Professor Naval Architecture

Professorship in naval architecture and as head of the School of Maritime Studies. One of the most central research areas is maritime safety.

As a collective term, naval architecture is quite new. The subject covers most things related to seagoing vessels and their operation. Has already been a professor in this subject for ten years.

“I came here so to speak with both the subject and a couple of research projects as naval architecture. The idea is that we will work closely with industry and the conditions could not be any better than here. After just six months everything feels highly promising and very inspiring.”

He was involved in research into propellers for fast-going vessels and he also worked at the research company: a fully-fledged engineer but a person who constantly emphasises the relationship between technology and the human being. He cannot stress enough how important it is to immerse oneself in the human aspects from the very outset in everything related to technical design.

“Ten years ago it was far from self-evident to include the human being in the concept of naval architecture. However, as soon as one talks about manoeuvring a vessel then the user’s point of view automatically enters the picture. This is particularly so in maritime safety. How does the human being react when under pressure? It is easy for us as engineers to design something for a person who already knows the system inside out. My most recent doctoral student is basically a behavioural scientist and is involved in a project that focuses on the human aspects in conjunction with the evacuation of passenger vessels.”

Approach to research and science has thus become increasingly broader and more interdisciplinary. Could it be age he wonders and he comes to the conclusion that in his role as professor his primary task is to help young people along the way. In return, he receives a wealth of new knowledge and views.

“I really enjoy working with young people and being involved in discovering new things. It is easy to forget that we are not the same age. What is pleasant about being older is that you actually become bolder. I can focus on my own goals and ignore what other people think. I try to follow in the footsteps of my mentor. He was an incredibly inventive person who had the courage to start up new projects and skate on thin ice.”

An exercise in this particular art could be one of present tasks, namely to launch academic research at a place that is not traditionally considered academic.

“The primary task of the School of Maritime Studies is to train seamen. It could perhaps be considered strange for an academic to come in and address their problems. However, this could be reversed and it could be said that they have a much more concrete relationship with industry, and that as an engineer I am making use of their proximity to conduct the right kind of research and to gain acceptance for that research.”

The idea is to initiate research within this field and build up three MSc programmes. This could be compared with the MScEng programme but in time more focused on shipping. Most immediate is an MSc programme in naval architecture, followed by one in logistics and economics and one in operations and environment. A person who has completed the BSc programme could apply directly. Ship’s masters and chief engineers need to complement their training with certain technical subjects.

“In this way I hope to be able to conduct research and education that offer mutual inspiration.”

There are lots of potential research areas spinning around in this sea professor’s head. Some are just the seeds of ideas, such as the vitally important subject of cargo safety, which is often an area that is neglected. Poorly-lashed cargo on large vessels represents a major danger. Other ideas are already being realised, such as simulator training in communication within a complete vessel team in different critical situations. Once again this is where the human being comes in.

“I have wondered how to expand this further and perhaps include the coastguard and the pilot boats. One can never train enough. The Estonia disaster brought home to me and many others how important the human factor is on all levels and that we cannot place our trust blindly in systems. I could never forgive myself if the same accident happened today and I knew that I hadn’t done everything in my power to avoid it.