Expert Witness

I am Philip John Wood of 16 Old Bond Street, London W1S 4PS for 24 years I have been Chartering Manager of Trade & Transport (UK) Ltd the London Agents of a Shipowning and Management Company which over the years has had a mixed fleet of dry cargo and tanker vessels.

The current fleet of tankers is employed in the crude oil and dirty product trades and fixed most regularly on the spot market.

I have been a member of the Baltic Exchange since September 1974 and prior to my present employment worked as an Owners broker and Charterers agent as well as being involved in Sale and Purchase for group business.

I served at sea as a midshipman and navigating officer with Blue Funnel Line between 1961 and 1974 when I obtained my Certificate of Competency as a Master Mariner (Foreign Going). In 1972 I graduated as Bachelor of Science (Nautical Studies) and in 1984 I graduated as Master of Science, Shipping Trade and Finance.

I am a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, Fellow of the Nautical Institute, Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a supporting member of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association. I am a Past Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and the current President of the Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers and Agents.

I regularly lecture on such topics as the Tanker Markets, Shipping Business and Laytime at various seminars organised by Cambridge Academy of Transport, Lloyd’s Maritime Academy and the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. I am the author of the textbook, “Tanker Chartering”, published by Witherby and Co., London, with the second edition in preparation.

Over approximately the last 15 years I have been engaged a number of times as an expert witness, preparing reports and occasionally appearing at hearings on matters covering various dry cargo and tanker disputes.