SNAME Blog

Anil Raj, PE, is a graduate of the Marine Engineering College in India and received a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. He started his professional journey as a Naval Architect at Brown & Root (now KBR) in Houston working on offshore projects, tension leg platforms, floating nuclear plants, subsea pipelines, and arctic oil and gas developments. He spent five years at Gulf Fleet Marine Corp (now Tidewater Marine) where he managed the construction of 52 offshore vessels at five shipyards. Later Anil was promoted to the position of Gulf Fleet’s Area Manager and worked in Offshore Marine Support Operations in the United Arab Emirates and India. Anil played a key role in the growth of company’s operation from three to 27 vessels, making Gulf Fleet the largest support vessel operator offshore in India with bases on the Indian East and West Coasts.

In 1982 Anil joined Brown & Root as Engineering Manager and joined Halter Marine in 1987 as Director – Production Controls, Engineering, and Procurement. At Halter Marine he started the Government Projects where he managed the creation of designs of more than 200 vessels that resulted in signing profit-making contracts and the company’s growth. Anil was one of the five founding officers of Halter Marine Group, which prided itself in being the world’s largest builder of small and medium-sized ships.

In 2001, Anil became the President and Chairman of Halter Marine Group and its 32 companies as well as Chief Operating Officer of the parent Friede Goldman Halter. He managed the company through successful financial reorganization and helped settle each division into financial health. In 2004 Anil left to start his own naval architecture firm; Technology Associates, Inc., now called TAI Engineers. TAI specializes in creating ground up designs of offshore vessels, ferries, dredges and governmental vessels with a mission to “Provide Enhanced Value to Clients.” TAI grew to 130 engineering personnel with offices in New Orleans, LA, Houston, TX, and Vizag, India. In 2021 TAI Engineers, a subsidiary of TAI Holdings, Inc. was purchased by S&B Engineers and Constructors of Houston, TX. Anil is currently CEO of TAI Holdings, Inc., a maritime solutions firm that provides management consultancy to the maritime industry. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren and sailing.

Anil Raj joined SNAME in 1978 and has been actively involved in the Society since then. He has served as the Chair of two professional sections – the Gulf and Texas Sections. He has also been engaged in SNAME’s Technical and Research (T&R) Program, serving as the Chair of Motor Yacht and Service Craft until 2005. In 2019 Anil was designated as a SNAME Fellow for his outstanding personal contribution to the marine/ocean engineering fields through significant achievements in design, research, production, operation, and education. In 2024 Anil was recognized as a 50-year member of the Society. Besides SNAME, Anil is also a life member of the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) and the U.S. Navy League. Anil has presented more than 35 technical papers at SNAME, ASNE, Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), and other international technical symposia in Europe, China, the United States, India, and U.A.E. He has also served as member of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) rule making committees for naval vessels and steel vessel rules.