Neville is a highly experienced marine engineer with experience in both commercial shipping and yachting. He specialises in engineering packages for new build motor yachts, working on propulsion packages, piping systems, HVAC and their on board integration. He joined Burgess in 2007 and became a Partner at in 2019.
On leaving school, Neville spent seven years at the Ministry of Defence – Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), Farnborough, initially under a four-year apprenticeship before qualifying as a detailed fitter working for the Ministry of Defence on their research and development programmes. He later obtained a degree in Marine Technology with Honours in Marine Engineering and joined Lloyd’s Register graduate training programme. Among the extensive training, he gained seagoing experience aboard a VLCC sailing between West Africa and the Gulf of Mexico followed by an offshore shuttle tanker operating in the oil fields off the coast of Scotland together with survey period in Bulgaria. Following this extensive training programme, he settled in the Lloyd’s Register head office working on engineering plan approval for both commercial vessels and yachts.
In 2003, he joined surveyor company Inserve where he spent four years carrying out inspections and risk assessment surveys on a wide variety of vessels on behalf of Hull and Machinery underwriters. He also managed yachts from an ISM basis, which became a stepping stone into the yachting industry and his role as a marine engineer at Burgess.
Since joining Burgess in 2007, Neville has worked on some of the most prestigious and complex yachts ever built. This includes the 180m AZZAM, the largest yacht in the world by length with diesel, gas turbine and water jet propulsion package, and DILBAR, the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage and fitted with diesel electric propulsion.
‘Our technical services department at Burgess is unique due to the team having extensive and varied skill sets, from mechanical, electrical and marine engineering to naval architecture,’ he says. ‘Our overall skillsets and backgrounds are wide ranging and complementary, bringing a cohesive range of expertise. At Burgess, we’re all driving forward for the common goal.’
Neville brings a measured and informed strategic approach to the fast-moving yacht industry, always ensuring the clients’ needs and wishes are met to the fullest, bringing sound and solid guidance to top shipyards to build quality yachts that run as efficiently as possible. His favourite aspect of the job is the chance to take sea trials – ‘Seeing a project through from 2D line drawing to physical entity is always a source of real pride and satisfaction.’
