Description
Academic Background
- Bachelor of Science United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY
Professional Experience
- RTI Group, LLC, Stevensville, MD. Marine Transportation Operations and Construction Specialist, 2023 – present.
- Fisher International Maritime Consulting, 1991 – present
A former merchant vessel master and shipping company executive, Captain DiNapoli is a
graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and holds a Coast Guard-issued license as Master and First-Class Pilot for vessels of any size. With Fisher Maritime for over 30 years, he provides specialized services in marine transportation operations, marine construction contracts, marine construction management, claim analyses and litigation support. He has extensive first-hand knowledge of marine transportation operations in ocean, coastal and inland venues, as well as shore-based marine terminal and shipyard operations, acquired through senior-level supervision of same in both seagoing and shoreside management positions. On the basis of his training and experience, he is a recognized expert in marine transportation operations, including nautical sciences such as navigation, piloting, seamanship, shiphandling, rules of the road, meteorology, vessel stability, vessel management, cargo handling, etc.
Captain DiNapoli also has considerable experience with, and is a recognized expert in, the myriad regulations applicable to marine transportation and marine construction operations of authoritative agencies such as the Coast Guard, American Bureau of Shipping, OSHA, etc.and customary industry practices for proper compliance with such regulations. With regard to marine construction and contracts, he has substantial first-hand knowledge of marine construction, conversion and repair practices acquired through the supervision and management of numerous vessel design, construction, conversion and/or repair projects, including the development, negotiation and administration of contracts for same, and is a recognized expert in marine construction contracts and marine construction practices.
Regularly engaged in the development and support of client positions
associated with marine transportation operations, contract and construction matters. In
various areas of maritime operations, he has prepared and presented forensic analyses in
connection with maritime claims involving bulk carriers, petroleum tankers, cargo vessels, roll on/roll off vessels, passenger vessels, oceanographic research vessels,
tugboats/towboats, petroleum and bulk products barges, oil-drilling rigs, crane and dredge barges, offshore supply vessels, ferries, commercial fishing vessels, oil spill response vessels and recreational boating craft from personal watercraft (jet skis) to megayachts. In connection with marine contracts and construction, his senior-level management background included daily supervision and management of numerous vessel design, construction and/or conversion projects and the successful administration of related contracts. During his 45+ years within the maritime industry, he has been responsible for the preparation, administration and/or analysis of marine construction contracts that total in excess of over $3 billion and has served as senior analyst of more than 40 major claims by and between shipyards and ship owners.
As a maritime industry expert, Captain DiNapoli has been retained in connection with over 400 matters pursued or pending in federal and state courts, as well as American Arbitration Association venues in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, California and Washington. He has also been engaged to support litigation proceedings in the courts of various Canadian provinces and the United Kingdom.
- Ocean Signals, Inc. Vice President/General Manager, 1985 – 1991
Ocean Signals was a management consulting company that organized a diverse assortment of expertise to address specialized needs of corporations in the areas of operations, engineering, finance and administration. The primary responsibilities of the Vice President/General Manager encompassed the implementation of the corporation’s business plan, which included development of new markets as well as maintenance of existing accounts. As the primary client interface, he was responsible for the direct supervision of all ongoing projects. Projects supervised included:
- revision of corporate policies/procedures and line operations/engineering plans for an oceangoing, liner service company
- development of the curriculum for a tug and barge handling course for a major state maritime academy
- provision of case support research and expert testimony for a number of law firms handling marine-related claims and contract disputes
- preparation of bids in response to government “Requests For Proposals” involving multi-vessel charters, for an oceangoing steamship company
- restructuring of management and administrative functions of a marine insurance brokerage firm
- Standard Marine Services, Inc. Master and Pilot, 1984 – 1990
Professional Memberships
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Classes Designed and Taught
The following Continuing Education Classes were approved by the New York State Department of Education. They were designed by Mr. Ettari and are being offered through Professional Engineering Continuing Education (www.pece.biz), which is a New York State Education Department approved sponsor of continuing education courses for licensed engineers. These courses were approved by the New York State Education Department as Approved Continuing Education Courses for Licensed Professional Engineers.
- Design and Installation Criteria for Water Supply Mains. This course presented the following topics: Applicability and Requirements of the 10 States Standards; Excavation Requirements of Industrial Code Rule 23; Requirements of Industrial Code Rule 753; Location of Subsurface Utilities and Natural Features; Pipe Type; Design of the Water Mains; Installation of the Water Mains
- Computation of Storm Water Runoff and the Design and Installation Criteria for Storm Water Mains, Drainage Culverts, and Storm Water Retention Facilities. This course presented the following topics: Determination of the Watershed; Identification of the Design Storm; Determination of Land Uses and Soil Types in the Watershed; Computation of Cn and C Runoff Coefficients; Computation of Storm Water Runoff (SCS Method and Rational Method); Sizing and Design of Drainage Pipes; Design of Stormwater Storage Facilities.
- Design of Site Plans – Part 1. This course presented the following topics: Municipal Code Requirements for Site Plans; Generation of Topographic Maps; Design of Grading Plans and the Setting of Proposed Slopes; Determination and Plotting of the Locations of Wells, Septic Systems, Flood Plains, and Wetlands; and the Design of Retaining Walls.
- Design of Site Plans – Part 2. This course presented the following topics: Code Requirements for Site Plans; Topographic Maps; Application of Zoning Rules to the Setting of Buildings; Design of Parking Lots for Commercial and Industrial Buildings (Setting Grades & Slopes of Parking Lots, Layout of Parking Spaces, Design of Loading Areas, Curbs, Pedestrian Means of Egress, and Design of Means of Egress for Handicapped Persons, Structural Loads, etc.); Design of Access Drives for Commercial and Industrial Buildings (Setting Grades & Slopes of Access Drives, Design of Horizontal and Vertical Curves, Design of Curbs, Structural Loads, etc.); Design of Parking Lots and Access Drives to Accommodate Snow & Ice Removal and Storage during Winter Months.
- Design of New Low-Rise Commercial, Mercantile, and Office Buildings – Part 1. This course presented the following topics: Applicability of the New York State Building Code, the New York City Building Code, and the International Building Code; Supplemental Building Codes adopted by other Municipalities in New York State; Applicability and Use of Reference Standards; Design of Handicapped and Non-Handicapped Means of Egress; Computation of Point and Uniform Live Loads; Computation of Weight and Dead Loads; Computation of Environmental Loads; Loads which Cabinetry, Grab-Bars, Handrails, and Guardrails must be able to Support; Loads which Decks and Deck Railings must be able to Support
- Design of New Low-Rise Commercial, Mercantile, and Office Buildings – Part 2. This course presented the following topics: Applicability of the New York State Building Code, the New York City Building Code, and the International Building Code; Supplemental Building Codes adopted by other Municipalities in New York State; Applicability and Use of Reference Standards; Computation of Point and Uniform Live Loads; Computation of Weight and Dead Loads; Computation of Environmental Loads – Detailed Computation of Balanced Snow Loads, Snow Drift Loads, and Snow Slide Loads; Loads which Cabinetry, Handrails, and Guardrails must be able to Support; Loads which Decks and Deck Railings must be able to Support; Loads which Driveways must be able to Support; Application of Ultimate Strength Design and Allowable Stress Design; Analysis and Design of Roof Rafters, Ceiling Joists, Floor Systems, Beams, Columns, Walls and Footings; Design of Steel, Wood, and Reinforced Concrete Structural Elements
- Design and Installation Criteria for Septic Systems and Sanitary Sewer Mains
- Design of Site Plans – Part 3. This course will present the following topics:
- Design of Sidewalks for Commercial and Industrial Buildings (Allowable Grades and Slopes, Design Loads, Design of Sidewalk Chambers, Design of Sidewalk Curb Cuts,Design of Sidewalks for Handicapped Persons, Friction Issues, etc.); Design of Ramps for Commercial and Industrial Buildings (Allowable Grades and Slopes, Handrail Requirements, Design Loads, Friction Issues, etc.); Design of Exterior Stairways (Allowable Tread Depths and Riser Heights, Handrail Requirements, Design Loads, Friction Issues, etc.); Design of On-Site Sanitary Facilities; Design of On-Site Drainage Systems
Selected Publications
- New York Real Estate Journal, March 27, 2006: “Obtain the Necessary Permits and Do Your Homework Before Closing on a Property You Hope to Develop” (Article discusses the permitting and approval process associated with land development)
- New York Real Estate Journal, June 26, 2006: “Does Your Site Have Excessive Slopes? What to consider when developing land with steep slopes” (This Article, which is the first in a three part series, discusses the standards for grading and slopes promulgated in various local town codes and in the Building Code of New York State and some of the standards for retaining walls promulgated in the Building Code of New York State)
- New York Real Estate Journal, July 24, 2006: “Does Your Site Have Excessive Slopes? What to consider when developing land with steep slopes” (The Article, which is the second in a three part series, discusses and contrasts various types of retaining walls and provides a brief discussion concerning the soil and engineering mechanics which are involved in the design and construction of retaining walls)
- New York Real Estate Journal, August 21, 2006: “Does Your Site Have Excessive Slopes? What to consider when developing land with steep slopes” (This Article, which is the third in a three part series, presents a closing discussion concerning the need to have a Licensed Professional Engineer design a desired retaining wall and the need of obtaining a Site Plan Approval from the local Planning, Environmental, and / or Zoning Boards of the local municipality for any retaining walls which will be constructed on commercial or industrial premises)
- New York Real Estate Journal, December 30, 2008: “Are You Contemplating Subdividing a Parcel of Land? Then You Should Know About the Design and Installation of Water Mains.” (This Article, which is the first in a four part series, discusses the permitting and approval process associated with obtaining an Approval for the laying of new water mains.)
- New York Real Estate Journal, January 27, 2009: “Are You Contemplating Subdividing a Parcel of Land? Then You Should Know About the Design and Installation of Water Mains.” (This Article, which is the second in a four part series, discusses the various types of pipes used as water mains. It also discusses the need for the design and installation of the water mains to conform to the 10 States Standards.)
- New York Real Estate Journal, February 24, 2009: “Are You Contemplating Subdividing a Parcel of Land? Then You Should Know About the Design and Installation of Water Mains.” (This Article, which is the third in a four part series, discusses the requirements of New York State concerning the protection of surrounding properties during the construction process and the protection of the workers who will install the water mains. The actual process of the laying of the pipes is also discussed in this article.)
- New York Real Estate Journal, March 10, 2009: “Are You Contemplating Subdividing a Parcel of Land? Then You Should Know About the Design and Installation of Water Mains.” (This Article, which is the fourth in a four part series, discusses additional criteria concerning the actual process of the laying of the water main pipes.