Brookes Bell welcomes David Browbank as New Fuel Chemist

We are thrilled to welcome David Browbank as our newest Fuel Chemist based in the United Kingdom as we continue to acquire skilled and unique talent that have experience outside of the traditional maritime space to help improve the capabilities of the wider team.

With more than 26 years of experience working in the scientific testing and analysis industry, David brings an extensive portfolio of knowledge and experience across a number of industries and sectors to our global team of Fuel Chemists and Marine Engineers.

In 1998, David joined Pattinson Scientific Services in Newcastle as an analyst, with a focus on food, soil, water and environmental testing. For four years, David led the company’s water testing division, which involved wet chemistry techniques and instrumentation, atomic absorption and ion chromatography. During his time at Pattinson’s, he also secured his degree in B.Sc. Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry at Northumbria University to further his professional credentials and understanding of critical scientific principles.

In 2008, David joined Intertek Lintec, one of the world’s leading total quality assurance providers, as a Fuel Analyst and later as the Technical Supervisor. He then became a Customer Service Coordinator with a focus on the maritime sector, including bunker Quantity Survey coordination and marine fuel testing reports. His 16-year tenure at Intertek Lintec gave David the experience he needed to become one of the leading bunker fuel experts in the industry.

In addition to his professional experience, David also sits on a number of major panels at the Energy Institute, particularly those related to inorganic materials and sulphur testing methods.

David joined Brookes Bell in August 2024 and is now dealing with a number of witness analysis cases on behalf of the marine insurance industry, including fuel oil and cargo cases. His role will be beneficial to our clients and the wider shipping sector as he looks to use his expertise to resolve claims disputes related to fuel issues.

“It is fantastic to join Brookes Bell at this stage of my career. For the past 16 years, I have spent a great amount of time learning about the risks and challenges related to fuel and bunkering in the maritime industry. To be able to put that experience into practice at such a renowned organisation as Brookes Bell and to learn from the high level of expertise they already have here is such a fantastic opportunity,” David noted.

“I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge of the maritime industry and to bring a new and unique approach to the table to help the Brookes Bell team support all of our clients. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to getting onboard some vessels as soon as possible,” he added.

David joins us at a particularly noticeable time for the maritime fuel industry. With a host of bunker and emission-related regulations currently in force and set to come online in the near future, particularly surrounding greener alternative fuel options such as biofuels, methanol and hydrogen, David noted the importance of our work in assisting clients with these issues.

“As an independent advisor for maritime players, it is vital that as Fuel Chemists we are keeping on top of the regulations and making sure the industry is doing their bit to enforce them. Added to that are all the new fuels hitting the market. It is important that Brookes Bell’s fuel specialists are keeping abreast of all the risks and impacts these new fuels may bring. It is an exciting time for the industry, but also a time that will bring many challenges for the shipping sector,” he added.