MLA Business Member Spotlight: Compass Marine Surveys

The shift from international marine surveying and assessment to a business in quiet Seal Cove, Maine might seem unusual, but for marine surveyor Richard Gayton, owner of Compass Marine Surveys, it’s all linked to the sea. Gayton was raised in England where he served as a master mariner in the British Merchant Navy. After 20 years he retired and moved to New York City to work for the Salvage Association, an arm of marine insurer Lloyd’s of London, and later at Leeds & Leeds Company. “Among other things I evaluated wrecks, whether they were a total loss or could be refloated,” Gayton said. “I worked with a broad spectrum of vessels, from the big to the little.”

Richard Gayton

After years commuting from his home in New Jersey into New York City and as a result of changes at Leeds & Leeds, Gayton and his wife decided it was time to make a change. They had vacationed in Maine over the years and enjoyed it. By 2021 they had moved to Seal Cove, on Mt. Desert Island, permanently. “We made a life move and are really pleased we did it,” Gayton said.

Gayton’s company offers a wide array of services related to surveying and consulting for commercial and recreational vessels, including risk assessment surveys, condition and valuation surveys, P&I (protection and indemnity) surveys, and salvage and wreck removal, among other things. The company offers round-the-clock emergency coverage for commercial interests across the continental United States.

As a marine surveyor, Gayton is most often sought after by fishermen interested in purchasing a new boat or renewing their insurance policies. He may also be called by insurance companies to assess a damaged vessel. His company also can provide risk assessment and loss surveys for large ocean-going commercial vessels and their cargo.

Gayton is eager to work with lobstermen throughout New England. “I am a supporter of the fishery in general. I am certainly aware of the recent legal hassles,” he said. “I hope I can assist lobstermen through my business.”

Compass Marine Surveys

P.O. Box 110,

Seal Cove, ME 04674

207-412-3882

compassmarinesurveys@gmail.com

https://www.compassmarineconsultants.com