HEC GROUP OF COMPANIES & BIOS

Hendrik Bruhns

(HEC) HERBERT ENGINEERING CORP. – Hendrik Bruhns – President

Hendrik Bruhns is President of Herbert Engineering Corp (HEC), bringing over three decades of leadership in naval architecture, maritime software, and regulatory consulting. He previously served as President of Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC and has been a HEC Board member since 2009. Hendrik oversees global operations, driving innovation in vessel design, structural analysis, decarbonization strategies, and compliance with evolving maritime regulations. He also serves as Chairman of HEC’s Shanghai office and a Director at Herbert-ABS.

(HEC) HERBERT ENGINEERING CORP.

Eugene van Rynbach, Chairman
Nick DelGatto – Vice President, Operations Manager
Cameron Baker – Vice President, Treasurer
Spencer Schilling – Senior Principal
John Paulling – Senior Principal, Manager Offshore Design Services
Brent Morrison – Manager Advanced Analysis

(HES) HERBERT ENGINEERING SHANGHAI CO. LTD. – John Zhang – General Manager

Herbert Engineering Shanghai Co., Ltd. (HES) was established in Shanghai in 2004 to provide our clients access and support in China’s rapidly expanding shipbuilding industry. It is registered as a wholly-owned foreign entity with 100% ownership and control by HEC. We have access to qualified marine engineers and naval architects who are fluent in English. The work that could be done includes acting as the owner’s representative for ship repair supervision, retrofit engineering project management, and regulatory compliance inspection.

This company builds on the strong agent representation HEC has had in China since 1995. The stable and dedicated local staff comprises naval architects and marine engineers familiar with the standards and shipyard practices of the region. Combining HEC experience with the technical skills and capabilities of the HES staff provides international owners looking to build or repair in China with knowledgeable in-country support.

(HEE) HERBERT ENGINEERING EUROPE – Luca Letizia – Managing Director

In July 2008, HEC opened its European subsidiary, Herbert Engineering Europe (UK) Ltd. (HEE), to better assist our existing European customers and further expand our activities in both northern and southern Europe. HEE provides customer support services and engineering, collaborating with staff from other HEC offices. The European fleet consists of many technology and innovation leaders, and it believes that maintaining an active presence in this market is vital.

Mike-Newton

HERBERT-ABS Software Solutions LLC – Michael Newton – President (50/50 Partnership with ABS)

In 2011, Herbert Engineering Corp. (HEC) and the class society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) agreed to form a joint venture company, Herbert-ABS Software Solutions, LLC (Herbert-ABS). Herbert-ABS offers cutting-edge loading and salvage analysis software and naval architectural design software tools.

Herbert-ABS owns, develops, markets, and supports the existing and legacy Herbert software products, including its shipboard loading software (CargoMax), salvage response software (HECSALV), design and regulatory stability assessment software (HECSTAB), and load management software for offshore structures (LMP). Herbert-ABS leverages ABS’s resources and HEC’s offices in China and Europe to provide its clients worldwide service and support.

Michael Newton – President

Justin Morgan – Vice President, Software Development Manager

Arnold Cho – Manager Busan, Korea

Please refer to the Herbert-ABS Software Solutions, LLC website for additional information.

Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

Robert Tagg

Principal, Naval Architect

Robert Tagg is a UK Chartered Engineer and Senior Principal Naval Architect at HEC with nearly 50 years of experience in ship design, structural analysis, damage stability, salvage support, and regulatory compliance consulting, having joined HEC in 1976. Rob has led major design projects, managed HEC’s international offices, served as Vice President of HEC, President of Herbert-ABS Software Solutions, and Chairman of the Board of HEC Companies. A Fellow of SNAME and a member of RINA, Rob has contributed extensively to the development of IMO safety and environmental regulations and has participated in IMO Delegations from the US and several industry NGOs. He is a recipient of the SNAME Land Medal and Cochrane Award. He holds a B.S. from the University of Michigan and completed 3 years of postgraduate research in the UK at the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow. Rob is a participant in several SNAME Technical and Research Panels and is currently a member of the RINA delegation to the IMO, contributing to the development of marine decarbonization and environmental regulations.

Spencer Schilling, P.E.

Principal, Naval Architect

Spencer A. Schilling served as President of HEC for 14 years (2007-2021). He is also a Principal Naval Architect with over 40 years of experience in ship design, structural analysis, and environmental compliance. He has supported major ship acquisition projects for commercial and government clients and served as a technical delegate to IMO, contributing to ballast water, emissions, and stability regulations. He holds degrees from Webb Institute and UC Berkeley and remains active in SNAME.

Hendrik Bruhns

Hendrik Bruhns

President and Principal, Naval Architect

Hendrik Bruhns is President of Herbert Engineering Corp (HEC), bringing over three decades of leadership in naval architecture, maritime software, and regulatory consulting. He previously served as President of Herbert-ABS Software Solutions LLC and has been a HEC Board member since 2009. His background includes leading the Stability Department at Germanischer Lloyd and early engineering roles at MEC Marine Equipment & Consulting. At HEC, Hendrik oversees global operations, driving innovation in vessel design, structural analysis, decarbonization strategies, and compliance with evolving maritime regulations. He also serves as Chairman of HEC’s Shanghai office and a Director at Herbert-ABS. Active in the IMO and the National Academy of Sciences, Hendrik combines technical expertise with strategic vision—fostering HEC’s commitment to engineering excellence, collaboration, and next-generation leadership.

Peter Zink

Principal, Naval Architect and Marine Engineer

Peter Zink is a Principal, Naval Architect & Marine Engineer at HEC with extensive experience in containership design, structural analysis, and ship conversions. He has managed major retrofit projects, contributed to the ABS Guideline for Container Securing Systems, and co-authored the containership chapter in Ship Design and Construction. Prior to joining HEC, he worked at American President Lines and holds degrees from Webb Institute and UC Berkeley.

Eugene Van Rynbach

Eugene Van Rynbach

Chairman and Principal, Naval Architect and Marine Engineer

Eugene van Rynbach is Chairman and Senior Principal at HEC, with 50 years of experience in naval architecture and marine engineering. His expertise spans ship design, new construction design support, ship modifications and regulatory compliance. He has led projects on the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) design, owners technical support for multiple new construction projects, ballast water systems, scrubber retrofits, FPSO conversions, and he has contributed to U.S. Coast Guard stability regulation reviews. A former technical manager at Sea-Land Service, Eugene holds degrees from UC Berkeley and SUNY Maritime and has chaired several National Academy of Sciences maritime committees.

John Paulling, P.E.

Principal, Naval Architect & Civil Engineer

John Paulling, P.E., is Senior Principal and Manager of Offshore Design Services at HEC. With over 40 years of experience, he specializes in FPSOs, floating structures, structural analysis, and mooring design. John has led major offshore projects in Angola, Brazil, and the North Sea. He holds degrees from UC Berkeley in Civil and Ocean Engineering and is a licensed P.E. in California and Texas. His work has been recognized by SNAME for excellence in offshore engineering.

Brent Morrison

Manager Advanced Analysis and Senior Associate Marine Engineer & Naval Architect

Brent joined HEC in 2023 following four years as an independent naval architect and eight years as an Ocean Engineer at Glosten. He holds an engineering degree from Webb Institute and a degree in art history from Dartmouth College. His expertise spans vessel motions, mooring analysis, environmental loading, intact and damaged stability, concept development, and tradeoff studies. As Manager of Advanced Analysis, Brent leads the advancement and application of HEC’s analytical tools and methodologies.

John Zhang

HES –  Shanghai – General Manager

John Zhang is the General Manager and a Naval Architect at HES –  Shanghai, contributing to structural analysis and ship design projects. With a background in naval architecture and marine engineering, Zhang supports the development of innovative maritime solutions, ensuring compliance with international regulations and advancing HEC’s commitment to engineering excellence.

Panos Roussos

HEE – Europe – CEng MRINA, Senior Naval Architect, Project Manager

Since joining HEC in 2013, Panos has contributed to CFD powering analyses for fuel and emissions optimization and led structural and stability assessments, including multiple CargoMax implementations for European clients of Herbert-ABS Software. He holds an MSc with distinction from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, including an SHI shipyard internship. His focus areas include concept design and decarbonization strategies.

Colin Moore, Ph.D.

Principal Naval Architect and Manager of Advanced Analysis & Salvage Engineering

Dr. Colin Moore is an Advisory Senior Principal Naval Architect at Herbert Engineering Corp. With expertise in intact stability, risk assessment, and structural analysis, he has led major projects for vessel safety, environmental risk, and emergency response. He authored the Intact Stability volume in The Principles of Naval Architecture, contributed to USCG and IMO regulatory studies, and has developed industry-leading salvage engineering software. He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from UC Berkeley.

Luca Letizia, Ph.D, Frina

HEE – Europe – Managing Director and Principal, Naval Architect

Luca joined HEC in 2004 following eight years as Technical Manager at Safety At Sea Ltd., a marine consultancy affiliated with the Ship Stability Research Centre at the University of Strathclyde, where he also earned his PhD. He leads HEC’s European operations, overseeing project delivery and providing technical direction across a range of naval architecture initiatives. His primary research interest is the development of nuclear-powered commercial vessels, which he views as a critical pathway toward zero-emissions shipping.

Seong Ju “Jimmy” Lee

Principal, Marine Engineer

Jimmy joined Herbert Engineering in 2020, bringing 30 years of experience in ship design and offshore engineering from Hanwha Ocean (formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co., Ltd.). He has expertise in marine system design, equipment planning, and propulsion for tankers, bulk carriers, containerships, and LNG/LPG carriers, as well as piping installation and commissioning.

J. “Bud” L. Gaitley

J. “Bud” L. Gaitley IV, Ch. Eng., P.E.

Senior Associate, Marine Engineer

J. “Bud” L. Gaitley IV, Cheng, P.E., is Senior Associate Marine Engineer at Herbert Engineering Corp., specializing in offshore engineering, ship retrofits, and mechanical systems integration. He has led engineering efforts for offshore drilling rigs, FPSOs, FSOs, Offshore Production Platforms and Undersea Pipelines, during his tenure at Transocean, SBM-IMODCO and Waldemar S. Nelson & Associates. A retired U.S. Navy Commander, Bud holds a B.S. in Marine Engineering Systems from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Bud also completed coursework toward a Master of Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Thermal and Fluid Dynamics, Heat Transfer and HVAC Systems.

Nick DelGatto

Vice President, Operations Manager and Senior Associate Marine Engineer & Naval Architect

Nick joined Herbert Engineering in 2013, shortly after earning his bachelor’s degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from Webb Institute in Glen Cove, NY. As the operations manager, he coordinates the company’s workload and allocates resources to enhance project efficiency. In recent years, Nick has served as the project manager and lead engineer for the LNG fuel integration design of several complex retrofit projects. Nick was also rewarded the 2024 SNAME Francis T. Bowles Medal.

Cameron Baker

Vice President, Treasurer and Senior Associate Marine Engineer & Naval Architect

Cameron Baker, P.E., serves as Vice President and Treasurer at Herbert Engineering Corp. A licensed Naval Architect, he leads marine engineering projects involving emissions compliance, fuel conversions, ballast water treatment retrofits, and energy efficiency studies. Cameron supports software development for container lashing and stowage systems and contributes to risk modeling tools for environmental protection. He holds a B.S. from Webb Institute.

Dale Pederson

Senior Naval Architect

Dale has been with HEC since graduating from Webb Institute in 2012 and has been based in the Glasgow office since 2015. With a core focus on structural engineering, his experience spans spectral fatigue analysis, plan review, model testing, rotor sail and scrubber installations, risk assessment, software development, and technical rendering. Dale has produced high-visibility renderings for the NSMV training ship series and various ABS publications. He particularly values rendering projects for their unique intersection of engineering precision and visual communication.

Nourhan Elsayed

Senior Marine Engineer, Project Management

Nourhan joined HEC in 2023 after 13 years as a Mechanical Design Engineer at Alexandria Shipyard. She holds a Master’s degree in marine engineering from Newcastle University. At HEC, she provides marine engineering support for retrofit and newbuild projects, with a focus on design development and technical analysis. Her interests include R&D initiatives related to CO₂ liquefaction plant skids for onboard applications, and she actively tracks advancements in global carbon capture and liquefaction technologies to support emissions reduction efforts.

Alex Hanford

Senior Naval Architect & Marine Engineer

Alex Hanford is a Senior Naval Architect & Marine Engineer at Herbert Engineering Corp., where he supports ship design & modification projects, intact & damaged stability analysis, and structural analysis. His project experience includes preparing stability studies and operating documents for a wide range of commercial and government vessels, fleet stability documentation management and update, shipyard supervision for drydocking and retrofit work, stability test supervision, and preparation of structural modifications and repairs for oceangoing vessels. Alex is a graduate of Webb Institute and is an active member of SNAME.

Ryan-Flanagan

Ryan Flanagan

Project Naval Architect & Marine Engineer

Ryan Flanagan is a Project Naval Architect & Marine Engineer at Herbert Engineering Corp. A graduate of Webb Institute, he contributes to ship design, structural analysis, and regulatory compliance. Ryan supports various projects, including decarbonization initiatives and advanced vessel performance assessments, aligning with HEC’s commitment to innovative maritime solutions.

Sasha

Alexander (Sasha) Kritsuk

HEE – Staff Naval Architect & Marine Engineer

Alexander (Sasha) Kritsuk is a Staff Naval Architect & Marine Engineer at Herbert Engineering Corp., where he supports vessel stability, retrofits, and regulatory compliance. Since joining in 2022, he has contributed to LNG conversions, re-engining projects, and stability documentation for U.S. and international clients. A Webb Institute graduate, Sasha’s favorite project was the Shell Whale inclining survey in Singapore. He is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

Andreas Morrison

HEE – Glasgow – Staff Naval Architect

Andreas joined Herbert Engineering in 2022 after graduating with an MEng degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He is based at the Glasgow office and works on ship structural analysis, design, stability, and hydrodynamics. His work on the Manukai LNG retrofit significantly improved the vessel’s environmental performance and extended its working life.

Richard-Payne

Richard Payne

Senior Design Drafter

Richard Payne is a Senior Design Drafter at Herbert Engineering Corp., bringing extensive experience in marine drafting and design. He contributes to ship design and conversion projects, supporting HEC’s engineering teams with detailed technical drawings and documentation. Richard’s expertise ensures precision and efficiency in the development of innovative maritime solutions.

Sydney-Balok

Sydney Barok 

Naval Architect/Marine Engineer 

Sydney Barok is a Staff Naval Architect at Herbert Engineering Corp. and a graduate of Webb Institute. Her background includes ship design internships with HEC, hands-on shipbuilding and repair experience, and service as an engine cadet with the Military Sealift Command. Sydney also studied Ship Science at the University of Southampton through an international exchange program. She contributes to ship design, engineering analysis, and operational support, aligning with HEC’s commitment to innovative and sustainable maritime solutions.

Quincy-Loman

Quincy Loman

Naval Architect

Quincy Lowman is a Naval Architect with experience in ship design, offshore renewable energy, and advanced hydrodynamic analysis. A graduate of the University of Michigan in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, he has contributed to vessel concept development, stability modeling, and performance assessments at both the Naval Surface Warfare Center and Principle Power Inc. Quincy has led weight management initiatives, developed design tools, and supported floating offshore wind projects from concept through detailed design, aligning with industry goals for innovation, sustainability, and efficiency.

Administration

Ada Cheung

In-House Accountant/Office Manager

Ada has been integral to the Herbert Engineering team since June 2003. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Denise Leja

Denise Mazar Leja

Administrative Assistant

Denise joined Herbert Engineering in February 2020.

Jason Gorman

Network Administrator

Jason brings over two decades of experience in network administration, technical and end user support. His background spans roles at Fremont Group, Caliper Life Sciences, and Community Violence Solutions, where he led systems administration, security, and help desk operations.

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions

Mike-Newton

Michael Newton

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions –
President

Justin-Morgan

Justin Morgan

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions –
Vice President, Software Development Manager

Arnold-Cho

Arnold Cho

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions –
Manager Busan, Korea

Brandon-Wui

Brandon Wui

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions –
HECSALV/HECSTAB Product Manager, Naval Architect

kristen-dill-HEC-project-manager

Kristen Dill

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions –
Project Manager

Furkan Cem Turfanda

Furkan Cem Turfanda

Herbert-ABS Software Solutions – Project Manager – Naval Architect