Director of Nautical, Master Mariner
FNI, HCMM
work
Liverpool
daniel.millett@brookesbell.com
Career Summary
Daniel Millett is a Master Mariner with command experience. He joined Brookes Bell in August 2014 and became Director of Nautical in January 2024. He sailed as Master with Foreland Shipping Ltd., on their fleet of deep-sea Ro-Ro vessels, carrying containers, break bulk and standard/heavy tracked Ro-Ro cargoes. During his 14‑year career at sea, he served on various ship types including Ro-Ro, offshore vessels, dredgers and a bulk carrier.
Background
Daniel spent most of his career on vessels with Integrated Bridge Systems fitted with electronic charts which enabled him to build up his knowledge of these systems and has a keen interest in Digitalisation within the shipping industry. This had led to him preparing reports on ECDIS matters for Court and Arbitrations, in both the UK and overseas. Daniel supervises the AIS/MADAS software capability within Brookes Bell and has undertaken a number of electronic reconstructions using various navigational data obtained from AIS and/or VDR. Daniel has presented lectures for the Nautical Institute on ECDIS and Container Stowage and Securing.
Daniel has provided expert opinion and acted as an expert witness at various Arbitration and Crown Court proceedings in the UK.
Daniel has carried out a variety of survey and opinion-based work since joining Brookes Bell; these are listed at the end of this CV. His particular specialisations include; hold cleaning and hold preparation of bulk carriers, stowage and securing of Ro-Ro cargoes, as well as stowage of steel, break-bulk and bagged cargoes on bulk carriers. In addition, Daniel specialises in ECDIS, VDR and AIS analysis of collisions, groundings and unsafe port disputes. Daniel has spoken at a hold preparation/cleaning Webinar and written an article on the stowage of break-bulk on bulk carriers for IG P&I Clubs.
Daniel regularly attends incidents on bulk carriers and is fully familiar with the operation of these types of vessels including detailed hatch cover assessments. Daniel is a certified SDT Ultrasound Hatch Cover Operator.
Daniel has attended various high-profile fire and shift of cargo casualties and provided expert opinion on same.
Professional Qualifications
- Master – Unlimited – II/2
Academic Qualifications
- Higher National Diploma (Nautical Science)
Professional Associations
- The Nautical Institute (Fellow)
- Freeman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners (HCMM)
Previous Employment History
- Swire Pacific Offshore - Chief Officer
Served as Chief Officer on anchor handling vessels, based out in South East Asia and Southern Africa. Responsible for the safe loading, discharging, securing and stability of the vessel at all times. Carried out bridge watch-keeping duties. This included dynamic positioning station-keeping while at offshore structures.
- Foreland Shipping Ltd. - Master
Served as Master on a Class 7 Ro-Ro vessel. The vessel traded in Northern Europe including Arctic waters, Mediterranean, Middle East, East and West Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean. He regularly undertook ship-handling and manoeuvring of the vessel during berthing operations. During this time, involved in the dry docking of vessels and ensured the vessels completed all the statutory surveys working with Classification surveyors.
Regularly traded through the Gulf of Aden while undertaking anti-piracy measures as recommended by various organisations such as the IMB and UKMTO, etc. He is fully familiar with the latest version of Best Management Practices for Protection against Somalia Based Piracy.
- Foreland Shipping Ltd. - Chief Officer
Employed as Chief Officer, and responsibilities included the safe loading/discharging of the vessels in accordance with IMO Codes and stability considerations throughout the voyage. In charge of planned maintenance for all safety equipment, cargo securing equipment and watertight doors. Involved in the generation of the company Emergency Towing Booklet.
Surveying and Consultancy Experience
Damage to and/or loss involving:
- Various bulk cargoes, including grains, fertilisers and petcoke
- Break bulk cargoes
- Containers
- Distressed container cargoes during salvage operation as a result of fire
- Hatch cover surveys and inspections including ultrasonic testing
- Port structure assessment following vessel contact
- Refrigerated cargoes
- Ro-Ro cargoes
- Scrap cargoes
- Steel cargoes, unfinished, finished and structural
- Structural damage to vessels
Investigation into and providing expert opinion on:
- Analysis of crew actions in the event of and during fire incidents
- Bulk cargoes - various
- Collisions/allisions
- Condition surveys
- Container shift analysis and collapse of stacks
- Crane matters - including the operation of and best practice by the crew and/or stevedores
- Disputes arising from piracy
- Dredging claim within port limits regarding underwater obstruction
- ECDIS, VDR and AIS analysis of collisions and groundings
- Groundings including on the Parana River
- Hatch cover inspections
- Hold cleaning disputes which includes both opinion and attending vessels throughout Europe
- Ice Navigation including winterisation of vessels and problems arising with frozen ballast
- ISM matters
- Lashing and securing of cargo
- Navigational Risk Assessment for proposed installation of wind farms
- Personal Injury Claims
- Personal injury involving Fast Rescue Craft and Rescue Boats
- Pre-loading condition of cargo
- Provided assistance to the Master in undertaking gas readings with self-heating cargoes, such as petcoke
- Scrap cargoes
- Stability considerations
- Unsafe Port Disputes