To inspire and foster the study of naval architecture and marine engineering
Anil Raj, PE, is a graduate of the Marine Engineering College in India. After his graduation, he pursued undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where he received a degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in 1974.
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 then spent five years at Gulf Fleet Marine Corp (now Tidewater Marine), where he managed the construction of 52 offshore vessels at five shipyards in three years. Later, Anil was promoted, becoming Gulf Fleet’s area manager and working in Offshore Marine Support Operations in the United Arab Emirates and India. Eventually transferring to India, Anil played a key role in the growth of the company’s operation there. The number of vessels expanded from three to 27 in two years, making Gulf Fleet the largest support vessel operator offshore in India, with bases on the Indian East and West Coasts.
In 1982, Anil returned to Brown & Root as Engineering Manager. Anil was one of the few managers of the newly established Brown & Root Development, Inc. (BARDI), a subsidiary created to help Brown & Root penetrate the government market, which had become a significant portion of Brown & Root’s (now KBR’s) worldwide business.
Five years later, in 1987, Anil joined Halter Marine as Director for Production Controls, Engineering and Procurement. He started the Government Projects Group at Halter. As Vice President and Senior Vice President of Government Projects, he managed the creation of the design of more than 200 vessels that resulted in signing many profitable contracts that led to the company’s growth. Anil was instrumental in increasing revenues 25-fold between 1987 and 1998 and was one of the five founding officers of Halter Marine Group, which prided itself on being the world’s largest builder of small and medium-sized ships.
In 2001, as part of a management change, the Board of Directors appointed Anil to the highest position in the company to assist in steering the company through its financial challenges. He became the President and Chairman of Halter Marine Group and its 32 companies as well as Chief Operating Officer of the parent company, Friede Goldman Halter. In 18 months, he managed the company through successful financial reorganization and help settle each division into financial health. He helped spin Halter Marine off as VT Halter Marine, Inc., with a backlog building 40,000-ton Crude Oil ATBs, 52,000-ton RO/RO ships, missile vessels, research vessels, navy hydrographic survey ships, NOAA fisheries research vessels, army logistics support ships and others.
In 2004, Anil started his own naval architecture firm, Technology Associates, Inc, which is 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 joined SNAME in 1978, and he has been actively involved in the Society ever since. He served as the chair of the Gulf and Texas professional sections of SNAME and 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, he was recognized as a 50-year member of the Society. Anil is also a life member of American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) and the US Navy League and has served as a member of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) rule-making committees for naval vessels and steel vessel rules.
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 the U.A.E.
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.
The new Sheri and Anil Raj Scholarship, made possible by a generous donation from Sheri and Anil Raj, is part of the SNAME Scholarships Program. It is a merit-based scholarship intended to inspire and foster the study of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. It is open to undergraduate or graduate students worldwide –without any limitation to their nationality, race or gender – who meet the program criteria and that of the scholarship itself. This includes:
• Demonstrating that they would like to study in any accredited university in the United States.
• Being in at least their second year of studies in a Naval Architecture or Marine Engineering program.
• Holding a 3.25 or above grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).
• Being in good standing with their universities.
• Having been a SNAME member for at least four months.
One scholarship for one year of study may be awarded annually, and individuals can receive the scholarship only once.
For more information about the SNAME Scholarships Program, visit www.sname.org/scholarships.