Michael C. Goodnight

Mike has been with CISD Marine since 1998, when the company operated as Captain I.S. Derrick Marine Surveyors. He was hired by William P. Bowes, one of the marine cargo surveying pioneers in the Houston area beginning in 1967, taking over the company from Captain Ira S. Derrick himself in 1982. Before joining CISD Marine, he attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, where he attained a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, a U.S. Coast Guard Unlimited Tonnage License as 3rd Mate, as well as a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Mike brings leadership and integrity, with access to knowledge spanning a marine surveying career of over 30 years. 

After graduating from Kings Point, I worked as a stevedore vessel superintendent in New Orleans, and worked with marine surveyors first-hand while loading/unloading vessels. What drew me to it most was the detailed documentation required for what was observed in the field, and the problem-solving aspect in terms of cause of damage. The job has also constantly presented the opportunity to interact with, and frankly, learn from some of the most knowledgeable mariners in the industry.

The job isn’t just to take pictures of cargo. The extensive documentation – written, observed, photographed, tested – required to maximize the outcome for your client is challenging, but extremely rewarding. Obtaining favorable outcomes in court by putting all our skills as surveyors to use make the responsibilities of the job more fulfilling than anything else.

We have created a balanced system where were fit between a very small, one-man-show type company that has difficulty covering all assignments as they should, and a large company that loses sight of the details and personalization clients need. We are never spread too thin, and always have our surveyors communicating with clients, as opposed to a “management” system.

In my first few years with CISD, I encountered a situation with cold rolled coils from Russia in the springtime that had hoarfrost form on them. This was the first time I had been exposed to the phenomenon of sublimation, where the water vapor in the air froze directly on the coils when the hatches were opened on arrival. That one really threw the “cold to hot, ventilate not” right out the window. That experience early in my career really hooked me, and the challenges since have kept the job exciting and fresh.

I spent quite a bit of time volunteering as a coach for our sons’ sports teams as they were growing up. Now that our children are older and off to college, we enjoy travelling as much as we can, music and attending live events, and spending time outdoors hunting and camping.