Charles Taylor has appointed Gordon Tennant (pictured) as its new regional director for its Marine Technical Services (MTS) in Asia, reflecting the firm’s continued investment in its maritime practice across the region.
Tennant will be based in Singapore and will report to Phil Osmotherley, global managing director, Marine Technical Services.
His career spans more than 40 years in maritime operations and consulting, including service as a 1st class marine engineer, roles as engineering superintendent and newbuild inspector, and experience with Braemar (ABL) in both London and Singapore.
Most recently, he has provided independent consulting for casualty investigations and technical surveys on behalf of insurers, shipowners, and other market participants.
Charles Taylor’s Asia-Pacific marine technical network includes offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Australia. The company positions its regional team to provide cross-border technical expertise without requiring multiple service providers on large or complex cases.
Osmotherley said the appointment strengthens the team’s ability to response to client needs in an increasingly challenging operating environment.
“We are delighted to welcome Gordon to our leadership team in Asia. His technical depth and experience in both operational and consulting roles make him uniquely positioned to ensure that our regional team continues to deliver trusted insights to our clients amid an increasingly complex marine landscape,” he said.
The leadership change coincides with new risk patterns highlighted in Allianz Commercial’s 2025 Safety and Shipping Review.
The report points to growing geopolitical and economic pressures affecting global shipping, alongside traditional operational challenges.
Regional conflicts, sanctions enforcement, and subsea cable damage have all added to exposures.
Protectionist trade measures are also reshaping flows, with tariffs covering nearly a fifth of maritime trade volumes by April 2025, up from less than 5% earlier in the year.
The expansion of the so-called shadow fleet has also emerged as a critical issue.
Allianz estimates around 17% of the global tanker fleet is now trading outside mainstream regulatory oversight, often transporting sanctioned oil.
Market estimates suggest as many as 1,400 vessels could be involved, representing up to one-fifth of global crude tanker capacity.
These ships often lack adequate maintenance or insurance cover, raising the prospect of costly environmental liabilities.
Cleanup costs from a single major spill could exceed US$1.5 billion.
Despite improvements in overall maritime safety, fire incidents remain a significant source of losses.
Seven large vessels were lost to fires in 2024, with container and roll-on/roll-off ships accounting for a sizeable portion of cases.
Allianz recorded 250 shipboard fire events across all vessel types, the highest in a decade.
Many were linked to mis-declared cargo, particularly lithium-ion batteries.
Regulatory initiatives are underway to tighten standards around cargo declarations.
Allianz also noted that digital risks are intensifying. Ransomware accounted for more than half of high-value cyber claims in the first half of 2024.
At the same time, incidents of GPS interference rose 40% year on year, posing navigation and operational safety challenges.
