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I had thought to simply put my resume in this spot, but it looked kind of impersonal, so I just thought that I would summarize my career to date, in order to give you a sense of what I and my family have been doing for the last 100 or so years.

BOATS------all kinds and sizes of------BOATS------BOATS------BOATS------and more boats

I have managed to go back to my Great Grandfather who was born and lived in Eikefjord Norway, and made a living for his family fishing and farming in the summer and I guess trying to keep warm in the winter. In any event, he had 4 boys, one of whom was my Grandfather, and who immigrated to the USA by jumping ship in Brooklyn around 1900. The deal at that time was that if you than entered a Military service, upon completion of your time you were granted citizenship. My Grandfather and two of his brothers also jumped at that opportunity, and one went back home to work the farm and the boat. At that time my Grandfather was a licensed sailing Master, and by the end of his life had an unlimited Captain's license for Sail Steam or Diesel, any ocean, any tonnage. eventually owning and operating a towing business in lower Harbor until the end of WW2.

During the course of his career, he owned and brought the first Diesel Tug, into the Erie Canal. It was the "Christine Olsen". My Father quit school and went to work for his Father around 1925, He joined the navy in the early 1930s (his first hitch) and sailed an around the world with the Great White Fleet. When he got out, he went back to work as an engineer for his Father, and than for some of the other old tow boat companies in Lower Harbor.

By the time World War two broke out, he was a Chief Engineer, and the Navy needed engineers. They made him a Chief Warrant Officer (Chief Machinist Mate) and sent him to the Pacific. He was in Tokyo Bay when the war ended, and along with a bunch of other Chiefs, got aboard the Missouri to witness the signing of the surrender.

He returned home in 1946, and started a marine diesel engine repair business on Long Island. As I came of age, I worked for him after school and summers for a while, but tradition, or the lure of the sea bit, and I went to work on various types of fishing trawlers and party boats here on Long Island. I eventually landed a job with a Tanker Company from 17 Battery Place, Manhattan.

My first deep water job was on a T2 tanker carrying chemicals Coastwise, to and from many ports up and down the East Coast, and the Gulf region. Later I transferred to a smaller tanker, sailing oil and chemicals coastwise, up as far as Nova Scotia, Labrador and Iceland, and back down to the Saint Lawrence River into the great lakes, at least during the ice free months, no big icebreakers those days.

I eventually returned home to Long Island, and resumed commercial fishing. In the interim I began a free lance Marine Engine repair business, also working for several big boatyards here on the Island as a mechanic. After a few years, I bought and operated a small shipyard on the South Shore of Long Island, and during that time became an authorized Detroit Diesel Allison Marine engine dealership.

Through the export side of the business, I became the principal supplier of spare parts, and a consultant to, the Trans-Panama Pipeline Projects Tug and Generator Division. As the Business evolved, that led to other opportunities all through Central and South America, and eventually to the Middle East.

Between Tugs in Panama, Shrimp fleets from Texas to Bangladesh, and Middle East Port projects, I eventually became tired of being away all the time. I bid for, and won, a Third Naval District U.S. Coast Guard Contract for upgrading, alterations and general repairs for the 44 ft roll over Motor Lifeboats and various class's of buoy boats operating in the Third Naval District. This eventually re-enforced my decision to return to conducting business exclusively on Long Island.

My Shipyard at that time was catering to all types of yachts and commercial boats, and we offered a full range of hull and engine service on wood, fiberglass, aluminum and steel vessels.

As time went on, I decided to sell my Shipyard, and focus my efforts on consulting services. Joining the "Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors" (S.A.M.S), in 1995.

I am currently a fully Accredited "A.M.S." grade Surveyor with an additional "E" (engine) designator which qualifies me to inspect and survey Diesel engines and related machinery.

I am also a member of the American Boat and Yacht Council (A.B.Y.C.) with an additional ABYC Certified Marine Diesel Engine Technician rating.

I perform all gasoline main engine diagnostic services during survey, including Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and Auxiliary Gen Set output performance evaluation.

There are always exceptions to the services available during the survey of the various types of engines and installations, but they are usually few and far between. I will always be happy to discuss all of the levels and degrees of diagnostic services that I, as a Surveyor, am permitted to do during the survey of your vessel. My Service Agreement is designed to provide "Full Disclosure" through out all phases of the survey process.

I am a full time -- Career Marine Professional --. I have never worked in any other industry. All of my life's efforts and training will be directed to your Survey requirements.

Day or night - hot or cold - summer or winter - fair weather or foul.

~Jim Olsen Marine Surveyor