In early November, Three students have been selected by the department of NAOME (Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering) to represent the department and SNAME (Society of Naval architects and Marine Engineering) student section at the SNAME Maritime Convention 2016 at Bellevue, a city across Lake Washington from Seattle, Washington. The students are, Rayan Bou Chahine, a 4th year student doing his BEng marine engineering, followed by, Yi Sheng Tan and Alan Lim Kah Yong who are in the 3rd and 2nd year of the same discipline.
The three students earned their places on the trip after they wrote an essay describing how they could effectively represent and promote the Department and Student Section at the same time, and more importantly, how the event would benefit their professional development.
In the first day of the event, the students attended a technical presentation by Professor Emeritus Thomas Lamb of Umich (University of Michigan) regarding ship production in the 21st century. In his presentation, Professor Lamb outlaid the various technical aspects of the most productive and effective shipyards in the world. During this time, the students met Nina Lilley, the Chair of SNAME Western Europe Section, she was looking for actors to participate in a membership promotional skit, and the students willingly volunteered. After that, the students went for an offsite social to meet with more professionals, but they had to leave early to practice vigorously for the great skit next day.
The next day, the students attended the Council Meeting and performed the skit successfully. The students met and personally greeted prominent figures of the shipbuilding industry including Joe Camer, president of SNAME, Robert D. Tagg, a highly successful Naval Architect and alumni of Strathclyde. After the ordeal was finished, the students proceed to join the Student Boat Design Competition with high spirits. The design criterion is simple yet pretty challenging at the same time, so basically the students need to design a boat which can go fast, carry some cargo, and withstand some damage, without re-enacting the titanic. The tricky part is, there is no propeller or any similar kind of propulsion machinery provided. The students have to make do with some Popsicle sticks and tapes, just like back in Stone Age.
Very unfortunately, the three bright students from Strathclyde are separated into separate groups. One of the students from Strathclyde claimed, he wanted to go for a paddle boat design, but none of his team members listened to his advice. In the end, all of our students’ team came up with the propeller design and none of our students managed to win the grand 500$ prize. Not surprisingly, the winner is a paddle boat built by some USCG folks.
Day 3, defeated but still ideologically motivated, the students proceed to check out the student job fair, which is mainly compromise of American companies. It is during this time, the students received the news that the skit needs to be re-perform at the President’s Luncheon due to popular demand. Terrified but not shaken, the students understood orders need to be executed with ruthless zeal. Later evening, the students attended the Annual Banquet which witnessed the award of the prestigious David W. Taylor Medal to Professor Dracos Vassalos of NAOME. Professor Vassalos lifetime dedication to the safety at sea is truly inspiring and it was a really proud ‘Strathy’ moment. Not to forget, the students took a photo with Professor Vassalos after the event, which was remarked by Ms. Nina to be very political of them.
In short words, the students explore the expo hall with product and technology demonstrations, the ever popular innovation sessions, and the National Ship Research Program (NSRP) Expo of panel projects. In addition, the Opening Plenary Session, SNAME Annual Banquet, and President’s Luncheon, all the activities above provided the students with excellent opportunities to network and learn. If you would like to know more about the event above, please kindly don’t hesitate to contact any of our students above. Thanks you very much.
Yi Sheng Tan (Operational Officer)