About us
Control System Survey - Marine and cargo surveyors
CSS is a family company founded by Francesco Mortola more than 20 years ago, building on three generations of maritime experience. Francesco comes from a seafaring village in northern Italy, near Genoa. His father and grandfather devoted their entire lives to the sea, and the seafaring tradition was part of daily family life. On both sides of the family, the Mortola ancestors were shipowners, known as Fratelli Mortola Armatori and Antola Armatori. His grandfather, Andrea Mortola, had a long and eventful career at sea, ending as senior master on Esso tankers. At the end of his career he was awarded the Gold Medal and the Gold Rudder for more than 50 years of service on board. Captain Gaetano Mortola, Francesco’s father and mentor, was an experienced VLCC/ULCC master with Exxon International Co., including ice and river navigation. He later became an inspector/surveyor for Exxon, Esso Italiana and OCIMF, and is currently an industry writer and external advisor on major cases. Following the family legacy, Francesco Mortola, founder and director of CSS, graduated as a maritime engineer and gained his sea experience on board cruise vessels, where he met his wife and started a family. Based in Barcelona for the past 30 years, he founded Control System Survey there, and from Barcelona the company has grown to establish its position and reputation across Spain, Portugal and Italy.
“I am proud of my family legacy, of Camogli, the seafaring town where I was born, of my Nautical School Cristoforo Colombo, of the support of my wife and son in this demanding profession, and of my team at Control System Survey. All of this has contributed to the success of our company, and it is our close contact with our clients that keeps us committed and motivated.”
Francesco Mortola
OUR TEAM
One of our strengths at CSS is the diverse background of our surveyors, which allows us to cover a wide range of specialities in every intervention. Our team includes master mariners, maritime engineers, civil engineers, forensic and fire experts, lawyers, accountants, loss adjusters and claims handlers, with expertise in cargo including perishables and intermodal transport. Perhaps our greatest strength is our genuine passion for the job, which translates into a clear commitment to doing our very best.
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