When Nick Boksa started his eponymous naval architecture and engineering company in 2003, he probably didn’t anticipate that his background in commercial shipping would inspire him to offer a specific service to yacht owners and management companies with emergencies on their hands.
But inspire it did. The result, On-Call Casualty Response Service, provides access to a naval architect around the clock, every day of the year. Whether the megayacht has been involved in an accident or another situation in which the structure is potentially compromised, Boksa says his team can aid the crew in deciding what to do. For a yearly fee, the company will ensure the staff is familiar with the yacht, maintain files (both electronic and hard copies) on site, and remain on call to consult on and assess things like structural damage and engineering as well as stability. The service is available for fiberglass, steel, and aluminum yachts.
The idea came about after a conversation Boksa had with the head of a leading yacht-management firm. Since these companies oversee many different yachts, he realized they could probably use a hand and that owners would also appreciate the service. In addition, “Many times, the crew may not completely understand issues dealing with damage stability or structural integrity after an incident,” he explains.
It all stems from the years Boksa spent as the naval architect for a commercial shipping company. It’s common practice in that sector to have one person oversee casualty response, which was his duty. “This dealt with everything from simple groundings through onboard fires and oil spills,” he says. “I spent many a long night answering phone calls from vessels needing our assistance. The U.S. Coast Guard required a third-party response team on-call to offer advice, etc. I was in charge of managing those groups.”
For further information, contact Boksa.
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