HOVER OPS
Hovercraft Operations Management Ltd.
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About Us

Tony Stankus B.Sc., C.Eng., M.I.Mech.E. P.G.Cert.C.M.S., Director, is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer (UK), with more than 25 years experience as a professional in; Oil and Gas, Pipelines and Marine Engineering, Hovercraft Ops and Search and Rescue.

Professional operational, engineering and project management skills are complemented by a hands-on approach to operational and technical aspects coupled with extensive experience as a SAR hovercraft pilot and pilot trainer, plus many years spent as a design engineer with international on-site experience in the harvesting of natural resources.

By personally pushing and testing hovercraft to their extremes, the boundaries of safe operation have been established for sea, river and diverse land applications. A unique understanding of hovercraft and their safe use in Search & Rescue and the Oil and Gas Industries and how they can be used to compliment logistics strategies can therefore be drawn upon.

Experience of Tony Stankus

2 years working in Kazakhstan on the Caspian Seas' Kashagan oilfield project for as the Senior Hovercraft Operations Advisor

bullet point Advising the Contract Holder on all technical and operational aspects of hovercraft in an environmentally sensitive and diverse climatic region where temperatures range from plus 40 DegC in summer to minus 35 DegC in winter.
bullet point Part of the Logistics team balancing operational requirements to the practical capabilities and limitations of the complementary hovercraft, helicopter and conventional assets.
bullet point Writing and developing, through to formal approval, of Standard Operating Procedures for all aspects of hovercraft operations.
bullet point Conducting technical and safety inspections of two Hoverworks AP1-88 craft.
bullet point Drawing up protocols for all hovercraft trials including risk assessments and HSE considerations in co-operation with offshore operatives and HSE professionals.
bullet point Trials included:
  • Offshore passenger transfers
  • Offshore cargo transfers
  • Offshore refuelling
  • Ice breaking.
bullet point Developing and then running, on a day to day basis, all aspects of passenger and cargo logistics.
bullet point Involvement with all legal and regulatory compliance issues.
bullet point Drawing up a Scope of Requirements for a "New Generation" hovercraft specifically tailored to suit the multi roles and particular challenges of operating in the North Caspian.
bullet point Responsible for trials of passenger transfer at sea from Amphibious Emergency Escape Vehicles (Arktos) to standby vessels for ice conditions
Three years with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) UK as the Hovercraft Operations Manager

Bringing the concept of a SAR Hovercraft into full operation, the RNLI now operate seven craft.

bullet point Developing new SAR techniques for the special abilities of hovercraft.
bullet point Developing Safety Cases for SAR Ops.
bullet point Training crews in driving and rescue techniques.
bullet point Developing and implementing training programs for support crew and remote area operational management.
bullet point Reconnoitring new areas of operation, identifying emergency access points and 'no-go' areas (craft limitations plus environmental sensitivities).
bullet point Liaison with other emergency services to set up and prove joint operational scenarios.
bullet point Liaison with wildlife and environmental parties.
bullet point Media and public relations.
bullet point At all times liaising with the operational crews, their support staff and management.
bullet point Evaluated operations in the frozen Stockholm archipelago, lakes and Skagerrak during a "technology exchange" with the Swedish Sea Rescue Society.
bullet point Representing the Institution at national and international levels.
Four years with the RNLI as a Senior Design Engineer
bullet point New rescue craft designs, modifications and developments.
bullet point Emphasis on safety, reliability, fitness for purpose and ease of maintenance.
bullet point Responsible for all technical aspects of the hovercraft evaluation:
  • Craft selection and evaluation
  • Working closely with the manufacturer (Griffon) on the development of a standard craft into a specialist SAR craft.
  • Trained as a hovercraft pilot.
  • Pivotally involved in coastal trials
  • Training of local crews
bullet point Responsible for water jet selection and evaluation for fast response rescue craft.
bullet point Responsible for development of on-board daughter craft launch davit.
bullet point Promoted to Hovercraft Operations Manager.
Two years with FAIRLINE BOATS plc. as a Project Manager on new boat development.
Project planning and co-ordination of the electro-mechanical design (in accordance with European and USCG regulations) and prototype build of the 62 foot £1m Squadron and the 42 foot Phantom luxury motor boats from conception through to sea trials.
Previous experience was in the Oil and Gas, pipelines and water industries as design engineer, project manager and site supervision between 1981 and 1996.
EDUCATION: Post Grad. Cert. Combined Management Studies 2001 (MBA Year 1)
B.Sc. (Hons.) Mechanical Engineering 1981
O.N.C. Mechanical Engineering 1978
City & Guilds, Mech. Eng. Technicians Cert. Parts I & II 1977
Indentured Engineering Design Draughtsman 1974-78
PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS:		 Chartered Mechanical Engineer, The Engineering Council, UK & Corporate Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers since 1986
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