ERICK TOVAL
Houston,TX
Summary
Marine professional and MBA candidate with leadership across offshore energy operations and U.S. Coast Guard service. Experienced in vessel operations, marine safety, risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and client assurance in ISM, SOLAS, USCG, and ABS environments. Known for overseeing 140+ personnel and safety-critical operations while supporting strong readiness, inspection, and compliance performance.
Overview
1
1
Certification
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Mate (Deck Officer)
HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS
Houston, TX
01.2018 - Current
- Prepare for and participate in annual vessel risk-control inspections and safety audits conducted by clients and regulatory/classification bodies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and American Bureau of Shipping.
- Serve as a primary operations liaison for major energy clients, including Shell, Chevron, SLB, and TechnipFMC, supporting offshore projects valued at approximately $250K per day and ensuring operations are executed safely and in accordance with client requirements.
- Identify and mitigate marine and operational risks associated with vessel activities, balancing safety, regulatory requirements, client expectations, and operational objectives.
- Maintain vessel compliance with applicable ISM and SOLAS requirements while overseeing safety equipment, navigation systems, and other safety-critical vessel operations.
- Manage vessel safety equipment and marine operations, ensuring compliance with SOLAS and coordinating anchor handling, towing, and mooring operations.
- Lead safety training, drills, and compliance activities for a vessel complement of 140+ personnel, improving readiness scores by 20% and strengthening coordination between offshore and onshore teams.
- Managed $10M in safety equipment and navigation-system expenditures, ensuring regulatory compliance and streamlining requisition processes to reduce delays.
Petty Officer
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Multiple Locations
01.2007 - 01.2014
- Conducted 300+ vessel safety inspections, ensuring compliance with federal and local maritime regulations.
- Supported safe navigation and maritime commerce by maintaining more than 1,000 aids to navigation across approximately 350 nautical miles, supporting $17B+ in annual cargo movement.
- Evaluated vessel safety and operational conditions, aiding enforcement of U.S. maritime laws and international requirements.
- Performed maritime law-enforcement responsibilities involving multinational operations throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
- Trained and briefed personnel in law enforcement, search and rescue, and marine safety operations.
- Supervised and mentored 22 junior personnel, enhancing operational readiness and fostering a high-performance safety culture.
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - STEM-designated
RICE UNIVERSITY — Jones Graduate School of Business
Houston, TX12-2026
Bachelor of Science - Maritime Transportation
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
12-2017
Skills
Certification
- US Coast Guard Master Unlimited
- N.I. Dynamic Position Operator
Timeline
Chief Mate (Deck Officer)
HELIX ENERGY SOLUTIONS
01.2018 - Current
Petty Officer
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
01.2007 - 01.2014
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - STEM-designated
RICE UNIVERSITY — Jones Graduate School of Business
Bachelor of Science - Maritime Transportation
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY