When it comes to maritime repair, very few people have as much hands-on insight as Ian Nash. Splitting his time between SPS Technology and Leo Maritime, Ian has helped pioneer some of the industry’s most innovative solutions, like SPS COLD WORK repairs, and actively encourages clients toward sustainable maintenance.
In this interview, we sat down with Ian to better understand how he sees SPS shifting from a repair method to a key strategic advantage for the industry as a whole.
Q: Can you give an example of an SPS application that you feel truly showcases the strength of our partnership? Any success stories that stand out to you?
Ian: One standout project involved an emergency repair on a critical structural section of an FPSO just below the waterline. The asset couldn’t be taken offline for extended steelwork, so Sandwich Plate System delivered a rapid, class-approved repair with minimal operational disruption.
Success came through close collaboration between SPST, our trusted installation partner, and classification societies. It showcased not only SPS’s technical capability but also our partnership strengths: fast decision-making, transparent communication, and shared commitment to quality. That’s the power of partnership in action.
Q: How has the SPS Cold Work solution influenced how your team approaches maritime repairs/builds? What benefits have you observed using this method?
Ian: The SPS COLD WORK Solution has transformed how both SPST and our clients approach repairs and builds. SPST’s Cold Work repair delivers the same structurally robust repairs without hot work or extended, expensive drydocking: a major advantage in safety-critical and time-sensitive operations.
With over twenty years of application, we’ve seen measurable gains through reduced downtime, improved safety, faster turnaround and lower emissions. Our trusted installation teams now respond faster and more flexibly, often completing in-situ repairs while vessels remain operational. That adaptability is critical – ships in dock aren’t generating revenue for our clients.
Q: Are there any upcoming projects involving SPS that you’re excited about? Without revealing confidential details, can you hint at what’s coming next and what’s possible in maritime repair?
Ian: Exciting developments are underway! We’re exploring implementing SPS in complex environments, including live offshore platforms and naval assets. We’re also partnering to create rapidly deployable repair kits for trained personnel in remote locations. Additionally, we’re leveraging our proven Floating Dry Dock expertise.
The result? Faster repairs, smarter asset management, and unprecedented control over predictable structural repair schedules. SPS has evolved from a repair method into a strategic enabler for asset resilience.
Q: You’re sitting across from a maritime ops manager who’s hesitant about SPS repairs. Based on your experience, what’s the one thing you’d tell them that could change their mind? And what’s the question they should be asking, but probably aren’t?
Ian: If I were sitting across from a maritime operations manager, I’d ask: ‘What are your main repair requirements?’ This instantly reveals if SPS fits your needs. SPST is an engineering solutions company first and will always advise the best path forward for the client, even if it doesn’t involve SPS as the repair method.
The maritime industry traditionally resists change, often taking a ‘race to be second’ approach. But SPS has been deployed successfully for over 25 years—you’re joining a proven solution, not pioneering uncharted territory. With our global support network, we deliver real-time assistance worldwide.
Many managers focus on cost-per-square-meter, but the real question is: What’s the total cost of delay, downtime, or lost capability?
I’d encourage asking:
- How will this affect my operational schedule?
- Can it be delivered in situ or during voyage?
- What support exists for executing class-approved installations?
When you ask these questions, SPS quickly tops the shortlist.
Q: With an increasing emphasis on sustainability in the M&O industries, what specific sustainability challenges are your clients facing that our partnership is uniquely positioned to address?
Ian: Our clients face pressure to extend asset life while cutting emissions, waste, and operational disruption. Traditional steel renewal is resource-intensive, carbon-heavy, and schedule-disruptive—creating major sustainability and commercial challenges.
The SPS solution delivers high-quality integrity repairs with dramatically less waste and lower carbon output. By preserving original steel and often eliminating hot work, we help clients reduce environmental impact while meeting safety and class requirements. Leo Maritime and SPST are driving the industry toward sustainable maintenance practices.
Q: How does Leo Maritime’s company mission align with that of SPST and our partners? What are the short-term and long-term goals for Leo Maritime in terms of SPS?
Ian: Leo Maritime‘s mission perfectly aligns with SPST and its partners by redefining structural repair possibilities while delivering smarter, stronger, and more solutions. We’re committed to reducing vessel downtime, extending asset life, and achieving meaningful environmental impact reductions.
Short-term, we aim to expand the use of SPS across key maritime hubs, supporting both emergency repairs and planned maintenance for commercial and naval clients. Long-term, we aim to embed SPS into vessel design and lifecycle planning—not just as a repair tool, but as a forward-thinking structural management solution.
SPS should be in your toolbox of options and can be executed anywhere globally. As an engineered solution backed by calculations, SPS’ effectiveness isn’t a matter of opinion—the engineering doesn’t lie.
Q: You wear two hats—Business Manager at SPS Technology and Technical Director at Leo Maritime, our partner company. What inspired you to launch Leo Maritime? What gap were you trying to fill in the maritime space? And how does this unique dual perspective strengthen what we can deliver to clients?
Ian: After leaving the Royal Navy, I joined SPS Technology as a Project Engineer, working on global Maritime, Offshore, and Civil Engineering projects (from the London 2012 Olympics Aquatics Centre to a bridge in Texas!), eventually helping lead the Maritime & Offshore team.
Recognising a critical industry gap, I founded Leo Maritime in 2017 to provide comprehensive, environmentally friendly solutions for the maritime industry that are high-performance, regulatory-compliant, and cost-effective. We adapt innovative technologies from other industries (such as mining and transport) to help shipowners achieve more efficient and sustainable operations while protecting ocean environments.
My dual role enables broad-ranging solutions that are both technically assured and commercially aligned with faster execution and seamless SPS integration.
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