Captain Ira S. Derrick
Capt. I.S. Derrick Independent Ship & Cargo Surveyors, Inc. was founded in 1962 by Sea Captain Ira Sharkey Derrick in Houston, Texas upon coming ashore after sailing as Master Mariner for over 30 years. His reputation and surveying company quickly became the standard in the industry, becoming known for integrity, honesty, and attention to detail. William P. Bowes and Severo “Bert” Calima joined the company in 1967 and 1982, respectively, and were personally trained by Captain Derrick. The collective skills, knowledge and expertise that Capt. Derrick imparted to Bill and Bert have subsequently been passed on to the current ownership and staff of the company.
Bill Bowes
The helm of Capt. I.S. Derrick Independent Ship & Cargo Surveyors, Inc. was taken over by Bill Bowes in 1982 upon the passing of Capt. Derrick. Together with Bert Calima, he continued to build upon the legacy that Capt. Derrick began, and grew the company into the largest and most respected in the Texas Gulf Coast Area. At its peak, the company employed a staff of 10 surveyors operating in the Texas Gulf Coast, New Orleans, Tampa, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and Chicago. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. We work closely with our clients to ensure that their cargo is delivered on time and in perfect condition.
Bert Calima, Michael Goodnight, and Matt Salkeld
After 25 years of leadership, Bill felt like the time had come to turn over the reigns and begin to ease into retirement. In 2006 he sold the company to Bert Calima, Michael Goodnight and Matthew Salkeld. Bert was the most experienced in line, and continued to provide his expertise and knowledge, while managing the other company locations in Florida and Chicago. Mike managed the Houston office and other Texas Gulf Coast Ports, while Matt continued managing the New Orleans office, now as owner and Vice President. The newly named Captain Derrick Marine Surveyors and Consultants saw the boom of 2007 and 2008, but also the crash of 2009. With some reorganization, the company was able to dig in and survive. After stabilizing, Bert decided in 2010 it was time to hang up his hard hat as well.
Michael Goodnight
After Bert’s retirement in 2009, with dual ownership in Houston and New Orleans in Mike and Matt, it made sense at that time for Matt to continue to service Captain Derrick’s mutual clients as a separate entity in New Orleans as Salkeld Marine Services, and for Captain Derrick Surveyors to remain focused on the Houston Gulf Coast and Florida Ports. These areas of coverage have expanded some for both companies, with CISD Marine and Salkeld Marine continuing their synergy as two of the top steel-focused marine survey firms in Houston and New Orleans.
Tom Doran and Brad Gilman Added to the Team
After more than a decade of steady growth under the leadership of Michael Goodnight, CISD Marine added Tom Doran and Brad Gilman as partners in 2025. Expanding the partnership ensures continuity, resilience, and the ability to scale our services as steel import volumes and client needs grow.
Looking ahead
- Michael will continue to serve as a subject matter expert for complex claims and litigation support.
- Tom will continue to lead the day-to-day operations, and maintain the standards established decades ago.
- Brad will bring external viewpoints from his varied experiences, as well as best practices from over ten (10) years as a NAMSGlobal Certified Marine Surveyor
CISD Marine remains focused on one mission:
Delivering the most accurate, steel‑specific marine surveying services in the Gulf Coast.
Tom Doran
Tom Doran has been part of CISD Marine since 2008, playing a foundational role in shaping our steel‑focused surveying practice. His technical depth, operational leadership, and long-standing relationships across the Gulf Coast steel trade have been central to our reputation for precision and reliability.
Brad Gilman
Brad Gilman joins the partnership with extensive experience from Apex Maritime Consultants, bringing a complementary perspective in marine surveying and client service. His background strengthens our ability to support importers, traders, terminals, and underwriters with even greater range and responsiveness.