Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
With over 20 years of expertise in naval architecture and marine engineering, I lead NEA Ship and Yacht Design as General Manager, overseeing multidisciplinary projects across Europe and the Middle East. My work encompasses custom vessel development, regulatory consulting, and sustainable propulsion innovation, enabling clients to achieve operational excellence and compliance. At NEA, I focus on expanding European shipyards into GCC markets and advising on fleet renewal strategies to align with ESG goals. My leadership style emphasizes collaboration, technical precision, and strategic foresight, helping clients navigate complex maritime challenges while fostering sustainable growth and innovation.
Leading complex maritime design and consulting operations across Europe and the Middle East. As General Manager and co-founder of NEA Ship and Yacht Design, I oversee multidisciplinary projects spanning naval architecture, refitting, regulatory certification, and innovation in sustainable propulsion. Key responsibilities and focus areas: • End-to-end project management of custom vessels (pleasure, commercial, hybrid) • Technical leadership across engineering, stability, and classification • Strategic advisory for fleet renewal and market positioning in the GCC • International expansion of European shipyards in the UAE and Saudi Arabia • Regulatory consulting (compliance, flag, SCV/MGN280, class and registration support) • Ecosystem alignment for dealer networks and after-sales operations Recent projects include hybrid catamarans, passenger vessel conversions, wind farm support vessels, cargo optimization, and refits of institutional fleets. Actively driving the intersection of technical excellence and strategic development in the maritime industry.
Commissioning Engineer for newbuild project hull no. 6241 – Fincantieri, Marghera (Italy) Involved in the final commissioning and delivery phase of a major newbuild project at one of Europe’s largest shipyards. Responsibilities included onboard systems integration checks, coordination with classification societies, dock and sea trial support, and final delivery documentation. This role required daily interaction with production teams, shipowners, and surveyors, ensuring technical compliance and smooth handover under tight delivery schedules.
Appointed as Technical Superintendent for the Port of Naples, with direct responsibility over three Ro-Pax vessels, I played a key role in the daily and strategic technical operations of one of the largest domestic fleets in Europe. My scope of responsibility spanned across statutory and class compliance, maintenance budgeting, and asset lifecycle management for a fleet of 23 Ro-Pax ships. I acted as a bridge between onboard operations and the central Technical Directorate, overseeing and reporting on both CAPEX and OPEX performance within a €40M annual budget envelope. Key responsibilities and achievements: • Full technical oversight for three Naples-based vessels, including maintenance planning, drydock supervision, and compliance audits. • Led the fleet-wide statutory and classification update, ensuring alignment with evolving RINA and Flag requirements across 23 vessels. • Designed and implemented the onboard Planned Maintenance System (PMS) in accordance with RINA rules — laying the foundation for predictive maintenance and cost control. • Delivered high-quality reporting to the Technical Director on the full fleet’s technical expenditure, identifying efficiency gaps and areas for optimization. • Acted as Technical Auditor within the Safety Management System (SMS), supporting internal compliance and risk mitigation procedures. • Provided technical insight and engineering support to the Energy Saving Department, contributing to early-stage initiatives in fuel efficiency and emissions reduction. This role shaped my ability to manage complex technical fleets, balance operational constraints with long-term asset strategy, and interface across departments — including operations, finance, safety, and regulatory. It was a key foundation in developing my holistic approach to maritime asset management and prepared me to operate at the intersection of engineering, logistics, and strategic planning — in both institutional and private-sector contexts.
In this long-term experience within a specialized naval architecture firm, I had the opportunity to lead and contribute to the full ship design lifecycle — from early-stage concept to construction supervision and commissioning — across a diverse range of vessel types. Our role was primarily consultative, supporting both shipowners and shipyards through bespoke design and engineering services, often acting as technical interface during complex prototyping phases. This allowed me to develop a deep operational understanding of newbuild design, regulatory compliance, and construction alignment. Core responsibilities and contributions: • Delivered end-to-end ship design services including basic design, structural engineering, outfitting, systems layout, and bid documentation. • Managed technical documentation, drawing updates, and compliance with international class and statutory rules (stability, tonnage, load line, etc.). • Oversaw construction follow-up and site support, acting as link between design team and shipyard operations. • Supported prototype development from concept to detailed design, optimizing for buildability, performance, and regulatory integration. • Collaborated with a variety of shipyards and clients across Europe and the Mediterranean, adapting to multiple working environments and technical cultures. Key outcomes and soft skills acquired: • Gained robust experience in team coordination, technical negotiation, and contractor management. • Developed high adaptability through frequent site transitions, managing time, people, and deliverables under pressure. • Honed skills in problem-solving, persuasion, and multidisciplinary communication, essential when dealing with multiple stakeholders in parallel. This experience consolidated my hands-on approach to ship design, blending engineering depth with a strong sense of operational reality. It gave me the mindset to design not just vessels — but technical solutions with commercial impact.