Expert Opinions

Description
Captain Timmel began his professional career after attending New York Maritime College serving as an officer in the US Merchant Marines for seven years. He sailed in many different positions, attained his Master's license, and has been a Tampa Bay harbor pilot since 1989, including serving as President.  He has made over 6,500 transits piloting yachts, tugs &amp; barges, and ships of all types and sizes including freighters, tankers, container ships, ferries, cruise and passenger vessels, naval vessels, research vessels, and tall ships. Captain Timmel has taught as an Adjunct Professor at New York Maritime College teaching shiphandling, piloting, watchstanding practices, and seamanship to cadets aboard their training ship, the T/S EMPIRE STATE VI, during Summer Sea Terms. 

Active in boating and yachting all of his life, Captain Timmel served as Youth Sailing Director, Fleet Captain, Governor, and Commodore of the Tampa Yacht Club and is serving as a Director, Gulf Coast Fleet Captain &amp; US Coast Guard Liaison of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs, which represents thirty-six (36) yacht clubs throughout the State.  Additionally, he was founder and Skipper of a Sea Explorer Ship.

This experience, along with his training, education, and more than forty-five years of on-the-water experience, has given Captain Timmel specialized and practical knowledge making him uniquely qualified to render advice, guidance, and opinions, and to provide expert testimony in pleasure craft and yachting practices as well as in commercial marine operations. Still an active pilot, Captain Timmel has been retained as a maritime forensic investigator and expert witness in nearly eighty (80) plaintiff and defendant cases since 1995. These include: wake accident; propeller injury; boat allision; boat collision; grounding; capsizing; wave runner; Jones Act; COLREG; safe speed; proper look-out (lookout); seaworthiness; navigation; captain &amp; passenger responsibility; and slip &amp; fall cases.
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