MARINE SURVEYORS: Bringing on the next generation

Industry stakeholders are slowly coming around and understanding that marine surveying requires a solid structure to have a true advantage

ROGER Weiller believes industry needs to think hard about securing the next generation of marine surveyors if risk management and protection is important within their business strategy.

Mr Weiller is the owner, chief executive and managing director of The MCC Group, including MCC Marine which includes a marine surveyor division.

He notes marine surveyors traditionally came from a seafaring background before finding careers onshore.

“Marine surveying is tough to succeed in, especially for sole traders and small marine surveying companies. It’s a hard task if not managed well,” Mr Weiller said.

“I’ve previously spoken about this, how are we going to replace that knowledge that comes from master mariners and the like, given the resilience and work ethic that comes from being at sea, which is an uncompromising workplace.”

He notes many commercial marine surveyors in Australia are from overseas.

“With the hot topic being immigration and with the changes the government has made in terms of sponsorship, you can see the labour issue that we may be presented with in the future, as we aren’t doing enough locally to develop the next generation of marine surveyors, not the ones that get their hands dirty at least” he said.

“We have been supporting maritime training institutions and have made a number of recruits in the last 12 months, which are to be the next generation of our ‘home brew’, as an example.”

How are we going to replace that knowledge that comes from master mariners and the like and the resilience and work ethic that comes from being at sea which is an uncompromising workplace.

Mr Weiller said without the industry knowledge to back up training, it was unlikely someone would succeed unless there was good mentorship and a proper structure in place.

“It always has been very competitive and cutthroat, due to the number of small operators and without a recognised professional industry body it is difficult for the training institutes to raise the bar and push forward without government funding and backing, as members only want the stamp and certificates to put on their LinkedIn and not the hard work and expenditures that comes with real continuous professional development,” he said.

“In saying this, the industry stakeholders are slowly coming around and understanding that it requires a solid structure to have a true advantage.

“Long term stability, national coverage and comfort can only come from well layered and established organisations.”

The MCC Group dates from the early 1990s.

Mr Weiller initially joined as a member of staff, working for about eleven years before becoming a director in 2019 and completing a full acquisition of shares in 2024, making him the sole owner.

“My background is not from seafaring, but I have lived and breathed the industry since I was a teenager,” he said. “And even before that when I was my uncle’s bait boy on his long line tuna commercial fishing boat back in Brazil.

“The MCC Group, with a vertically integrated approach, now employs across the group about 160 staff.

“MCC Marine alone has over 40, which makes them one of the largest marine surveying businesses in the country.”

The head office is in Brisbane, but they also have offices in North Queensland, servicing Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone. In New South Wales there is Newcastle, Sydney and Port Kembla while Western Australia is the newest location, with a base in Fremantle.

Geelong is set to open in April, Adelaide is anticipated to open in August, completing Mr Weiller’s five-year strategy plan for national exposure, all managed by The MCC Group with an in-house training and development program.

“My vision is always to deliver the best service to the industry with a refreshed, sophisticated and honest approach, with a keeping it real attitude,” he said.

This article appeared in the February | March 2026 edition of DCN Magazine