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Yacht

Safinah is your independent authority in yacht coating consultancy.
We provide unbiased, specialised support for new builds, refits and offer expert paint surveys for some of the world’s most luxurious superyachts and megayachts.

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Providing specialist paint and coatings advice for the protection and appearance of yachts, superyachts and megayachts.

Safinah has 200 years of yacht coating technology experience at its finger tips ensuring that any decisions or conclusions reached are based on a sound foundation of knowledge. We have the ability to evaluate technically any coated area of a yacht be that underwater, above water, in tanks or in general technical spaces.

Consulting

  • Expert Evaluation and Advice for all areas of yacht coating such as primers, fillers, topcoats, antifoulings and tank coatings
  • Newbuild Project Support
  • Refit Project Support
  • Inspection / Condition Survey
  • Warranty Survey
  • Insurance Survey and Support
  • Specialised Tank Inspection (including PSPC)
  • Technology Advice
  • Repair Recommendations
  • Coating Specification and Product Selection
  • Contract Warranty Advice
  • Coating Process Optimisation

Technical Services

  • Quality Control
  • Technical Inspection

Expert Witness / Legal Support

  • Paint Failure Investigation
  • Expert Opinion and Assessment
  • Expert Witness Testimony at Arbitrations

Speak with our experts for your requirements, or any questions about our services, please email at enquiries@safinah.com or contact us by clicking the button below.

Contact us

Why choose us

The Safinah advantage

Worldwide coverage

  • Yacht consultants available in all key superyacht locations
  • Coating inspectors available in most countries around the world
  • Yacht new build & refit project support
  • Yacht condition and tank coating surveys / inspections
  • Yacht coatings failure investigation

Expert consultants

  • Impartial coating experts ensure best technical advice
  • Specialist knowledge in coating formulation for the most complex failures and arbitrations
  • Expert application knowledge to optimise the coating process
  • Yacht building experience to refine coating selection and application programmes
  • Yacht project support
  • Yacht new build or refit management

Industry leaders

  • Expert witness inspections
  • Yacht paint analytical skills
  • Yacht coating project optimisation
  • Functional specifications
  • Technology sourcing
  • Industry and Market analysis

The Safinah Yacht Team

Dr. Benigna von Brederlow

Head of Yacht

Dr. Neil Nicolson

Head of Yacht Consultancy

Charles Atkinson

Consultant 

Stuart Downie

Consultant

Dominika Werdecka-Latarska

Consultant

Mark Welch

Consultant

Meet the Safinah Team

Legal & Insurance

Expert witness & litigation support

  • Independent, court-ready coating condition assessments
  • Clear technical reporting with visual evidence
  • Testimony in arbitration or court

Root cause failure analysis

  • Identify why coatings failed
  • Differentiate between manufacturing, application, environmental, or maintenance issues

Damage & liability assessment

  • Quantification of repair scope and costs
  • Determination of responsibility in coating failures

Preventive risk consultancy

  • Pre-loss surveys for insurance underwriting
  • Technical advice for contract clauses related to coating performance

Safinah delivers independent, technical coatings expertise that transforms complex marine, superyacht, energy and infrastructure coating-related disputes into clear, defensible evidence – helping legal and insurance teams protect client assets, reduce exposure, and resolve cases faster.

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Safinah Webinar Series | Webinar 4

Cargo Hold Coatings Exposed: What goes wrong. Why it happens. What decades of investigations reveal.

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If you have any questions or to discuss your requirements, please speak with our team for a FREE, no obligation discussion.

You can send us an enquiry by filling the form or email us directly at enquiries@safinah.com. 

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Dr. Benigna von Brederlow

Head of Yacht

With a background in Biology and Human Genetics, qualification of Dr. rer. nat. (doctorate of natural sciences), Benigna has a focus for detailed and accurate data analysis, organisation and structuring processes and technical reporting.

Benigna has worked within the superyacht coatings industry since 2008. Since then, she has been involved in projects regarding topcoat assessment, visiting most of the big New Builds in Germany and many of the largest superyachts in the Mediterranean. She has been heavily involved in observing and analysing topcoat quality, monitoring performance, and changes due to aging, following projects to further afield places like Canada, Chile, Thailand, US and the Caribbean. Benigna was also involved in working on the ICOMIA Guideline and ISO 11347, developing standards for applicators, shipyards and owners, and contractual work in regards of acceptance criteria.

Benigna is still a keen sailor, starting offshore yacht racing in 2000, worked for the IRC organisation and even completed an Atlantic crossing in 2007, and today enjoys travel and new experiences.

Before starting with Safinah Group, Benigna worked for a coating consulting company in Germany.

Expertise

Yacht coatings – topcoat quality / measurements and quality control / performance monitoring​

Languages spoken

German, English

Qualifications

RMCI, Dr. rer. nat.
Follow Benigna on LinkedIn

Email: benigna.vonbrederlow@safinah.com

Dr. Neil Nicolson

Head of Yacht Consultancy

With an academic background in organic and polymer chemistry, Neil is a vastly experienced chemist and R&D manager with over 18 years’ experience in the chemical industry working for the world’s largest supplier of yacht coatings.

As a Laboratory Chemist and Technical Manager, Neil had a proven track record in delivering new products and technologies to market, including many of the most commonly used fillers, finishes and primers in the yacht industry. He has led teams in supporting the business in all yacht coatings sectors including antifoulings and topcoat colour matching.

Since joining Safinah Group in 2015, Neil has managed many projects for coatings support in superyacht newbuilds, refits, condition surveys, insurance claims and major legal cases.

Through this combined experience Neil has all round knowledge of how yacht coatings should perform both in theory and in practice.

Expertise

Yacht Coatings and their Chemistry

Languages spoken

English

Qualifications

BSc (Hons), PhD.

Follow Neil on LinkedIn

Email: neil.nicolson@safinah.com

Charles Atkinson

Consultant

Charles Atkinson is a coating consultant who has extensive experience of planning and executing coating systems for new build projects, such as multi-roll offshore supply vessels, FPSO, fast offshore patrol vessels (military type) and mega yachts.

He has developed maintenance planning systems for land based oil & gas installations, jack up rigs, multi-roll vessels, applying specialist knowledge in preparation and application techniques for coatings.

Charles has many years experience in the mega yacht industry both in new construction and maintenance and repair of existing vessels.

His background as a yacht builder means he is able to align the complexities of construction with the nuances of aesthetic coatings to ensure the best possible results are achieved. As well as practical advice on yacht coating and construction he also acts as an independent mediator when parties are unable to agree a way forward.

He is FROSIO level 3 registered and specialises in practical aspects of application, specification and planned maintenance.

Expertise

Coatings

Languages spoken

English

Qualifications

FROSIO

Follow Charles on LinkedIn

Stuart Downie

Consultant

Stuart has spent 25 years in the coatings industry and has provided technical support and leadership to the automotive, aerospace and superyacht markets for one of the world’s largest coating companies. Having been industrially trained, he has an extremely broad general knowledge of all aspects relating to the practicalities of coatings technology.

Stuart’s particular speciality relates to his in-depth of knowledge of coatings application processes and associated equipment, including ancillaries, with specific emphasis on the highest quality finishes demanded by the superyacht market. He spent several years developing and improving application processes for one of the leading superyacht topcoats.

Before joining Safinah, Stuart spent over 8 years as the global coatings technical lead for one of the largest marine Classification Societies. He has a sound knowledge of Class requirements for coatings and corrosion prevention in the marine sector, has been a key player in academic research projects relating to antifoulings and attended IMO working groups as a technical advisor to the UK MCA.

Expertise

Coatings application; Marine Classification; Colour

Languages spoken

English

Qualifications

NACE CIP Level 2; FIMF

Follow Stuart on LinkedIn

Dominika Werdecka-Latarska

Yacht Consultant

Dominika Werdecka-Latarska is an experienced marine and yacht coatings inspector, driven by her passion for preserving the quality and longevity of maritime structures. With a solid 11-year track record in the ship and yacht building industry, Dominika brings a wealth of expertise to her role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s in biotechnology from the Gdansk University of Technology.

Before entering the super yacht stage, Dominika was actively involved in various offshore projects, including those under NORSOK M-501, PSPC, Passive Fireproofing, and Bridge Buildings, and many others. This diverse experience has enriched her specialisation in marine coatings and quality control. As a super yacht painting coordinator at the largest yacht producer in Poland, she effectively coordinated subcontractors, managed painting schedules, calculated paint and filler consumption for cost efficiency, and oversaw the entire painting process.

Expertise

Quality Control, Paint Process Management, Marine & Yacht Coatings

Languages spoken

Polish, English

Qualifications

BSc. Chemistry, MSc. Biotechnology; FROSIO III, RMCI

Follow Dominika on LinkedIn

Mark Welch

Coatings Consultant

Mark comes from a background in Engineering design. After graduating from Bournemouth University, he entered into the world of yacht coatings 16 years ago, starting his journey as an applicator in Hamburg, Germany.

Mark’s career spans across several Northern European shipyards, where he has tackled intricate paint projects and managed contractors. His expertise encompasses both new builds and refits, with a focus on achieving the highest standards in coatings application and supervision which he now applies to his consulting work.

Beyond the coatings industry, Mark is an ardent scuba dive instructor. With experience working on yachts and a tally of 4000+ dives, he has explored many of the world’s top dive destinations.

Expertise

Yacht Coatings

Languages spoken

English

Qualifications

AMPP (NACE II) Certified Coatings Inspector, FdSc Computer Aided Design

Follow Mark on LinkedIn

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