Karl obtained his engineering education in Germany and in 1964 he graduated with a degree Diplom-Ingenieur from the Technische Hochschule Hannover, in Mechanical and Marine Engineering.

From 1964 to 1967, Karl was a Design Enginer for waterpower machinery with ESCHER WYSS AG, Zurich (Switzerland), nowadays SULZER ESCHER WYSS. He was involved in the design of storage pumps and Kaplan turbines, and the application of computers in design calculations and analysis of model and site tests of the water power machinery.

From 1963 to 1971, Karl worked in shipyard Rheinstahl Nordseewerke, Emden (Germany), nowadays Thyssen Nordseewerke, in various positions, up to the Head of the Department of Marine Engineering and Electrical Design. He was involved in the design of various merchant ships like general freighter, ore carriers, passenger vessels, oil tankers and fast container vessels (gas turbine and steam turbine driven).

1972, Karl joined the Ingenieurkontor Lubeck in Luceck (Germany), a design office specialised in the design of military submarines. He worked there until 1983 as Deputy Head and later, as Head of Marine Engineering Design. He was involved in the design of the mechanical systems for the submarine classes 206 for Federal German Navy, 209 for various navies world-wide and some special classes for the Israelian, the Indian and the Royal Norwegian Navy, most of them built by HDW Kiel or by TNSW Emden.

1983, Karl emigrated to RSA in order to join LIEBENBERG & STANDER MARITIME in Cape Town, a design office specialising in projects for the South African Navy. As there was no continuation of such projects, the consultancy closed in 1990. Karl was a partner in the consultancy and the Head of the Marine Engineering Department, which in the beginning also included the Electrical Department. He was involved in the design of the supply vessel for the South African Navy, SAS "Drakensberg", amongst other projects for the South African Navy.

In 1991 Karl together with same former partners of LIEBENBERG & STANDER MARITIME founded a new consulting company MARITIME CONSULTING AND DESIGN that provided design and consulting services to various clients from the maritime industries. Karl was responsible for the marine and mechanical engineering. He was involved in various new building and modification work for the South African Navy, for parastatal organisations and for private clients.

In 1996, Karl joined OPTIMA HYDRAULICS, Cape Town, as the head of the design office. The Company specializes in the design, manufacturing, delivery, installation and maintenance of mechanic-hydraulic systems, which includes deck machinery for vessels, special equipment for the mining industry, cranes and hoistable platforms and special jigs and tools for manufacturing of tank containers. As from 2000 Karl has been operating as an independent consultant.

Karl is a specialist in design and integration of propulsion machinery and auxiliary systems on seagoing surface ships and submarines. Other special fields include the interpretation of naval shock standards and their application for shockproof design and installation of equipment on Navy vessels, and mathematical modeling and analysis of mechanical systems.

Karl is registered as a Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa since 1984. He is a member of the German Schiffbautechnische Gesellschaft and Fellow of the South African Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects.

32 Alexandra Ave.
Oranjezicht
Cape Town 800
South Africa

Tel: +27 21 4614511

Fax: +27 21 4614511

Email: experts@marinetalk.com