EXPERIENCE COMMITMENT INTEGRITY
MEET OUR TEAM
Every member of the SEMarine team is highly motivated and committed to our core values of quality, integrity and bold innovation. We are time-served marine professionals with extensive operational maritime and yachting experience.
We bring individual brilliance but it is as a team that we really shine.
Simon England
Founder
Following an interest in sailing, Simon began his Yachting career at renowned Marine instrument maker Brookes & Gatehouse in 1983. He studied for an Electrical & Electronic Engineering degree at Portsmouth University and spent ten years at sea as Chief Engineer. He started SEMarine in 2004 focusing on technical new build support with Moran Yacht & Ship.
The early days at B&G were a great education and set a wonderful grounded foundation in Yachting. The innovation, effort and focus by great engineers and craftsmen who drove the company’s success in their field was the inspiration and guidance for a lifetime work ethic. Simon has worked with and learnt from many great individuals and is forever grateful for the many opportunities and to those who guided him along the path to where SEMarine is now.
Along with overseeing and supporting his New Build team, he is also actively involved with the Management Services & Support side of the business.
Simon holds a 3000 gt Chief Engineer’s licence and is a qualified DPA
Simon lives in Hampshire, England with his wife Charlotte and their two children. When not working he is either out sailing the family boat, making something in the garage or being a taxi driver for the children!
PATRICK FOY
Technical Consultant / Surveyor
From leaving school Patrick joined the British Royal Airforce as ground technician. This gave a firm base for his engineering and technical expertise. Patrick spent ten years at sea as Chief Engineer on a number of quality large Yachts. He attained a 3000 gt unlimited power licence and is also a qualified lead auditor and DPA.
Patrick is respected for his resourcefulness, tenacity and capacity for work. He joined Simon at SEMarine in 2007 and has since been the onsite technical consultant and Owner’s representative on many renowned yachts.
Patrick lives in Bedfordshire, England. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his family, snowboarding and enjoys travelling in their campervan through Europe.
ANNE HALL-REACE
General Accounts Manager
After a long career aboard Super Yachts and many miles traversing the globe Anne decided to return to the country of her birth. It was a natural progression to move into Yacht Management with her knowledge and skills achieved in the Superyacht industry. Appointed to her position with SE Marine in March 2013 after becoming a qualified accountant.
Anne brings great practical experience to her role as general accounts manager over the fleet of vessels offering a personalized service and support. She is the first point of contact for Owners Representatives, Captains and crew for the smooth day to day operations of the vessel’s finances and is fully responsible for fiscal control of vessels using our financial services. Anne’s steady resolve helps her solve all the big and small problems with the same calm manner.
Anne lives in Wiltshire with her partner, in her spare time she enjoys the great outdoors, although preferring to stay on ‘terra firma’ these days she remains an avid traveller and lists hiking and gardening as two of her favourite pastimes.
IAN WETHERILL
Technical Consultant / Surveyor
Ian’s background and training is in the British Merchant Navy where he trained as Radio Officer. He went on to be chief officer on some of the largest yachts in the world and Captain of others. Ian studied Yacht surveying and has been with SEMarine since .
Ian follows closely the application of rules and regulations to each SEMarine build. He specialises in many aspects of yacht construction including at early design stage the ever changing electronic systems incorporated into the modern yacht. Ian has been the lead surveyor during the build of many yachts in his time with SEMarine.
Ian has a home in Norway where he spends time with his family. He is generally working but enjoys travelling and spending time with his many friends gained in yachting.
LARS VAN-DINTHER
Technical Consultant / Surveyor
Lars completed his first Trans-Atlantic at age 11. He has been involved in yachting ever since, rising steadily through the ranks to Captain of a large Luerssen motor-yacht where he has a solid reputation for the creation and maintenance of highly motivated and efficient teams.
Lars’ has a vast knowledge gained in his Forty year experience of yachting. Stepping ashore he trained as a Yacht Surveyor. While always keeping his ideas fresh with the latest systems his focused and methodical approach he considers each element of the build and finds the best solutions to Design, Operational and Quality issues. Lars has excellent administrative skills combined with a broad technical and production knowledge. Not much gets past Lars’ eye in an inspection. Lars brings a valuable contribution to the SEMarine team.
Lars lives in Bremen. To relax he keeps himself fit and focused with martial arts. He is a black belt in Karate. Lars has an interest in Sailing Yacht Design and would love to build a boat he has designed.
PATRICK SIMPSON
Surveyor and Tender Specialist
Patrick is an experienced Boatbuilder and Seafarer. He spent 15 years working on yachts rising from Deckhand to Bosun and First Mate. He used the experience gained to train as a Boatbuilder working with one of the most renowned British Luxury Tender builders for 15 years before joining SEMarine in 2013.
Patrick now specialises in looking after the build of Composite yachts and Tender boats for our clients. Boat builders appreciate the boat building advice Patrick brings while his sharp eye ensures a beautiful well built boat.
Patrick lives in Southampton with his wife Leila. When not travelling around the boatbuilders of the world he can generally be found in Antigua or Palma catching up with friends from Yachting.
CATHERINE MAIDMENT
Company Accountant
Catherine is a qualified Accountant with a strong background in the Insurance underwriting business before joining our team in 2011. Yachting is in the blood with her father as a Yacht Captain. Catherine looks after the company money making sure bills get paid and everything financial is done according to the rules. Catherine provides full support to Anne when workload demands.
Living locally in the New Forest with husband Rob and their two girls. When not balancing books, Catherine can be found Kayaking down the Beaulieu river.
PIOTR BUCHTA
Technical Consultant / Build Engineer
Before qualifying as a marine engineer, Piotr spent many years in the automobile industry with a quality German manufacturer. He has worked on a variety of yachts. Piotr brings advanced quality control techniques learned in the Automotive industry together with a vast experience of yacht technical systems.
Outside work Piotr spends time with his girlfriend Diana and new son. In 2005 he was Heavy Weight boxing champion of Poland and remains an avid follower of the boxing world.
Len Bilton
Technical Consultant / Surveyor
Len has spent a career working at sea. Firstly in the Royal Navy attaining the status of Engineering Sub Lieutenant followed by a long career in Yachting. Len is a licenced Chief Engineer to 9000kW and a qualified Surveyor.
Len is an Approved ABYC Surveyor. He has a diploma in Marine Surveying with a specialist module on Mega Yachts from the Lloyds of London Maritime Academy. He has completed the United States Surveyor’s Association course in marine Surveying.
Len has been chief engineer and has overseen many refits and new build projects on behalf of Owners. A wealth of experience in building, surveying, refitting, operating and maintaining vessels, with a practical marine engineering background Len is highly experienced in surveying all parts of yacht construction and apart from the purely technical side includes luxury interiors, paint systems and exterior deck outfitting.
Outside work Len plays rugby, enjoys photography fell walking, running, mountain biking and generally keeping fit.
