Victor Vilas

Victor is an Argentinian national living in Asuncion, Paraguay, since February 2014. For the last 10 years he is operating as an independent Senior Surveyor in Asuncion and the major inland waterways region, conducting inspections & surveys for P&I Clubs / H&M Underwriters – On/Off hire – Quality control – Pre-vetting – Loading / unloading operations/draft surveys and investigation of marine accidents, in the major region of inland river waterways.

In addition, he is acting as a regional exclusive surveyor for ICS (Intermaritime Certification Services) providing Certification and conducting Audits of local companies operating brown water fleets.

As such, Victor possesses expertise and vast all-round knowledge of inland waterways trade and fleets operating in Asuncion/Paraguay river waterways, as well as ship repairs practices/tariffs in the region, having conducted numerous casualty surveys and accident investigations for both P&I Clubs and H&M Underwriters (acting either on direct instructions or via local P&I correspondents).

Victor is a Naval Architect and Marine Engineer who earned his degree from National Technological University in 1989.

After graduating he has worked for 2 years in Argentine Naval Shipyard, supervising submarine construction acting also as an NDT operator for structures and welding.

For the next 6 years -between January 1990 and May 1996 – worked in the Argentine engineering manufacturing industry, for screw type air compressors, boilers/pressure vessels and respective supply chains.

In May 1996 he had joined RINA Classification Society Buenos Aires office, where he remained employed for almost 20 years until January 2015. Initially he served as a Class surveyor until January 2003, when he assumed the role of Principal Surveyor/Lead Auditor ISM/MLC – Head of Buenos Aires office, subsequently promoted in 2007 to South America Regional Manager for Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru, before moving to Asuncion Paraguay to become an independent self-employed Senior Surveyor until to date.

With Victor’s vast seniority and accumulated expertise over his almost 30-year carrier as a Class and Independent Casualty Surveyor, during which he attained deep knowledge and expertise on the Asuncion/Paraguay inland waterways fleets, accidents and local repair costs / practices, we are aiming to achieve our customary high standards of surveying practices in the major region (and not only).

In particular, our goal is to offer an improved and efficient surveying practices and reporting response and turnaround times to our Principals entrusting us with our services.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERTISE:

• ASTILLERO M.M DOMECQ GARCIA (Argentine Navy), NDT – Structural & Technical Superintendent, Submarine Construction & repairs: 1987 – 1989 (2 years)
• SULLAIR Argentina S.A., Manufacturing of Screw Type Air Compressors: 1990 -1993 (4 years)
• S.G.S. Argentina S.A., Manufacturing of Boilers / Pressure Vessels: 1993-1995 (2 years)
• CEVASA Argentina S.A., Quality Assurance: 1995-1996 (1 year)
• RINA Classification Society, Principal Surveyor/ Lead Auditor – South America Regional Manager: 1996 -2015 (19 years)
• VV Management SRL, Marine Surveyor – Asuncion / Paraguay (self -employed): 2015 – 2025 (10 years)

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• BSc in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering – Buenos Aires Technical University – 1983 to 1989
• Msc in Naval & Oceanic Engineering -Tech Universidad Technologica – Nov 2023 to Nov 2024
• Marine Accident Investigation – Lloyd’s Maritime Academy – March 2022 to March 2023