Markus Westphal joined Thomas Miller in 2014 as a Risk Assessor. He previously worked on general cargo vessels, bulk carriers and container vessels, rising to the rank of Master in 2000. As a junior officer, Markus served on salvage tugs and was involved in several salvage operations off the South African coast as well as the development of the Mossgas project off Mosselbay.

During his time at Safmarine, Markus was involved with the introduction of the ISM code as well as the ISPS code, his vessels being audited externally and internally.