About Us
Designing for the Demands of the Sea
Bringing Big Science to Smaller Ships
Our History: A Case of Sea Fever
DMS started with a story, not a spreadsheet or a pitch deck. Just a teenager with a love for tall ships, helping build one from the keel up on the shores of Lake Michigan. That ship cost $10,000, but the lessons learned onboard were priceless.
Between sanding epoxy and rerunning shrouds the day before launch, our founder, Nick Barczak, was hooked. His time spent sailing, rigging, and puzzling over what could be improved set the course for what would eventually become DMS.
Our Mission: To Take on Titans
The ocean is unpredictable, powerful, and unforgiving. It’s the domain of legends, but it’s also your workplace. At DMS, our mission is to even the odds.
We help everyday operators and startups punch above their weight by building smarter, stronger ships with tools once reserved for megayachts and oil tankers. With advanced simulations, performance tuning, and system design, we bring big-league engineering to vessels of every size.
Our Sensible Approach to Maritime Engineering
We break down complex design into something practical, grounded, and accessible. When you work with DMS, you’re not handed a bunch of specs to decipher. You’re guided through the process by someone who gets the business side of shipping and speaks your language.
With DMS, you get smart solutions that make your job easier and your vessel better, all without the jargon.
Meet Nick: Your Go-To Problem Solver
Nick Barczak, P.E., is the founder and principal naval architect behind DMS.
His background blends tall ship sailing with formal engineering credentials, including a master’s in Naval Architecture from the University of Southampton. Nick is as comfortable running CFD simulations as he is climbing a mast. That blend of real-world skills and technical know-how defines the DMS approach.
Nick’s passion lies in helping Clients turn their ideas into functional, money-making realities. From crane barges that won’t flip and ferries that burn less fuel to drone vessels with better stability, Nick’s mission is simple: design awesome ships.
Careers
Interested in starting a career with DMS? While we’re not currently hiring, we’re always glad to connect with passionate professionals in the maritime space. Feel free to check back in the future or reach out to us for more information.
Our Testimonials
Hear From Our Clients
“Nick is a rockstar, I can’t speak highly enough about working with him. He is always one step ahead and is a master at working with regulatory bodies and finding creative solutions to problems that crop up along the way… I couldn’t recommend Nick more for naval engineering needs.”
– Research Client
“I am an old timer. I should be a retired yacht designer / naval architect / professional engineer. With a backlog of projects and no time to get caught up on using my GHS software, I needed some help. I heard from a friend that Nicholas Barczak, P.E. of DMS, had some instructional videos on YouTube. While excellent, they still didn’t solve my backlog, so I hired Nick to run my 40′ pontoon small passenger stability calculations. Nick knocked it out in a little over a week, and 12 days later, we had a USCG MSC Stability Letter!”
– Commercial Client
“Sharing gratitude toward you and your work. You’ve been easy to work with and I am very impressed with your thorough inspection and oral preliminary report of findings. I am more than satisfied with your services and feel that my business made the right choice.”
– Startup Client
Let’s Build Your Next Ship
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