Alan Robinson

Alan was awarded his degrees from the Chemistry department at the University of Manchester. Afterwards Alan spent 8 years with the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory before joining Burgoynes in 1981 and became a partner in 1987.

Alan has investigated a large number of incidents which have occurred both at sea and ashore.  These investigations have mainly involved determining the causes of fires and explosions with his first investigation of a fire on ship taking place in 1982.  Since then Alan has investigated the causes of fires and explosions that have occurred in machinery spaces, pump rooms and cargo spaces as well as fires that have occurred in different parts of an accommodation.  The incidents investigated have taken place on yachts, cargo ships, tankers, gas carriers, containerships, ferries and passenger ships.

Alan has investigated  the causes if fires and explosions in a wide range of marine cargoes such as petroleum and other flammable products, calcium hypochlorite, potassium permanganate and other chemicals, fishmeal, wood pellets and other wood and vegetable products, containerized, bulk and packaged cargoes.  The causes have ranged from self heating/spontaneous combustion to the introduction of heat sources such as cargo lights and lighted smoking materials to electical faults.
In addition Alan has also provided advice to marine clients on:

• The chemical analysis of a wide range of materials. 
• The cause and origin of the off-specification of products and marine cargoes such as whether the problem related to manufacturing, shore transportation and handling or subsequent contamination.
• The toxic, flammable and explosive hazards associated with chemicals and petroleum products.

Many of Alan’s report have been used in legal proceedings taking place in the U.K., in other European Countries and in other parts of the World.  As a result of his investigations Alan has also testified to Courts and Arbitrations both in the U.K. and overseas.

Alan has also acted as a consultant to:

• Major ship owners owners on the prevention fires and explosions on their fleets of ships. 
• A major offshore operator about the prevention of fires and explosions on a new offshore oil storage facility.
• A major passenger ship operator on the fire precautions requiredduring the building of new passenger ships.

Alan has lectured to the Insurance Industry on the investigation of fires, explosions and incidents involving the contamination of marine cargoes and the release of chemials and other dangerours goods.