John Radcliffe - Forensic Engineer / Metallurgist

Contact Details

John Radcliffe is a Forensic Engineer / Metallurgist. In addition to conducting metallurgical investigations, John also undertakes a wide variety of marine surveys, claims and accident investigations, including high profile shipping casualties for General Average and Salvage interests. Prior to joining Taylor Marine, John spent ten years as a litigation paralegal with a number of leading, locally based law firms, including Hill Dickinson, dealing with personal injury claims in matters of employment and public liability for large commercial businesses and insurance companies, as well as high value industrial disease claims on behalf of trade unions.

John obtained his Masters degree in Forensic Engineering and Science from Cranfield University’s Forensic Institute located at the U.K.’s Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. In addition to material science and metallurgy, John’s degree focused on the full array of failure analysis processes and analytical methods, laboratory operations and quality procedures, in addition to aspects of law, such as the role of expert witness and reporting writing, in addition to investigating mass fatality incidents, fires and explosions. John Master's thesis focused on 'Additive Manufacturing (3D printing) and its affects on the process of Failure Analysis and Investigation'.

Since joining Taylor Marine in November 2011, John has been involved in a wide variety of cases, including:

Forensic Engineering / Metallurgy

• Investigation and analysis of engine valve failures
• Crane lifting wire failures
• Fatigue failure of main engine components
• Advice on failure of tie bars and lock gates
• Investigation and analysis of fast chemical corrosion and excessive wear and tear of main engine components (fuel pumps, plungers, and barrels etc.)
• Investigation and analysis of main engine turbo charger failure
• Stern tube / ring corrosion to passenger ferry
• Investigating and analysing alleged seawater damage to steel products
• Investigation and analysis of main engine and auxiliary engine fuel system components due to off-spec bunkers

Marine Survey’s, Claims and Investigations

• Damages to steel cargoes at outturn e.g., wetting, shifting, and handling damages etc.
• Damage to bulk cargoes, including wetting / contamination, Self-heating, and Fumigation Issues
• Temperature abuse to refrigerated cargoes.
• Damages to vessel’s and / or cargo due to fire, collision, and groundings on behalf of Salvors, General Average and Charterer's (Including MSC Flaminia, MOL Comfort, Maersk Honam, V-Due, Yantian Express, X-Press Pearl, Zim Kingston, Almirante Storni etc.)
• Damages to fixed and floating objects, including port property.
• Hull & Machinery investigations, including assessment of repair costs.

(Full C.V./list Available on Request)

John is a member (MIMMM) of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining: IMO3, a Member (MCSFS) of The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, and a fully registered and active STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Ambassador.