Selected Professional Experience
More than 25 years of marine engineering experience across commercial shipping, superyachts, new construction, commissioning and long-term vessel operation.
The examples below illustrate the practical experience behind Torven Marine: working through the build process, challenging deficiencies, commissioning complex systems and remaining accountable for how vessels perform after delivery.
Selected experience from the career of Torven Marine Director James Viscardini. These examples demonstrate the operational, new-build and engineering experience behind the consultancy and are not presented as projects contracted through Torven Marine.
M/Y Rahil — New Build and Ten Years of Operational Continuity
James served as Build Chief Engineer during the construction of M/Y Rahil at the Mariotti shipyard in Genoa. He was the only full-time member of the owner's build team continuously assigned to the project, working with the support and oversight of a senior build consultant who attended on a part-time basis.
His responsibilities extended across the complete build rather than being limited to machinery installation, including engineering systems, pipework, equipment installation, paint quality, fixtures and fittings, commissioning readiness and the practical coordination required to bring the finished vessel together.
James remained closely involved through construction, commissioning and successful delivery in July 2012. Following delivery, he continued aboard as rotational Chief Engineer for approximately ten years, providing valuable continuity between decisions made during construction and their consequences throughout the vessel's operational life. He also populated and implemented the vessel's IDEA planned-maintenance system during the build, establishing a structured maintenance history that was subsequently recognised during the yacht's successful pre-purchase survey.
“James' presence at the yard during this period proved to be invaluable and his input made for a far better end result, which has proved itself time and again during her operational life.”
Paul Knighton, Captain, M/Y Rahil
M/Y Netto II — 80-Metre New Build, Commissioning and Operational Transition
James joined M/Y Netto II in July 2025 while the 80-metre vessel remained under construction. As owner-side Chief Engineer, he represented the vessel's long-term engineering interests throughout the final build, commissioning, acceptance and delivery phases.
His involvement extended beyond machinery commissioning. He worked directly with the yard and subcontractors to identify deficiencies, challenge incomplete or unsuitable work and ensure that engineering systems were delivered to a standard capable of supporting the vessel's operational life.
Alongside technical commissioning and fault resolution, James established the vessel's engineering operation from the ground up, including the planned-maintenance system, technical records, spare-parts inventory, machinery-space standards and the structure of the engineering department. He then remained aboard through delivery and the vessel's transition into operation.
“He came to a vessel that did not yet exist and had a great deal to do with the fact that she was delivered on time and in better condition than she would otherwise have been. That is not a small thing, and it was not achieved by accident. It was achieved by an engineer who knew what he wanted, argued for it, and stayed on it.”
Fraser Gow, Captain, M/Y Netto II
Earlier Career
Further experience that has shaped Torven Marine's approach to operational engineering, commercial-vessel discipline and major new-build construction.
M/Y Attila — Operational Engineering and Maintenance Improvement
James joined Attila during the yacht's sale and transition to a new owner. With only one week to prepare the vessel for a passage from Monaco to Dubai, limited spares and a basic handover, he rapidly identified and rectified technical issues to meet a strict departure deadline.
During the following 21 months, he was instrumental in establishing planned-maintenance procedures and inventories that had previously been absent, while helping develop a cohesive and accountable engineering operation.
“James has exceptional all-round knowledge and experience and has a very calm temperament. He confronts problems methodically and takes time to process the issue and look for the solution.”Dean Green, Captain, M/Y Attila
QE2 and British Merchant Navy Engineering Foundations
James began his marine engineering career with Cunard, completing his engineering apprenticeship and subsequently serving aboard QE2 while she was the flagship of the British Merchant Navy. Working within a large, highly structured engineering department established the commercial standards, operational discipline and accountability that have underpinned his later work in the superyacht sector.
He subsequently worked through a British Merchant Navy shipping pool, gaining experience across a varied range of commercial vessels rather than remaining within a single vessel type. This provided exposure to different machinery installations, operating profiles, maintenance practices and engineering teams, creating a broad practical foundation before his career progressed into major yacht construction and long-term operational roles.
Commercial-vessel discipline and broad machinery experience remain central to Torven Marine's approach to commissioning, fault-finding and engineering management.
M/Y Rising Sun — 138-Metre New-Build Experience
James subsequently gained new-build experience aboard the 138-metre M/Y Rising Sun, at the time one of the largest private yachts in the world. The project provided early exposure to the scale, complexity and coordination required in major yacht construction.
This experience underpins
The judgement developed across these projects is what Torven Marine now applies to commissioning & technical support, troubleshooting & investigations and planned maintenance & engineering systems. Read more about Torven Marine, or discuss a project.
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