Brewer at centre of hurricane drama

September 9, 2005: A Cornish brewer has found himself at the centre of the Hurricane Katrina crisis - helping to restore rig moorings and check pipelines off the Louisiana coast.

Richard Martin, aged 43, of Porthallow, is a partner in the recently-established Lizard Ales brewery, based at St Keverne. But he spends around 200 days a year travelling the world as a hydrographic surveyor.

He went out to the United States on August 25 to join a small construction/survey vessel working for independent oil company Anadarko.

"Nothing unusual was expected," said Richard. "Although normally I do try to avoid the hurricane season."

Katrina hit the US coast on the night of Sunday, August 28, and the next day Richard's crew, who had spent the weekend in Houston, Texas, got orders to join the survey vessel and sail for the Marco Polo oil field which had been in Katrina's path.

"Our first job was to carry out a remotely-operated vehicle inspection of the remaining anchor wires of a rig which broke seven out of eight moorings," said Richard.

"We also had to check all the surrounding pipeline to ensure that no damage had been caused by dragging anchors etc.

"Since then we have been continuing with inspection of the oil field checking for any other damage."

Many of the crew on the survey ship are from the area hit by Katrina.

"Obviously, they are concerned about the state of their homes," said Richard. "However, they seem more distressed by the pictures of the looters than by the storm damage."

Richard takes his globe-trotting lifestyle in his stride, as do his family back in Cornwall and business partner Mark Nattrass, with whom he set up Lizard Ales last November.

The brewery has enjoyed considerable success in its short life and now produces three regular beers.

As a hydrographic surveyor, Richard undertakes precise navigation work under the surface.

"I work on ships either doing construction or survey, mainly for the oil and gas industry, but have been involved in many other project, from searching for diamonds off Namibia to salvage off Hawaii."