Aus Ship – Lawyers & Consultants
James Neill
James has 25 years of experience in transport. He has degrees in Economics and Law. He qualified as a Solicitor in Australia in 1989 and in England in 1991.
James managed a transport company for 5 years before joining a Sydney law firm in 1989. He worked as a claims executive for a P&I Club in the UK from 1990 to 1993 and then as a Shipping Solicitor for a law firm in Sydney until he founded Aus Ship P&I in 1995.
James has been involved with many high profile shipping matters in Australia including “The Pasha Bulker”, “The Tampa”, “The Kiukiang Career” and “The Laura D’Amato”.
Drew James
Drew James has more than 25 years of experience as a Shipping Solicitor working in London, Sydney and Singapore. He first qualified as a Solicitor in Australia in 1983 and has degrees in Law and commerce plus a Master’s Degree in Law. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Arbitrators and of the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators. He has been named twice in the “Euromoney Guide to the Best of the Best” as one of the world’s top 25 Shipping Lawyers.
Prior to joining Aus Ship he had been Head of the Transport Department at a large Sydney Law Firm.
Kirsten James
Kirsten qualified as a Solicitor in Australia in 2001. She has specialised experience in Transport, Trade and Shipping acting for shipowners, charterers, resource companies, forwarders and P&I Clubs. Kirsten advises on all aspects of marine casualty, pollution, carriage of goods, charterparty and marine insurance law, including regulatory compliance.
She is experienced in complex, commercial litigation and international arbitration, and always takes a commercial approach to resolving matters in the clients’ best interests.
Kirsten has a particular interest in technology and software in the transport industry. She also speaks Japanese, having attended school in Tokyo and university in Nagoya.
Steve Roberston
Steve joined Aus Ship’s Sydney office in July 2024 having previously been a Divisional Director at an International Group P&I Club in London and represented that Club on an IG Sub Committee.
He is an experienced insurance professional with over 30 years in P&I and Average Adjusting dealing with all types of P&I claims and Hull & Machinery matters.
Steve returns to Australia having previously had 14 years’ experience as a P&I Club correspondent in Australia during which he acted on a number of high profile claims including “Pacific Adventurer”, “APL Sydney” and “The Rena”.
Eduardo Palacios
Eduardo joined Aus Ship in 2011 and is currently based in the Fremantle office, looking after all matters in Western Australia.
Prior to joining Aus Ship Eduardo spent two years as a P&I Correspondent in Peru.
Eduardo has Degrees in both Law and Business Management. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Leo Bullivent-Taylor
Leo joined Aus Ship in 2019 and is currently based in the Melbourne office. He handles all day-to-day operations across the Eastern Coast of Australia.
He has over 10 years experience handling maritime claims. Prior to joining Aus Ship, Leo handled claims for leading container line, and spent four years in London managing claims for an International Group P&I Club.
Leo holds a Degree in Law, and a Masters Degree in International Maritime Law.
Aus Ship – Surveyors
Adelaide
Captain Nello Magliulo
Nello Magliulo obtained his Foreign-going Masters certificate in 1968. Subsequent to completing Nautical College in Naples (Italy), he went to sea from 1962 until 1974, on vessels ranging from Passenger to General Cargo, Refrigerated to Tanker, Bulk Carrier and Ro-Ro. In 1974 he migrated to Australia and in 1975 commenced employment with Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS) in Sydney as a Marine Surveyor. By the end of the same year he had helped expand SGS Petroleum Services Australia wide and in 1979 was relocated to Adelaide to open a new office. In 1987 he was a lecturer for the Redwood (Petroleum & Petrochemical Div.) Training Courses. In 1988 he was appointed as International Shipping Coordinator and in 1994 as the National Redwood Manager for SGS Australia. Nello joined Aus Ship P&I in our Adelaide office in 1996.
Brisbane
Mr Greg Pugh
Greg Pugh started his career working as a fitter for various refineries and energy companies where he quickly moved from an apprentice to foreman. After receiving his Degree in Engineering from Newcastle Marine Engineering College 1985 he went to sea working for Caltex as a Trainee Marine Engineer Officer and relief 3rd Engineer Officer. Between 1989 and 1992 Greg attained his Second and First Class Motor and Steam Certificates of Competency.
Following his traineeship with Caltex he continued his career as an engineer on oil tankers working his way up to become a 1st Engineer. During the period of 1994 – 2002 he moved on to work as a Maintenance Technician/Engineer on FPSOs.
In 1995 Greg started Australian Seastaff International Pty Ltd – a company that established and pioneered recruitment of Australian Officers for direct employment with overseas shipping companies including BP Shipping, Thome Ship Management Singapore, World-Wide Tankers Singapore, Osprey Maritime London on LNG, Crude and Product.
In 2005 Greg became the Ship Manager/Acting Fleet Manager for ASP Ship Management Pty Ltd, – position he held for two years until he became Senior Technical Superintendent Engineer at Thome Offshore Management Pte Ltd from 2007 to 2010.
In 2011 he joined Normarine Services Pty Ltd as a Marine Consultant and Ship/Cargo surveyor.
Burnie (Tasmania)
Captain Brian Peters
Brian first went to sea with Bank Line in 1965 and left the sea in 1979 to take up a position with SGS in 1979. Whilst at sea he served on tankers, general cargo vessels, container ships and passenger vessels and obtained his first command in 1978. Brian worked for SGS in Victoria until 1985 when he started his own surveying business in Northern Tasmania. He has a wide range of experience as a surveyor and has represented P&I clubs on numerous occasions. Additionally, he lectures in Cargo Handling and Stowage and Navigation for the Australian Maritime College and assists a large overseas ship manager in relation to condition and quality control compliance of their vessels.
Darwin
Captain Abdul Quader
After spending 16 years at sea including 5 years as Chief Officer and Master on board vehicle carriers and container ships, since “swallowing the anchor” Abdul has worked ashore for the past 8 years in Australia as a marine surveyor, marine superintendent and offshore marine coordinator. During that period he has had extensive experience with the oil and gas industry in the Northern Territory.
Abdul is a member of the Australian Institute of Marine Surveyors, an Associate of The Nautical Institute (UK) Lead Auditor ISO 9001:2008/ISM Management Systems and is the approved Nautical Inspector for the maritime Authorities of the Bahamas, Liberia and Malta.
He is the owner and general manager of Voyager Marine which is a marine surveying and consultancy firm which operates out of Darwin, Northern Territories.
Newcastle
Captain Brendan Quinlan
Brendan first went to sea with BHP Transport in 1980, serving on various dry bulk and general cargo carriers, obtaining his Foreign Going Masters in 1988. From 1989, he worked as cargo Superintendent with the Port Waratah Stevedoring Company in Newcastle till 1991. Since 1991 he has been working as a Marine Surveyor in Newcastle, and has been involved in many matters with the Clubs during this time.
Port Kembla
Captain Norman Sadd
Norman obtained his foreign going Masters Certificate in 1973 having served on general cargo and tanker vessels. Following periods as Tug Master and Surveyor with Lloyd’s Insurance in Sydney he joined ANL, Port Kembla where he managed the Container Terminal handling steel and containerised cargoes. In 1984 Norman became manager of the ANL Container at Port Botany and in1990 as Assistant National Operations manager was leader of the team which drew up the first National Waterfront Enterprise Agreement. In 1991 he returned to Port Kembla to work as a Marine Surveyor. He is now studying for his Masters Degree in Business (Maritime). Norman for many years lectured in Navigation and Seamanship at Wollongong TAFE. In 1996 he represented the owners of the “MV Giga 2” following the major collapse of a bulkhead which resulted in the near drowning of two men.