A PERSPECTIVE OF THE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING

CAPABILITIES IN THE S A MARITIME INDUSTRY

Dr Brian Gowans PhD EngM MBL PrEng CEng ChMarEng FIMarEST FRINA

Marine Technology (Pty) Ltd Cape Town

PROFESSIONAL “MARITIME” ENGINEERS

• NAVAL ARCHITECTS, MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, CIVIL AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS WORKING IN THE MARITIME FIELD

• MARITIME FIELD INCLUDES DESIGN AND PROJECTS ON SHIPS AND RIGS, HARBOUR FACILITIES, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• GRADUATES IN MARINE ENGINEERING AND NAVAL ARCHITECTURE, REGISTERABLE , >8 YEARS EXPERIENCE

• POST GRADUATES IN NAVAL ARCHITECTURE OR MARITIME ENGINEERING

• Newcastle University conference 7-8 Dec 2011• Education and Professional Development of Engineers in the Maritime Industry

• Paper 5

INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• PROPULSION SYSTEMS• MATERIALS (incl infusions, carbon fibres,

bamboo)• WAVE-ENERGY POWER• GREEN PROPULSION• MANUFACTURING METHODS

• AND AT UNIVERSITIES

PRESENT NUMBERS OF PROFESSIONAL MARITIME ENGINEERS

ORGANISATION NUMBERS EMPLOYED

SHPPING COMPANIES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS 3

DAFF 0

SA NAVY 4

NATIONAL PORTS AUTHORITY 0

SHIPBUILDING 2

SHIP REPAIR COMPANIES 4

SURVEYORS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTS 5

CONSULTANTS AND DESIGNERS 12

FISHING INDUSTRY 1

TOTAL 31

POTENTIAL FUTURE SA WORK

• OIL AND GAS SECTOR• NICHE SHIP BUILDING• BUILDING FOR AFRICA• THE FISHING INDUSTRY• COASTAL SHIPPING• SUPER YACHT UPGRADES

SOME EXTERNAL COMMENTS 1

• …. Lacks specialist training and degree courses at university level. This is a significant problem if SA is to position itself internationally.

• Marintek report para 5.2.4

• … experienced considerable problems with the technical and management expertise through out the upgrade. If we are to return to SA we will have to use our own Engineers and ensure we have control of the sub-contractors

• Schlumberger post refit report 12/09 para 27

Comments 2

• … unless we can find better local management and Engineers we will not continue with our shipbuilding at Cape International Shipyards in Cape Town

• Letter to BG from Chairman Jarwalkaleej Company Dubai

POTENTIAL NEED OF PROFESSIONAL MARITIME ENGINEERS

ORGANISATION NUMBERS NEEDED

SHPPING COMPANIES AND SERVICE PROVIDERS 12

DAFF 4

SA NAVY 16

NATIONAL PORTS AUTHORITY 4

SHIPBUILDING 12

SHIP REPAIR COMPANIES 14

SURVEYORS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERTS 6

CONSULTANTS 16

FISHING INDUSTRY 4

TOTAL 88

INPUT STREAM

• MARINE ENGINEERS AND NAVAL ARCHITECTURE GRADUATES

• SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIR PERSONNEL WHO HIT THE “GLASS CEILING”

• ENGINEERS IN THE INDUSTRY WITH NO MARITIME TRAINING

• ENGINEERS WHO WANT TO JOIN THE INDUSTRY

EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

• Ships and rigs structural, mechanical, electrical and systems engineering to Classification standards

• Hydrodynamics and resistance, advanced static and dynamic stability, sea-keeping analysis, CFD, propulsion, loading, docking,

• Harbour engineering, facilities and wave energy, green engineering

• Maintenance analysis and evaluation, Project Management, Risk Analysis and mitigation

A FEW PROBLEMS

• PRESENT AGE OF PROFESSIONALS• LECTURERS• MENTORING• IDENTIFICATION OF WORK• SACPE/ECSA etc• TAXATION

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

• SHORT TERM - MARITIME INSTITUTE MID CAREER COURSE, SPECIALISING IN SA INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS – USE OF INDUSTRY LECTURERS

• LONGER TERM - UNIVERSITY DEGREE BASED ON AN INTERNATIONAL MODEL SUCH AS NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

CONCLUSION

• WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE OF MARITIME PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS

• THERE IS NO SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE EDUCATING IN THIS FIELD

• WE NEED TO DEVELOP A SYLLABUS AND PROCESS TO FILL THIS PARTICULAR EDUCATIONAL NEED

WE CANNOT SUSTAIN AND GROW THE MARITIME INDUSTRY WITHOUT DEVELOPING OUR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER EDUCATION.