CAPT. MARK KNOWLES
Marine Operations Expert Witness & Consultant
Specializing in Recreational Marine & Passenger Vessel Operations
Jet Ski / PWC Rentals & Tours • Tour & Sightseeing Boats
Ferries • Boat Rentals • Dive & Fishing Charters
Passenger Safety
Assisting plaintiff and defense counsel with matters involving marine operating practices, captain and crew conduct, passenger safety, training, supervision and standard of care.
32+ Years Maritime Experience • USCG 200-Ton Master
USCG Approved Instructor • Marine Surveyor & Accident Investigator • NSBC Instructor
Marine Operations Expertise
Capt. Mark Knowles provides expert consultation involving the operational side of recreational boating and passenger-vessel matters.
His work focuses on how vessels are operated, how passengers and renters are instructed and supervised, how captains and crew perform their duties, and whether operating practices were consistent with those reasonably expected of competent marine professionals under the circumstances.
Areas of Consultation
Jet Ski / PWC Rentals & Tours
Operator orientation, instruction, competency, supervision, tour procedures and operating restrictions.
Tour & Passenger Vessel Operations
Dolphin and wildlife tours, sightseeing vessels, excursion boats, dinner cruises, ferries, water taxis and other passenger operations.
Boat Rental Operations
Renter screening, safety briefings, familiarization, competency assessment and operating procedures.
Captain & Crew Conduct
Lookout, safe speed, navigation, vessel handling, passenger management, decision-making and crew responsibilities.
Passenger Safety
Boarding, disembarkation, passenger movement, warnings, supervision, safety briefings and emergency procedures.
Fishing & Dive Charters
Captain and crew responsibilities, passenger instruction, vessel operation, boarding and supervision.
Training & Supervision
Captain, crew, employee, renter and customer training, competency and operating procedures.
Marina, Dock & Boat-Ramp Operations
Operational hazards, inspection practices, warnings, maintenance procedures and the practical use of marine facilities.
How I Assist Counsel
Case Screening
Early review of allegations and available evidence to identify relevant marine-operational issues.
Records & Evidence Review
Photographs, video, incident reports, depositions, vessel records, rental documents, training materials, policies, procedures and other relevant evidence.
Operational Analysis
Evaluation of vessel operation, captain and crew conduct, renter instruction, passenger management, training and supervision.
Site & Vessel Inspections
Inspection of vessels, docks, marinas, boat ramps and passenger boarding areas when appropriate.
Training & Procedure Review
Assessment of safety briefings, SOPs, renter orientation, employee training and competency procedures.
Expert Reports & Testimony
Clear professional opinions within the scope of marine operations, including deposition and trial testimony when retained for those services.
Opposing Expert Review
Evaluation of opinions involving marine operations, passenger safety, vessel handling, training and accepted operating practices.
A Practical Operations Perspective
Marine cases are not always engineering or accident-reconstruction questions.
They may instead involve whether a Jet Ski renter received adequate instruction, whether a captain maintained a proper lookout, whether passengers were appropriately supervised, whether boarding procedures were reasonable, or whether a tour or rental operator followed appropriate operating practices.
Make this sentence large and prominent:
" What should a competent captain, crew member, instructor, rental operator or passenger-vessel operator reasonably have recognized and done under the circumstances? "
Capt. Knowles evaluates these questions through more than three decades of practical vessel operations, instruction, marine surveying and accident investigation experience.
Capt. Mark Knowles
Capt. Mark Knowles has more than 32 years of professional maritime experience encompassing vessel operations, passenger transportation, recreational boating instruction, marine surveying, accident investigation and professional mariner training.
His operating background includes passenger vessels, ferries, yachts, dive vessels, water taxis, excursion operations and recreational vessels.
He is a United States Coast Guard 200-Ton Master and USCG Approved Instructor with extensive experience teaching professional mariners and recreational boat operators.
His expert work is focused on practical marine operations rather than engineering or accident reconstruction.
Capt. Knowles accepts engagements from both plaintiff and defense counsel. His opinions are based on the available evidence, applicable regulations where relevant, recognized marine practices and professional experience.
Credentials
USCG 200-Ton Master
USCG Approved Instructor
Master Marine Surveyor & Accident Investigator
National Safe Boating Council Instructor
Florida Safe Boater Instructor
PADI IDC Staff Instructor
PADI Freediving Instructor
32+ Years Professional Maritime Experience
Submission of an inquiry does not create an engagement. All matters are subject to conflict review and written agreement.