Ocean-Oil
                        International Corp.


Florida Office:
P.O. Box 47188
St. Petersburg, FL 33743-7188
 566 Villagrande Ave. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
Ph: (727) 347-2556 Fax: (727) 343-9717
Cell Phone: (727) 698-2556 (24 hours)
Email: hectorpazos75597@aol.com

Louisiana Office:
3501 Holiday Drive, Suite #314
New Orleans, LA 70114
Cell Ph: (504) 367-4072 (24 hours)
Fax: (504) 367-3790
Email: oceanoilpazos@bellsouth.net

Hector V. Pazos

Hector V. Pazos, P.E.


MARINE ACCIDENTS - INVESTIGATION SERVICES
EXPERT WITNESS
During the past 40 years, Ocean-Oil has been retained to assist lawyers, insurance companies, and owners regarding technical matters in a substantial number of litigations (over 1,200). We have made surveys and inspections, prepared reports, and/or testified by deposition and in court in more than 400 cases involving:
  • power and sail pleasure boats
  • passenger and cargo vessels
  • offshore platforms
  • drilling rigs
  • fishing vessels
  • pipelines
  • barges
  • floating cranes
  • collisions
  • salvage
  • towing
  • damages to docks
  • slip and fall
  • inclined and vertical ladders
  • fires and explosions
  • diving accidents
  • noise and/or vibration
  • containers
  • dredges
  • personal injury

These litigations can be classified generally as:
  • Accident Reconstruction
  • Product Liability
  • Equipment Failure
  • Structural Failure
  • Latent Defects
  • Vessel Safety and Seaworthiness
  • Aquatics/Recreation
  • Design/Construction Defects
  • Cause of Vessel Sinking
  • Vessel Stability
  • Salvage of Vessels
  • Engine and Steering Damage
  • Personal Injury/Safety
  • Biomechanics

Mr Pazos' Academic Background: M.S. Naval Architect, Marine Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina 1959. Further studies at Tulane, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Princeton Universities. Courses, Seminars, and Conferences:
  • Structural Steel Design
  • Computers
  • Vibrations
  • Diesel Engines
  • Shipbuilding Practices
  • Offshore Petroleum Technology
  • Underwater Welding
  • USCG Auxiliary/Power Squadron/
    Safety at Sea
  • Finance and Accounting
  • Containers
  • Navigation
  • Hydraulics
  • Propellers
  • Propulsion Machinery
  • Accident Reconstruction
  • OSHA Standards

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE OF HECTOR V. PAZOS:
  • 1970-present: Pres., Ocean-Oil Int'l Corp. / V.P., Ocean-Oil Expert Witness, Inc.
  • 1969-1970: Vice President and Chief Engineer, Petro Marine Engineering, Inc.
  • 1969: Department Supervisor, Naval Architecture and Structures, Avondale Shipyards, Inc.
  • 1966-1969: Staff Naval Architect, Hydrodynamics, FMC Corporation California
  • 1960-1966: Ass't Supervisor of the Scientific Section, Avondale Shipyards, Inc.
  • 1960: Designer, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, San Diego, CA
  • 1959-1960: Assistant to the Chief Engineer, Buenos Aires Naval Shipyard, Argentina

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF HECTOR V. PAZOS IN THE MARITIME FIELD:
  • Marine Salvage and Wreck Removal: Salvage engineer and consultant in many marine mishaps, collisions, groundings, capsizings, fires and explosions, and wreck removals, including the complete engineering for the clearance of the Suez Canal, and the largest lift for salvage in the American Continent: a 5,100 ton drilling rig.
  • Archaeological and Valuable Cargo Salvage: Research and field operations.
  • Extensive International Experience: Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Venezuela, Trinidad, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, England, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Antigua, St. Martin, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Canada, Anguilla, Spain, and most countries and islands of the Caribbean and Central America.
  • Sailor, Boatman, Owner-Operator: 38-foot sailboat, 24-foot power boats, four commercial fishing boats from 49 feet to 85 feet.
  • Affiliations: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers; American Boat and Yacht Council.

PARTIAL LIST OF CASES INVOLVING COURT TESTIMONY OR DEPOSITIONS BY HECTOR V. PAZOS BETWEEN 1992 AND PRESENT:
  • Michael S. O'Brien (attorney) - Joseph Renee Broussard vs. Hargett Mooring & Marine, Inc. - Testified January 1992
  • Rick Christovich (attorney) - The Estate of Charles Michael DeMoss vs. Union Oil Co. of California, et al - Testified February 1992
  • Allen A. McElroy, Jr. (attorney) - Rita Swilley Seal vs. EDO Corp. - Testified March 1993
  • Ronald L. Buchsbom (attorney) - Kilmon vs. Prout (explosion on sailboat) - Testified July 1993
  • Donald de Boisblanc (attorney) - Accident of Reggie Acy McDermott - Deposed 12/94
  • James T. Catlow (attorney) - Califano vs. Sea-Land Services - Deposed 4/24/95 - Testified 2/13/96
  • Ashton R. O'Dwyer, Jr. (attorney) -M/V Kavo Kaliakra - collision with ARTCO Fleet - deposed 7/17/95 - Testified 11/30/95
  • James P. Lambert (attorney) - Dean A. Strand vs. Global Divers & Contractors - Deposed 8/2/95
  • Richard Mere (attorney) - James Craig vs. Hornbeck Offshore Corporation - Deposed 10/17/95, Testified 11/27-28/95
  • Melvin Eiden (attorney) - Yvette Cullen vs. McGee's Landing - Deposed 12/95
  • John W. McLuskey (attorney) - S. Paul White vs. Mercury Marine - Deposed 2/16/96
  • Frank Spagnoletti (attorney) - Gregory L. Barnes vs. Dual Drilling - Deposed 2/21/96
  • Ashton R. O'Dwyer, Jr. (attorney) - M/V ESENTEPE II - Attended court settlement on 3/29/96
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - John Dale Marks vs. T. L. James & Co., Inc. - Deposed 5/31/96
  • Jeffrey A. Mitchell (attorney) - Edwin Burley vs. Cal Dive Int'l - Deposed 7/19/96 - Attended trial 10/21/96
  • Frank Spagnoletti (attorney) - Randy Cole vs. Tidewater - Deposed 8/6/96
  • Ms. Surama Suarez (attorney) - Roxy Roberson vs. Norwegian Cruise Lines - Deposed 1/22/97
  • Frank Spagnoletti (attorney) - M/V Salvador Allende - Deposed 2/3/97
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - Troy Salone vs. Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Co. - Deposed 8/1/97
  • Estelle Mahoney (attorney) - Errol Kiger vs. Doucet & Adams, Inc. - Deposed 10/97
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - Orese J. Fontenot, Sr., vs. Cliffs Drilling Co., et al - Deposed 7/21/98
  • Harold Zahner (attorney) - Drillship "SEACREST" - Attended arbitration on 6/7/99 in Singapore
  • Kenneth DeJean (attorney) -Murphy Crochet, Jr., et al vs. Double Eagle Marine Inc., et al - Deposed 10/19/99
  • Kenneth DeJean (attorney) - Clayton White vs. Delta Seaboard Well Service - Deposed 11/8/99
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - Lincoln Lee Gibson vs. The Gray Insurance Co. - Deposed 12/21/99
  • Rex A. Jemison (attorney) / Samuel Harding (attorney) - Robin Lewis vs. Sea Ray - Deposed 3/9-10-11/00
  • Donald F. de Boisblanc (attorney) - Isaac Lewis vs. State of Louisiana, Dept. of Transportation - Testified in court on 5/3/00
  • Stanley B. Gruber (attorney) - Derek Singleton-Stone vs. Liebherr Container Cranes - Deposed 8/29/00 and 9/27/00
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - Russell J. Etienne vs. ENSCO Marine Co., et al - Deposed 11/21/00
  • Charles Alagood, G. Ray Bratton, Winslow Drummon, R. Layne Holley, Kenneth Mascagni, Norwood Phillips (attorneys) - Various parties vs. The U.S.A., et al - Testified May 25, 2001
  • L. Edward McClellan, Jr. (attorney) - Jane Richardson vs. Bombardier - Testified June 21, 2001
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - Jimmy Legrand vs. T. L. James & Co. - Testified August 29, 2001
  • Juliette Ferguson (attorney) - Karen Austin vs. Spirit Cruisers, Inc. - Testified August 31, 2001
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - Vernon Moody vs. CNG Producing Co. - Testified September 27, 2001
  • Charles R. Talley (attorney) - Jeffrey J. Lott vs. Greystar Corp., Inc. - Testified November 7, 2001
  • Lawrence N. Curtis (attorney) - Brian Smith vs. Global Marine Drilling Co. - Testified February 26, 2002
  • Donald F. de Boisblanc (attorney) - Owen Scott Anderson vs. Magnolia Marine Transport Co., et al - Testified January 28, 2003
  • Samuel David Abraham (attorney) - Larry J. Viator, Sr. vs. Dauterive Contractors - Testified June 3, 2003
  • Edgar F. Barnett, Reich Chandler, Rex Townsley (attorneys) - M/V Thoroughbred - Testified July 24, 2003
  • Matthew Valcourt (attorney) - Nigeria National Petroleum Corp. vs. S/V Seabulk Merlin - Testified by deposition January 12 & 13, 2005 and in court March 2, 2005.
  • George J. Nalley, Jr. (attorney) – Randy Thompson vs. Rowan Companies – Testified April 3, 2007.
  • Joseph P. D’Ambrosio (attorney) – Joel Schatzberg vs. Celebrity Cruises, Inc. – Testified October 17, 2007.
  • Marian Lee/Rod Sullivan (attorney) - Timothy Corbin v. Subaqueous Services - Testified: September 24, 2008
  • Hank des Bordes (attorney) - William S. Nadler v. Dufour, Laskay & Strouse - Deposed: June 19, 2009
  • Brian Gilbert, Lawrence Wiedemann, Patrick Sanders, Shawn Khorami, Dylan Pollard (attorneys) - Barge Case - Katrina Levee Breaches - Deposed: July 20 & 21, 2009
  • Amancio Arias-Guardiola (attorney) - Raymond Rivera vs. Jose Brassa - Deposed: August 10, 2009
  • James C. Ligman (attorney) - Jeffrey Scott Davis and Cinde Davis v. Progressive Insurance - Deposed: November 13, 2009
  • Alton C. Todd (attorney) - Cause No. 59937; Ronald S. Irby & Susan McKirahan-Irby vs. T. W. Laquay Dredging, Inc. - Deposed: April 27, 2010 - Testified: August 3, 2010
  • Warren Bittner, Deputy City Attorney - Contender Fishing Team vs. City of Miami - Deposed: Septebmer 20, 2011
  • Brian Gilbert, Lawrence Wiedemann, Patrick Sanders, Shawn Khorami, Dylan Pollard (attorneys) - Barge Case – Katrina Levee Breach - Testified: June 25, 2010
  • Maxwell S. Kennerly - In the Matter of Ride The Ducks Int'l - Deposed: April 26, 2012
  • Victor F. Poulos (attorney) - Ronald L. Bissell and Mistral 64, LLC v. Sunseeker Int'l Ltd.; Sunseeker USA, Inc.; California Coast Yachts, Inc.; and Steven Lehman - Deposed: May 7, 2012
  • Mark Ross (attorney) - Tammie White vs. Florida Marine Transportation - Deposed: June 14, 2012
  • Chris D. Collings (attorney) - Cause No. 08-CV-0011; Galveston Party Boats, Inc. and Boat Service of Galveston Inc., vs. Stewart & Stevenson, L.L.C. and MTU Detroit Diesel, Inc. - Deposed: August 7, 2012
  • Joseph Guilbeau (attorney) - Damian C. Tallmore v. D & L Salvage & Marine Services - Deposed: September 7, 2012
  • Emanuel Galimidi (attorney) - Travelers Insurance Company, as Subrogee of G. Robert Toney & Associates d/b/a National Liquidators and Maritech Services, Inc. vs. Commercial Cool-Temp Corp. - Testified: September 19, 2012
  • Chris D. Collings (attorney) - Cause No. 08-CV-0011; Galveston Party Boats, Inc. and Boat Service of Galveston Inc., vs. Stewart & Stevenson, L.L.C. and MTU Detroit Diesel, Inc. - Testified: May 7, 2013
  • Carolyn Frank (attorney) - IN RE M/V SEABOARD SPIRIT SEABOARD SPIRIT LTD as Owner and SEABOARD MARINE LTD as Owner PRO HAC VICE of the M/V SEABAORD SPIRIT - Deposed: June 19, 2013
  • Joseph F. Gaar, Jr. (attorney) - Timothy Clark vs. Masco Operators, Inc. - Testified: December 16, 2013

PARTIAL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED BY HECTOR V. PAZOS AND PUBLISHED:
  • Publication: “Was This A Permit Required Confined Space? Confined Space: Accident on a Marine Vessel” Publisher: Occupational Heath & Safety (Magazine) Information: Published in the February 2003 issue.

  • Publication:Was This A Permit Required Confined Space? Confined Space: Accident on a Marine Vessel” Publisher: Marine News (Magazine) Information: Published in the December 2003 issue

  • Publication: “Slip and Fall Accidents in the Marine Environment”. Publisher: Marine News (Magazine) Information: Published in the February 2003 issue

  • Publication: “Slip and Fall Accidents in the Marine Environment”. Publisher: Maritime Reporter (Internet) Information: Published on the Internet – February 21, 2003

  • Publication: “Increasing Importance of Preventive Maintenance in View of IMO’S ISM Code and ISO 9000” Publisher: Marine News (Magazine) Information: Published in the December 2002 issue

  • Publication: "Uncommon Marine Accidents: 1). Unsecured Hatch Cover Resulted in Death 2). Passenger Boarding Ramp Crushed Passenger's Foot 3). Self-Actuated Transmission Killed Two People" Publisher: Marine News (Magazine) Information: Published in the December 2002 issue

  • Publication: "Increasing Importance of Compliance/Preventive Maintenance in View of IMO’s ISM Code and ISO 9000”. Publisher: Reliabilityweb.com – in the issue entitled: “Solution Oriented Asset Reliability 09.01.04 - (http://rw.c.topica.com/maacpbeaa9DeNbdWsQNbafpkgk/  Information: Published on the Internet – September 1, 2004

  • Publication: "Implementation of a Computerized Compliance Management System" Publisher: Marine News (Magazine) Information: Published in the September 2004 issue

  • Publication: "How Lack of Attention to Small Deficiencies Can Lead To A Major Disaster" Publisher: X-Pro News Information: Published in January 2007

  • Publication: “Slip and Fall Hazards in the Marine Environment” Publisher:  Occupational Health and Safety International (Internet) - Published January 24, 2007.

  • Publication:

    1. "Deficiencies Found In Many Marine Stairways and Ladders Resulting In Accidents";
    2. "Typical Case In Which Lack of Attention To Small Deficiences Resulted in A Major Disaster"; and
    3. "Boating Accident: Gasoline Explosion - 32 Foot Aluminum Cruiser". Publisher: The TASA Group, Inc. (Internet) - 2008
  • Publication: “Unsecured Hatch Cover Resulted in Death” Publisher: Experts.com (Internet) - Published March 2009.

  • Publication: “Self-Actuated Transmission Killed Two People - The Need For Propeller Guards” Publisher: Experts.com (Internet) - Published March 2009.




FORENSIC ENGINEERING COURSE AUTHORED BY HECTOR V. PAZOS, BEING OFFERED BY PDHENGINEER AS PART OF THE CONTINUED EDUCATION FOR ENGINEERS PROGRAM TITLED: "ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION IN THE MARINE, BOATING AND OFFSHORE OIL FIELDS":

CASE HISTORIES: COURSE 1:
  1. Marine Disaster: Thirteen (13) People Died When A Passenger Tour Boat Sunk Due To Small Deficiencies.

  2. Unusual Marine Accident: Push Boat Capsized and Sunk - Crew Dragged Under a Barge (one crewmember died).

  3. Slips and Falls in the Marine and Offshore Oil Fields.

  4. Maritime Disaster: Shift of Cargo Resulted in the Loss of Almost the Entire Crew.

  5. Deficiencies Found in Many Marine Stairways and Ladders Resulting in Accidents.

  6. Cruise Ship Passenger’s Foot was Crushed by a Boarding Gangway.

  7. Self-Actuated Transmission Killed Two People – The Need for Propeller Guards.

  8. Unsecured Hatch Cover Resulted in Death.

  9. Confined Space Accident.

  10. Gasoline Explosion on a 32-Foot Aluminum Cruiser.

CASE HISTORIES: COURSE 2:
  1. Recreational Boat Accidents.

  2. Lifting Related Accidents.

  3. Offshore Personnel Transfer.

  4. High Performance Power Boat Design and Construction Deficiencies.

  5. Offshore Drilling Rig Accidents.

  6. Crew Boat Accidents: Unseaworthiness.

  7. Collision Of A Boat With A Channel Marker – Determination Of Who Was The Driver Thru Analysis Of The Injuries.

  8. Easy To Prevent Accidents On Passenger Vessels.

  9. Predictable Offshore Accidents.

  10. Personal Injuries Resulting From Attempting To Board A Crew Boat Thru The Bow and Notes About the International Safety Management Code (ISM).

CASE HISTORIES: COURSE 3:
  1. Dangerous Laundry Room on a Passenger Vessel.

  2. The Wake Created By a Vessel Can Result In Accidents.

  3. Low-Pressure Separator Explosion on an Oil Production Barge.

  4. Fall Arrest Gear Prevent Serious Injury to Electrician Falling From Scaffold Board.

  5. A Floating Dredging Pipeline Can Become an Obstruction to the Navigation Resulting in Accidents.

  6. Explosion in the Mudroom of a Jack-Up Drilling Rig.

  7. Pilothouse Accidents: An Inadequate Helmsman's Chair Failure, Resulted in Serious Injuries to the Captain - Improper Pilothouse Design Results in Accident.

  8. An Inexpensive Hook on a Hatch of a Brand New Vessel Caused Very Serious Injuries to a Longshoreman.

CASE HISTORIES: COURSE 4:
  1. Collision of Two Pleasure Vessels in Puerto Rico.

  2. Man Overboard.

  3. Dangerous Threshold on a Passenger Vessel.

  4. Dangerous Inclined Stairs.

  5. Customs Agent Was Injured Descending a Defective Accommodation Ladder.

  6. Floating Crane-Barge Accident Due to Lack of Arresting System.

  7. Jumping Waves and BUI (Boating Under the Influence) Do Not Mix.

  8. Longshoreman Injured Climbing Thru an Access Hatch.


OCEAN-OIL INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Marine Accidents - Investigation Services - Expert Witness
Florida Office:
P.O. Box 47188
St. Petersburg, FL 33743-7188
566 Villagrande Ave. S.
St. Petersburg, FL 33707
Ph: (727) 347-2556
Fax: (727) 343-9717
Email: hectorpazos75597@aol.com
  Louisiana Office:

3501 Holiday Drive, Suite #314
New Orleans, LA
70114
Cell Ph: (504) 367-4072 (24 hours)
Fax: (504) 367-3790
Email: oceanoilpazos@bellsouth.net

Updated January 14, 2014