Qualifications

Jan W. Muntz, the principal surveyor of Muntz Marine Surveyors, was born in the Netherlands and graduated from the Technical University of Delft in 1964 with a Master of Science Degree in Naval Architecture. After his graduation, he served 2 years in the Royal Netherlands Navy as a 2nd lieutenant and was member of a team supervising the construction of frigates at shipyards in Holland.

In 1966, he joined the Van Ommeren Group, a major Dutch logistics company, active in ocean shipping and storage of petroleum products and liquid chemicals. He worked as a naval architect for 12 years, designing large ocean going vessels, as well as dredgers, a hospital vessel for the Dutch Red Cross and was actively involved in the design and supervision of the construction of a 106 foot schooner for the Netherlands Sail Training Association.

He was also responsible for the supervision of ships built in Holland, France, Sweden and Japan and for conducting Pre-Purchase Surveys of used tonnage acquired by his company. In these capacities, he gained solid technical experience in the field of ship design and ship construction.

In 1978, he was elected President of the ship owning division of the Van Ommeren Group, in which capacity he dealt with all aspects of running a sizable fleet of ships.

From 1986 to 1997, he worked in various capacities within the Van Ommeren Group in the USA, Holland and Belgium, in the field of general, technical and environmental management.

He also also associated with the French ship classification society Bureau Veritas and was chairman of the Dutch Committee and member of the Technical and General Committees in Paris.

After a 30- year career in the ocean shipping and tank storage industry, Jan settled in the USA. He fine-tuned his surveying skills of small craft at the Wooden Boat School in Maine and through an apprenticeship program with an experienced marine surveyor.

He is an Accredited Marine Surveyor of SAMS (Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors) and is also a member of the ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) and BoatUS’s Technical Information Exchange. He keeps his technical knowledge up to date through several CE programs and courses offered by these organizations.

He is ABYC Standards Certified, which means that he has a solid understanding of the ABYC Technical Standards.

Jan has been a devoted sailor since his boyhood and has participated in many ocean races such as the Fastnet Race and other races organized by the RORC (Royal Ocean Racing Club), including the Admiral Cup series. He also cruised in European waters and made a Trans Atlantic crossing under sail. He currently owns a Tartan 34, which he actively sails on Long Island Sound and beyond.

On the Photo Gallery Page of this website, you will find a selection of boats surveyed by Muntz Marine Surveyors.