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Insights

Rik van Hemmen

Rik van Hemmen @ the shipwreck New Carissa salvage job in February 1999. “If things get strange, we get the call.” ics of yacht design had become less appealing. like that to solve the problem. We go deep into the mari-

Harry Ottaway, his father’s business partner, suggested time adventure in solving the problem.” bringing him into Martin & Ottaway. The company works across engineering, insurance, legal

His father agreed, with one condition. “You don’t work disputes, ? nance, cargo operations and maritime econom- for me, you’re going to work for Harry Ottaway.” Van ics. Its engineers are frequently brought into situations

Hemmen joined the company that year, beginning a pro- where something has failed, whether a vessel, a technology, fessional association that continues today. a commercial arrangement or an operating procedure.

“The vast majority of problems that we have are fail- ures,” he said.

“If things get strange, we get the call”

Martin & Ottaway recently celebrated its 150th anni- With approximately 10 engineers, the company handles versary, an occasion marked by the publication of Let Me about 200 projects annually. Van Hemmen estimates its

Be Frank: Martin & Ottaway, 150 Years. client base at 600 to 700, although some clients may call

The title refers partly to three generations of company only once in 20 years. “They generally know that if things leadership named Francis Martin. It also re? ects the book’s gets strange and complicated, we get a call.” approach to recounting the company’s history, with the founding Francis Martin serving as a narrative voice, even

Maritime’s Greatest Problem? beyond his death in 1921.

Getting People in the Door

For van Hemmen, the title has a third meaning: an at- Ask van Hemmen about the industry’s workforce shortage tempt to speak candidly about the maritime business. and the conversation quickly moves beyond wages, recruit-

That candor is evident in how he describes the ? rm. ment campaigns and maritime academies. His concern is “We’re an engineering company that really is involved in more fundamental. “The problem we have today is the gen- wide ranging problem solving,” he said. eral public doesn’t know how to enter it. It’s too isolated.” “We don’t just use calculations and drafting and stuff Historically, maritime careers were visible. Ships lined 10 | MN November 2026