Beyond the Pail

Raouf has a background in seafaring, academia, shipping, shipbuilding and naval architecture and has a specialist knowledge of coatings.

He has worked with many leading shipbuilders and shipowners (commercial and naval) on coating issues from design to production with a focus on improving productivity and integration of the coating processes.

Working with ship owners and shipbuilders he has developed a performance specification approach to enable the correct technical assessment of alternative paint scheme proposals that minimises costs and risks associated with the lifetime of a project. This approach has been proven on significant marine projects.

He has worked with almost all the world’s leading coatings companies and headed the product development teams of a multinational company.

Working with major raw material suppliers and equipment manufacturers he has enabled them to establish the added value of their products and assisted them to introduce novel technologies successfully to the marketplace. He undertakes assignments for investment houses and venture capital firms seeking to invest in core coating markets.

Raouf has worked on a wide range of marine, offshore and industrial projects, including catastrophic coating failure investigation and failure analysis relating to coatings. He has acted as an independent mediator between parties in dispute.

Raouf is increasingly sought to give expert advice on coating matters in Arbitration.

Jakov joined the industry as a Coating Inspector and has worked in the protective coating industry for over 37 years. He has a wealth of experience from technical leadership positions held in Europe, Middle East, Asia/Pacific and Americas.

His speciality is in surface treatment, corrosion and fouling protection by protective coatings; from coating system & specification design to field testing and implementation, practical application, risk management and failure analysis.

Prior to joining Safinah, Jakov was working as a Technical Service Director and Chief Consultant for Global Key Accounts in renewable energy, with one of the major, global suppliers of coating solutions to Marine, Energy, Infrastructure, Industrial and Decorative sectors.