About Us

Capt. Thomas D. Laing, Jr. NAMS-CMS, ASA

Principal Marine Surveyor

Capt. Laing has been employed in the marine industry since 1959 and a marine surveyor since 1975. He previously worked as a commercial fisherman, ship-fitter in a major Gulf Coast shipbuilding company, deckhand, Mate, Captain & Port Captain. Before the 1983 forming of Commercial Marine Service, Inc., Capt. Laing served as a staff surveyor to two well established marine survey firms.

Capt. Laing is well known and respected in the maritime industry. He served as original Chairperson of the Congressionally mandated "Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee" to the US Secretary of Transportation Subcommittee. This subcommittee was responsible for the recommendations that became 46-CFR-28. Captain Laing is a former President of NAMS.

Capt. Laing is a NAMS "Certified Marine Surveyor" and Past President of The National Association of Marine Surveyors. He also holds the American Society of Appraisers, "Accredited Senior Appraiser"

Curriculum Vitae

Education	1949-1962 Public School - Biloxi, MS - Class of 1962 1963-1964 MTDA Training Program, Jackson County Jr. College, Gautier, MS 1967 Attended Armstrong School of Navigation New Orleans, LA 1972 Completed Marad original Radar endorsement class 1972 Attended Marad Gyro compass Maintenance & Operation coarse 1976-77 Attended Southmost College - Welding Trades School 1980 Attended Houston School of Navigation, New Orleans, LA 1982 Completed Dale Carnegie coarse 1982 Completed National Cargo Bureau Ship Stability Coarse 1982-1992 Attended Houston Marine Insurance Seminar 1988-1989 Attended Texas A&M University Marine Safety Seminars 1988-2002 Attended semi-annual NAMS marine conferences 2001 Completed ASA - SE100 USPAP Certification seminar Houston, TX 2002 Completed ASA - ME 201& 208 Valuation Courses
Professional memberships	1980- Present The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) 1981-Present The National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) 1992-Present Puget sound Marine Claims Association 1992-Present Marine Insurance Association of Seattle 2001-Present American Society of Appraisers (ASA)
Accreditations	USCG Merchant Marine Master 1600/3000 tons (First USCG License 1967) NAMS General Marine Surveyor "CMS" Qualification Certificate (issued 1981) USCG "Accepted" Third Party Fishing Vessel Inspector NCB, National Cargo Bureau Ship Stability Certificate No. 1120 ASA, American Society of Appraisers, "Accredited Senior Appraiser"
Professional experience	1959-1962 Summer time deckhand aboard various fishing trawlers 1963-1964 Ship-fitter at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS 1965-1969 Deckhand, Mate, Captain aboard offshore oilfield vessels 1970-1975 Port Captain (field manager) for offshore oilfield service vessel company, managing Classification and Certification inspections, maintenance, operational problems and training of 96-personnel on eleven vessels. 1975-1976 Staff surveyor at New Orleans, LA and later as Resident Surveyor the at Port of Brownsville, TX 1976-1980 Owned & operated Texas Torpedo, Inc. a topside repair also Thomas D. Laing & Associates, a marine surveying business at Brownsville, TX. During above period also managed Shell-Tex Fisheries trawler fleet. 1980-1983 Staff surveyor in a general marine survey firm at Houston, TX 1983-Present Owner and Principal Marine Surveyor of Commercial Marine Service, Inc., a general marine survey practice of Houston, TX and Seattle, WA.
Summary of qualifications	Principal Marine Surveyor to Commercial Marine Service, Inc., has on a world wide basis personally attended over 3,500 marine surveys of Ships, Tugs, Towboats, Inland and Offshore Barges, Oilfield vessels, Fishing Vessels, Yachts, docks, Piers, Shipyards, Marine Ways, Dry-docks, Marinas, Offshore and Land Based Oil Drilling Rigs and Production Facilities for the purpose of determining Damage, suitability or Condition and/or Valuation for financial or insurance interests dealing with values up to $60-mil; Served on Texas A&M Sea-Grant Fishing Industry Advisory Committee that produced the Gulf Coast Fishing Vessel Safety Manual; 1989-90, served as original Chair of Subcommittee "B" Rules & Regulations of Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Advisory Committee to US Secretary of Transportation. This subcommittee provided the recommendations that became 46-CFR-28. 1988-1992; NAMS Board of Directors 1996 - 2002; 1998-2000 NAMS National President.