Professor: prof.ir. B. Boon

Ever since the advent of "open" ships, Ro-Ro ships and offshore constructions, design has become one of the most important fields of study for the marine engineer. Together with the classification societies, the engineers concerned at shipyards and design agencies bear responsibility for shape, choice of materials, production technology and dimensioning of the connecting parts. An important complication in this is that the fracture safety in welded constructions does not exclusively relate to the calculated stresses.

A designer should always be looking for the impossible. Relatively new sciences, such as finite element calculations and fracture mechanics, are just as well parts of the curriculum as are the knowledge of the quality degeneration of materials as a result of welding and cutting or the suppression of vibration and noise pollution.

Because of the situation described above, there is a definite demand for all-round strength experts. At the moment the opportunities for employment agree with the order of the following list:

Firms of consulting engineers.

• Oil industry.

• Classification societies.

• Shipyards.

• Research institutes (e.g. TNO).

• Navy.

Within the section there are various specialisms which are reflected in the scientific research being carried out in the Ship Construction Laboratory.

The section mainly concentrates on the effects of the manufacture, shape and material of a construction on the behaviour under varying stresses (fatigue) and at low temperatures (brittle fracture). Furthermore, attention is paid to plastic collapse under compression.

The section also occupies itself with the controlling of vibrations and noise, generated by the propeller, the engines, the pumps, the ventilation systems, waves, etc. Attention is paid to a practical and fundamental discussion of vibration problems. As vibrations and noise activate one another, the problems of producing, transmitting and reducing noise from source to recipient are considered as well. Obviously, both sections take a great interest in stress problems in swell.

During the 4th year course work and the completing of one=s studies, there is ample opportunity to get involved in the ongoing laboratory research.

Another possibility is the participation in practical projects.

Employment opportunities for marine engineers:

• Ports and transshipment companies.

• Shipbuilding and offshore industry.

• Oil companies.

• Firms of consulting engineers.

• Inland waterway shipping companies.

• Public sectors.

• Royal Navy.

• Shipyards.

• Classification societies.

• Assessment agencies.

• Dredging companies and contractors.

• Shipowners.

• Haulage firms.

This option for specialization knows no compulsory courses. After a consultation between undergraduate and supervisor, a curriculum is drawn up from the wide range of courses the university has to offer. The undergraduate's wishes and expectations with respect to his/her future job and, if possible, his/her final project, are taken into account. Nevertheless, the curriculum must comply with some wishes on the part of the section. It goes without saying that the courses taken care of by the section are included in the curriculum. Besides, the mt514 course (Motions and Navigation 2) is virtually indispensable because of what is taught about hydrodynamic loads on ships. For those interested in vibrations and noise, courses such as mt212 and mt213 (Mechanical Engineering 3 and 4 on axle dynamics and sound proofing of the engine) and mt515 (Resistance and Propulsion 2 because of cavitation) are highly recommended. In addition to this, more practical courses (such as welding, for instance) as well as theoretical courses (engineering mechanics, mathematics, probabilism) will be necessary. The central point will highly depend on the undergraduate's wishes and prospects. When drawing up one's curriculum, it is recommended to choose courses from different disciplines (Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, Mathematics). A few social science courses are completing the list. One or two courses could be taken at another university or abroad.