Thom was a Co-founder and Director of Maritime Survey Australia (MSA), and an accomplished Naval Architect with a background in commercial vessel design and marine surveying. Considered one of the best Naval Architects, his skill in commercial vessel design and marine surveying was second to none, and it was this talent — paired with his generosity in sharing it — that shaped MSA into what it is today.

Thom Magnuson graduated from the Australian Maritime College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Engineering (Naval Architecture), Honours, launching a career that would take him across the country and through some of Australia’s most demanding maritime projects. His early years at Austal Image/Oceanfast in Western Australia saw him play a lead role in the design and project management of six 30-metre patrol craft for Trinidad and Tobago, alongside work on motor yachts, passenger catamarans and cruise vessels — delivered ahead of schedule and to the full satisfaction of international classification standards. Alongside this, he began and ran his own naval architecture consultancy, New Wave Marine Design, completing new design work for vessels ranging from small RIBs to fishing and research craft.

Thom went on to work as a Marine Surveyor with Transport Safety Victoria (then Maritime Safety Victoria), and developed new processes for stability and survey record-keeping still valued for their efficiency. He then spent several years as Technical Officer (Naval Architect) with Farstad Shipping, contributing to major capital upgrade projects across the company’s offshore support fleet, while also leading process improvement initiatives in engineering change control and docking specification standards.

In 2016, Thom co-founded Maritime Survey Australia, taking on the role of Director and Senior Naval Architect. What began as a small team has since grown into an International business operating with a team of Marine Surveyors a transformation built directly on Thom’s technical expertise, sound judgement and tireless dedication. He was central to MSA’s plan approvals, stability assessments and surveys of commercial vessels. Thom’s work shaped the standards and reputation MSA holds today.

More than his technical skill, Thom was known for his integrity, his calm and clear-headed leadership, and the trust he built with clients and colleagues alike. But it’s his quick wit, his smile, and his fun-loving nature that we’ll miss the most.

He was, without exception, the voice of reason in every room he entered, and his unwavering commitment to doing things properly — and to the people he worked alongside — helped build MSA into what it is today. Maritime Survey Australia would not have been possible without Thom’s dedication, and his passing leaves a profound void in all our hearts.

Thom is survived by his wife, Haylea, and son, Lou. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.