Master of Advocacy later in 2021. He was admitted to the Maltese bar and obtained his warrant to practice law in April 2022. As part of his studies, he had the opportunity to study Admiralty, Salvage, Towage and Pilotage.
Zachary is a maritime enthusiast who since his early days has been exposed to the sea and taught the ropes by his closest relatives. He started sailing as a sport when he was just ten years old and nowadays, considers himself a quasi-professional sailor. He participated in the Rolex Middle Sea Race on seven occasions and participated in the Rolex Fastnet Race starting from the Isle of Wight in 2019. Nowadays, as well as sailing himself, he also coaches sailing to young children and teens with one of Malta’s local sailing clubs. Furthermore, he is part of the technical committee of the Malta Sailing Federation assisting with selection of National Team Sailors and other technical decisions in the run up to the Games of the Small States happening in Malta this year. Zachary holds Boatmaster 1, Master of Yacht (80GT), ICC and VHF Master licenses and the TM Nautical License.
Education
2020 – Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Malta University
2021 – Master of Advocacy, Malta University
Contact
Office: +356 2540 7301
Mobile: +356 7934 3204
Email: zach.zammit@hvassallo.com
