College Of Engineering News

The collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge has highlighted what engineers say is an urgent need to better protect the piers holding up spans over shipping channels as the size of cargo ships has grown in recent decades.Federal authorities continue an investigation into why a massive cargo ship lost power and crashed into a pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, bringing down the structure and killing six workers who had been filling potholes atop it.The Maryland Transportation Authority did not respond to questions about what…

Tom Perrine, Austal USA vice president of engineering, was recognized by the University of Michigan as the 2022 Rosenblatt-Michigan Award recipient. The award is presented annually by the University of Michigan College of Engineering’s Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in recognition of outstanding professional achievement, integrity and devotion to excellence and innovation in ship design.The award honors the name of its first recipient, Lester Rosenblatt…

Donald L. Blount, an international esteemed technical expert in the field of high-speed craft hydrodynamics died on July 14, 2022 at the age of 87.Donald was driven all his life to do one job: design high-speed powerboats that could comfortably and efficiently run through rough water. His fascination with hydrodynamics began when he was a Virginia Tech co-op student working at the David Taylor Model Basin, the Navy's premier hydrodynamic research facility.Donald’s research contributions…

The United States' largest dredging contractor Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation announced it has signed an agreement with the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University to provide funding and technical support for what will become the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Laboratory of Dredging and Coastal Studies.Lasse Petterson from Great Lakes commented, “Our company has had a long and robust relationship with Texas A&M that has included research, participation in dredging short courses, and advocacy for the ocean and coastal engineering profession.

Maine Maritime Academy’s Board of Trustees announced that Jerald S. “Jerry” Paul has been named as the college’s 15th President. Paul, current President of Capitol Access and a 1989 graduate of the institution, will take office this spring.Paul will succeed President William J. Brennan, who steps down from the position at the end of April following 12 years of transformative leadership at MMA. “I am gratified that the Board has selected such a fine individual to lead this wonderful college when I step down next spring,” says President Brennan.

Naval shipyards and industry partners see business growing, but finding enough trained and qualified workers is a challenge.General Dynamics Electric Boat will invest $1.7 billion to modernize and upgrade its Quonset, R.I. and Groton, Conn., facilities over the next ten years,” said Sean Davies , vice president for EB’s Quonset Point Operations. “Here at Quonset, we are investing $700 million that will increase our outfitting space by 13 acres, to support work on the Virginia and Columbia class of submarines.

Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has been awarded a $1.25 million grant by the United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) to undertake research in support of autonomous unmanned marine vehicle platforms for coastal surveillance, coastal surveys, target tracking and protection of at-sea assets. The five-year project will entail developing unmanned surface vehicles that serve as “motherships” for unmanned underwater vehicles and aerial drones…

Howard Fireman, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, joined the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in 2013. Fireman is responsible for leveraging the latest advancements in technology to drive the development of innovative products and services that promote safety and improve the delivery of class services in the marine and offshore industries. Since joining ABS, Fireman has also served as President of the ABS Nautical Systems Fleet Management Software product line where he has overseen significant advancements in the software and achieved growth in every sector.

ABS Chairman, President and CEO Christopher J. Christopher J. Wiernicki, Chairman, President and CEO of ABS, addressed State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College graduates, their families, faculty members and guests at the college’s commencement ceremony on May 6. “I am honored to share real leadership lessons that these bright graduates may apply beyond the boardroom,” Wiernicki said at the ceremony, which saw approximately 300 students graduate inside Fort Schuyler. “Success in life and leadership go hand-in-hand.

Dr. Kirsi Tikka says diversity at alma mater played a pivotal role on the path towards a 'truly global career' in the shipping industry. Dr. Kirsi Tikka, President and COO of the ABS Europe Division, provided the 2015 Engineering Master's and Doctoral Commencement address at the College of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, on Monday 18 May. The ceremony was held in the Hearst Greek Theatre at the UC Berkeley campus for over 550 M.T.M., M.Eng., M.S. and Ph.D. graduates, their families and faculty members.

W&O Supply and Chesterton team up to reduce harmful emissions out in front to the EPA’s monitoring program. It’s less expensive than you might think. From the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency comes the September 2014 news of a barge operator fined for releasing dangerous gas into the atmosphere. The UK-based firm was made to pay almost £111,000 in fines and costs as a result of emitting unsafe levels of a gas; in this case, hydrogen sulphide (H2S). And, while an investigation by the MCA showed a number of health and safety failings by the operator, the bottom line was that not enough was done to stop the offending vapors from escaping into the atmosphere.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that apprentices at Newport News Shipbuilding will now have the opportunity to earn a bachelor of science degree while completing a marine engineer apprenticeship, thanks to a partnership between The Apprentice School and Old Dominion University (ODU). The new program allows apprentices to earn a mechanical or electrical engineering degree from ODU while gaining related on-the-job engineering experience in manufacturing, construction, maintenance and overhaul of some of the most complex ships in the world.

The Signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Apprentice School and Old Dominion University (ODU) will take place tomorrow (23rd April) at 3101 Washington Ave. in downtown Newport News for offering a bachelor's degree program in mechanical and electrical engineering. The Apprentice School is the only registered apprenticeship program in the country to offer a bachelor's degree as part of its academic instruction program, thanks to a partnership with ODU. Danny Hunley, Newport News Shipbuilding's vice president of operations, and Everett Jordan, director of education for The Apprentice School, will be joined by John R. Broderick…

As part of a US Navy-funded project Virginia Tech College of Engineering researchers have unveiled a life-like, autonomous robotic jellyfish. The jellyfish, the size and weight of a grown man, is 5 foot 7 inches in length and wieghs 170 pounds. The project aims to develop self-powering, autonomous machines that support various missions such as surveillance and monitoring the undersea environment, as well as studying ocean life, mapping ocean floors and monitoring ocean currents.

HydroComp, Inc. added of Adam Kaplan to the staff in Durham, New Hampshire USA as Project Engineer. Adam will be the lead for development of new versions of PropExpert and PropCad software. He is also on the front-line of customer support to HydroComp’s worldwide users. Mr. Kaplan is not a new face to HydroComp; he started as engineering intern at HydroComp during his mechanical engineering studies at the University of New Hampshire College of Engineering and Physical Sciences where he earned both his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering.

Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano presented the Panama Canal Expansion Program during his recent visit to Lamar University, in Beaumont, Texas. During the conference, Quijano highlighted the impact of the Panama Canal Expansion on the U.S. Gulf ports, focusing on those located in Texas. “An important number of the vessels of various segments that transit the Canal today have as port of origin or destination the U.S. Gulf ports. Furthermore, once the Panama Canal Expansion…

Paramarine advanced marine design software, developed by QinetiQ GRC, has been selected by the Egyptian Military Technical College (MTC) to support the teaching of ship and submarine design. MTC is one of Egypt’s leading technical colleges and has evolved into a comprehensive teaching centre of national and international prominence. MTC offers a wide range of courses including electrical, mechanical chemical, aerospace and civil and architectural engineering, offering more degree programs than any other college of engineering in the country. MTC also ranks among the top research facilities in Egypt. The college's faculty and students are involved in more than 30 research projects in fields ranging from biotechnology to materials…

Organizational announcement -  NAM Marine - Regional Energy Solutions Manager. Energy efficiency is recognized as a global mandate by governments, maritime organizations & business, and has become a key driver of growth for ABB Marine & Cranes. Opportunities in energy efficiency increasingly require that we offer our clients innovative solutions combining ABB products and other elements from across the marine industry. ABB Marine & Cranes BU has organized a worldwide Marine Energy Services group and as part of this global initiative, they have announced that Eric W.

Transocean Ltd. (NYSE: RIG) (SIX: RIGN) announced that the Board of Directors has named J. Michael Talbert as non-executive Vice Chairman of the Board, Arnaud A.Y. Bobillier as Executive Vice President, Asset and Performance, and Ihab Toma as Executive Vice President, Global Business, effective immediately. As non-executive Vice Chairman, Talbert is expected to succeed Robert E. Rose as Chairman of the Board of Directors when Rose retires at the end of his current director term at the company's 2011 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders. Bobillier will be responsible for the company's Engineering and Technical Support; Asset Management, Performance, Global Supply Chain and IT functions.

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) awarded their highest honor, the David W. Taylor Medal for notable achievement in naval architecture or marine engineering, to ABS Senior Vice President of Technology Peter Tang-Jensen at the society’s Annual Banquet during the SNAME Annual Meeting and Expo in Seattle, Wash. A well-respected member of the maritime community with more than 35 years of experience in shipbuilding design and engineering, Tang-Jensen has been providing strategic leadership for the classification society’s research and product development efforts since 2006. The ABS technology leader and former Executive Vice President of Odense Steel Shipyard, Ltd.

Top Business Leader Starts Seventh Term as City of Houston Appointee. The Houston City Council today unanimously reappointed businessman Kase Lawal to the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority for a seventh term. He was initially appointed in June 1999. Commissioners serve two-year terms without pay. Lawal, who is the chairman of Port Authority's Small Business Development Task Force, indicated this will be his last term on the commission. "Representing the city of Houston as a Port of Houston Authority commissioner is a true honor and significant responsibility…

Stephen Carmel, Senior Vice President of Maersk Line, Limited (MLL), has been appointed to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Executive Panel. The CNO Executive Panel is drawn from scientific, engineering, political-military and international relations communities. The purpose of this group is to advise the Chief of Naval Operations on questions related to national sea power. Carmel is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. He holds a M.A. in Economics and a M.B.A. in International Finance from Old Dominion University, and he is pursuing a Ph.D. in International Political Economy. Steve began his career sailing as a deck officer and master on tankers for Maritime Overseas Corporation and Military Sealift Command.

Howard University College of Engineering, Architecture and Computer Sciences (CEACS) and the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) signed an agreement that will potentially open doors to graduates for jobs around the world at NAVFAC. Howard University and NAVFAC have long, distinguished engineering histories individually, but they cemented their relationship with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) during the 2009 Advancing Minorities' Interest in Engineering (AMIE) Conference Sept. 9 at the Washington Plaza Hotel. NAVFAC is hiring around the world at its 16 commands, which includes 64 public works departments and three Officers in Charge of Construction.