About Us

Diverse Experience in Technology and Shipbuilding

Charleston Marine Consulting was started by Randy Brown in 2014 with a vision to offer the marine industry a diverse mix of consulting services and software solutions that tap into his 35 years of experience in shipbuilding, manufacturing, and program management.  The perspectives that he offers his clients come from his depth of knowledge in engineering and naval architecture combined with his experience in sales, marketing, and vessel operations both in the engine room and at the helm of powered and sailing vessels.  Our South Carolina based company is also an authorized software sales Channel Partner for Bentley Systems, offering MAXSURF Naval Architecture software solutions to clients in the United States and Canada.

Starting from The Bottom and Learning That Hard Work Pays Off

At Age 15, Randy started working on boats, learning a lot of hands-on skills from his Dad.  On a hot summer morning in Lake Oswego, Oregon, Randy’s Dad asked him to “fix up” his family’s O’Day 22 sailboat to get it ready to sell before moving the family to the East Coast.  At the end of a long day of bottom painting, cleaning, and hull waxing, a Minister with his wife and two kids in the car stopped next to the boat in the driveway while Randy was hanging the For Sale sign.  Within an hour, Randy closed his first sale which included boat launching and sailing lessons to the family on the Columbia River as part of the deal.  When his Dad came home from work at the end of the day he praised Randy for making the boat look so great, but then asked why there was no For Sale sign.  Randy then showed his Dad the $1,000 earnest money deposit check for the sale, which was 30% above what the four year old boat sold for when it was new.

Randy Brown Age 14 on Family’s O’Day 22 Sailboat

At age 17, Randy started working in Point Pleasant, NJ as a hands-on Yacht Rigger for power and sailing yacht dealerships and a charter company.  Working his way through college, he did everything required to commission new yachts and refit older vessels from sanding and painting hull bottoms to installing navigation electronics, and working as a marine mechanic’s helper.  While outfitting sailing yachts, trawlers, and sport fishing boats, Randy learned the importance of doing quality work for the customer.  On occasion, he also did  several yacht deliveries on the along the East Coast.

A Hands-On Engineering Education at SUNY Maritime College

In 1985, Randy graduated with honors from the State University of New York Maritime College uniquely qualified with a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Naval Architecture and a USCG Third Assistant Engineer’s License (Steam and Diesel, Unlimited Horsepower).

Randy Brown Marine Photography
SUNY Maritime College Training Ship Empire State V (Photo, R, Brown 1985)

After crossing the Atlantic Ocean six times, visiting nine different European Ports, and spending six months at sea running the 600 psi steam propulsion plant aboard the Training Ship Empire State V, SUNY Maritime College prepared Randy for a lifelong career in the marine industry as a capable hands-on engineer and Naval Architect.

Empire State V Cruising The Azores, Portugal
The Azores, Portugal – Aboard Training Ship Empire State V (Photo, R. Brown 1983)

General Dynamics, Electric Boat Corporation

Randy began his career as a Naval Architect at General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division working there for 11 years on a wide variety of nuclear submarine designs and construction programs.  Highlights of his successful years at “EB” included:

  • Winning an award for leading the development, detailed design, testing, and installation of the first all composite and syntactic foam sonar eyebrow for the improved Los Angeles Class Attack Submarines outfitted with under-ice and vertical launch cruise missile capabilities.  The first ship outfitted with the “Syntactic Eyebrow” was the USS Pasadena, SSN752, pictured below.  The syntactic eyebrow was installed on 21 submarines in the class, and it quickly became a key enabler for the strategically deployed submarines to fulfill their missions any where in the world without compromising the weapons load.
688 Class Nuclear Submarine
USS Pasadena, SSN752 Improved Los Angeles Class Submarine
  • Developed expertise in Modular Construction and Construction Engineering at the General Dynamics Charleston Manufacturing Facility.  In Charleston, large Ohio Class and Los Angeles  Class submarine components in excess of 400 tons, such as the submarine Bow, and Stern Ballast Tank Hull Modules, were built, tested, and delivered to the main Shipyard in Groton, CT.  As the Construction Engineering Representative from headquarters, Randy was responsible for evaluating any non-conformance issues, designing the deck layout and approving the final securing of multi-million dollar submarine units on Deck Barges leaving the Charleston Facility on their way to Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut.
Nuclear Submarine Near Completion
U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Near Completion
  • Managed the manufacturing engineering and delivery plan for the construction of 140′ tall, 84′ diameter, 3 million gallon Egg-shaped “Digester Tanks” in Charleston, South Carolina for the City of Boston’s Deer Island Sewage Treatment Plant.  The unstiffened steel plate Digester Tanks were enormous in size, having compound curvature (just like an egg), weighing 700 tons each.  Randy was also assigned as the responsible on-site engineer for the delivery of the first two tanks in Boston.  The General Dynamics “Hercules” Heavy Deck Barge was used for the delivery of the eight tanks for the project.  A 1,200 ton Lampson Transi-Lift Crane with a 260 foot boom was used for the offloading and setting of the tanks on their concrete ring wall foundations.  The Prime Contractor for the project was Perini Construction.
Deer Island Digester Tank Construction Lifting Top Unit Out of Assembly Fixture
Lifting Top Digester Top Unit Out of Assembly Fixture
Plate Line Heating Experts from IHI Japan
Steel Plate “Line Heat” Forming Consultants from IHI Japan for the Manufacturing of the Digester Tanks at General Dynamics
Egg-Shaped Digesters Offloading in Boston with 1200 ton Lampson Crane
Egg-Shaped Digester Tanks being offloaded  from “Hercules” Barge in Boston with 1,200 ton Lampson Crane (260 ft Boom)
  • Managed systems integration of the Virginia Class attack submarine with the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) and Advanced Seal Delivery System (ASDS)
DSRV being Loaded on to Mother Ship Attack Submarine
DSRV being Loaded on to Mother Ship Attack Submarine

Career Shift from Engineering to Software Sales

For a period of 12 years after General Dynamics, Randy had a very successful career in software sales, helping military, aerospace, shipbuilding, and many Fortune 500 customers streamline engineering and improve time to market with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools, working for MSC Software Corporation.  In the last six years of his sales career, Randy was a Senior Account Executive for EMC Corporation, selling EMC Documentum  Information Rights Management security software to the United States government intelligence community.  His customers included the CIA, NSA, DOD, FBI, DOE, and the State Department.


Applying the Business, Shipbuilding, and Engineering Experience

Most recently, before starting CMC, Randy was Vice President of Operations for three years and prior to that was Director of Business Development and Engineering for four years with Metal Trades Incorporated, a family owned company specializing in Heavy Steel Fabrication, Barge Construction, and Ship Repair.

During his seven years at Metal Trades, Randy did a bit of everything:  Naval Architecture, Engineering Support, a couple of Deck Barge Designs, Barge Cost Estimating and Bids, Formal Proposals for Barges and Tug Boats, Sales, Marketing (New Brochure and Web Site including all Photography), Program Management of all New Barge Construction, and Business Development.  During his last three years, Randy also served as Metal Trades’ VP of Operations.

East Coast Naval Architect Marine Engineer South Carolina Barge Construction Expertise
Rusty Corbin (Metal Trades CEO) with Randy Brown, VP of Operations

As a Director and Executive at Metal Trades, Randy led the company’s successful entry into new and larger barge construction, handling the marketing, sales, and program management for the construction of more than 14 barges and over $40M in new business with customers that included the U.S. Navy, New York City Department of Transportation, Charleston Heavy Lift, Norfolk Dredging, Southern Dredging, Cotrell Contracting, Yawkey Foundation, and the National Park Service.  The barges have been of various types:  Deck Barges, Double Hull Fuel Barges, Crane Barges, Floating Dock Barges, a Self-Propelled Shuttle Barge, and even a Swing Bridge on the Intracoastal Waterway.  A key contributor to the success of several barge programs was establishing a close partnership with Bristol Harbor Group, Inc.

East Coast Naval Architect Double Hull Fuel Barge Construction Expertise
US Navy YON 334 Delivery to Norfolk, Virginia via ICW (Photo, R. Brown)

Charleston Marine Consulting – Naval Architecture Support and Bentley Systems Software Offerings

We invite you to read more on our web site about the services that we offer our clients.  We are a former Bentley Systems Channel Partner that offered our marine industry clients MAXSURF, a powerful Naval Architecture software suite that is widely used around the world.

Maxsurf Naval Architecture Software for Conceptual Design
Bentley Maxsurf Model of LNG Ship

The Meaning of Our Logo

The Charleston Marine Consulting Logo is a custom version of the “Endless Knot”, a symbol for Karma.  As a “Jack of All Trades,”  Randy will continue to focus his knowledge and creative energy on the marine industry, leveraging his 35 years of experience and passion for applying high technology software.  Our goal is to deliver value to our clients while maintaining the highest integrity.

East Coast Naval Architect Marine Consulting Services


USCG Licensed Captain – Power & Sail – On the East Coast and Caribbean – Thousands of Offshore Miles

Randy holds a USCG 100 ton Master Merchant Marine Officer License for Motor, Sailing, and Assistance Towing Vessels.  He is also a PADI certified Open Water Scuba Diver.  He has inland and offshore experience as a Captain aboard powered and sailing vessels on the East Coast of the United States and throughout the Caribbean.

Currently, Randy is a part time Ferry Boat Captain for Haig Point, on Daufuskie Island, SC after recently completing a 4,000 Caribbean sailing trip aboard “Karma”, a Beneteau 40.

Capt Randy aboard Carolina Queen in Charleston, SC
1,600 Miles to Antigua, 2021
Beneteau 40 “Karma” 800 miles Offshore
Ferry and Water Taxi at Haig Point, Daufuskie Island, SC

Please click this link to learn more about experience with  Past Projects.

Please click this link to learn more about  Qualifications.

Naval Architect South Carolina

MAXSURF Naval Architecture Software and Services