Marine Operations Expert Witness & Consultant
Specializing in Recreational Marine & Passenger Vessel Litigation
Jet Ski & PWC Rental Accidents
Tour & Sightseeing Boats
Commercial Ferries
Boat Rental Liability
Dive & Fishing Charters
Passenger Vessel Safety
Cruise Ship Shore Excursions (Shorex)
Providing expert consulting, safety evaluations, and litigation support for marine companies, corporate operators, and legal counsel.
Assisting clients in Florida and nationwide with complex matters involving operating practices, captain and crew conduct, passenger safety, training, supervision, and maritime standard of care.
32+ Years Maritime Experience • USCG 200-Ton Master
USCG Approved Instructor • Marine Surveyor & Accident Investigator
NSBC Instructor
Marine Operations Expertise
Capt. Mark Knowles provides expert consultation involving the operational side of recreational boating and passenger-vessel matters.
His work focuses on how vessels are operated, how passengers and renters are instructed and supervised, how captains and crew perform their duties, and whether operating practices were consistent with those reasonably expected of competent marine professionals under the circumstances.
Areas of Consultation
Jet Ski / PWC Rentals & Tours
Comprehensive audit and evaluation of operator orientations, safety instruction, customer competency tracking, on-water supervision, guide procedures, and operating restrictions for litigation or corporate risk management.
Cruise Ship Shore Excursions (Shorex)
Evaluation of passenger liability, operator safety protocols, and standard operating procedures for cruise-line-approved shore excursions. Analysis of vessel operations, passenger onboarding safety briefings, equipment auditing, and tour operator training compliance in complex maritime personal injury and liability claims.
Tour & Passenger Vessel Operations
Operational reviews and compliance mapping for dolphin/wildlife tours, sightseeing vessels, excursion boats, dinner cruises, ferries, and water taxis to ensure strict passenger safety and standard of care.
Boat Rental Operations
Analysis and development of renter screening protocols, physical safety briefings, vessel familiarization check-sheets, hands-on competency assessments, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Captain & Crew Conduct
Lookout, safe speed, navigation, vessel handling, passenger management, decision-making and crew responsibilities.
Passenger Safety
Boarding, disembarkation, passenger movement, warnings, supervision, safety briefings and emergency procedures.
Fishing & Dive Charters
Captain and crew responsibilities, passenger instruction, vessel operation, boarding and supervision.
Training & Supervision
Evaluation and optimization of captain, crew, and employee training programs. Structuring customer competency procedures to mitigate corporate liability and fulfill regulatory training expectations.
Marina, Dock & Boat-Ramp Operations
Operational hazards, inspection practices, warnings, maintenance procedures and the practical use of marine facilities.
How I Assist Companies & Legal Counsel
Operations & Case Screening
Early review of claims, litigation evidence, or private corporate operating procedures to identify critical safety and operational vulnerabilities.
Records & Evidence Review
Photographs, video, incident reports, depositions, vessel records, rental documents, training materials, policies, procedures and other relevant evidence.
Operational Analysis
Evaluation of vessel operation, captain and crew conduct, renter instruction, passenger management, training and supervision.
Site & Vessel Inspections
Inspection of vessels, docks, marinas, boat ramps and passenger boarding areas when appropriate.
Training & Procedure Review
Assessment of safety briefings, SOPs, renter orientation, employee training and competency procedures.
Expert Reports & Testimony
Clear professional opinions within the scope of marine operations, including deposition and trial testimony when retained for those services.
Opposing Expert Review
Evaluation of opinions involving marine operations, passenger safety, vessel handling, training and accepted operating practices.
A Practical Operations Perspective
Marine cases are not always engineering or accident-reconstruction questions.
They may instead involve whether a Jet Ski renter received adequate instruction, whether a captain maintained a proper lookout, whether passengers were appropriately supervised, whether boarding procedures were reasonable, or whether a tour or rental operator followed appropriate operating practices.
" What should a competent captain, crew member, instructor, rental operator or passenger-vessel operator reasonably have recognized and done under the circumstances? "
Capt. Knowles evaluates these questions through more than three decades of practical vessel operations, instruction, marine surveying and accident investigation experience.
Capt. Mark Knowles
Capt. Mark Knowles has more than 32 years of professional maritime experience encompassing vessel operations, passenger transportation, recreational boating instruction, marine surveying, accident investigation and professional mariner training.
His operating background includes passenger vessels, ferries, yachts, dive vessels, water taxis, excursion operations and recreational vessels.
He is a United States Coast Guard 200-Ton Master and USCG Approved Instructor with extensive experience teaching professional mariners and recreational boat operators.
Capt. Knowles accepts engagements from both plaintiff and defense counsel. His opinions are based on the available evidence, applicable regulations where relevant, recognized marine practices and professional experience.
Core Qualifications
• USCG 200-Ton Master – USCG Captain
• USCG Approved Instructor – Mariner Trainer
• Master Marine Surveyor – Safety Auditor
• Accident Investigator
SAFETY CERTIFICATIONS
• National Safe Boating Council Instructor
• Florida Safe Boater Instructor – FL Authority
• PADI IDC Staff & Freediving Instructor
PROFESSIONAL SCOPE
• 32+ Years Experience – Passenger & Fleet
• Vetted by Plaintiff & Defense Counsel
"Expert work centered on the practical realities of marine operations and accepted professional operating practices."
Submission of an inquiry does not create an engagement. All matters are subject to conflict review and written agreement.