Profession of Naval Architect

A Naval Architect is a professional engineer who is responsible for the design, construction and repair of ships, boats other marine vessels and offshore structures, both civil and military, including:

• Merchant Ships - Oil/Gas Tankers, Cargo Ships, Cruise Liners etc.
  
• Passenger/Vehicle Ferries
  
• Warships - Frigates, Destroyers, aircraft Carriers, Amphibious Ships etc
  
• Submarines and underwater vehicles
  
• Offshore Drilling Platforms, semi Submersibles, FPSO's
  
• High Speed Craft - Hovercraft, Multi Hull ships, Hydrofoil Craft etc
  
• Workboats - Fishing Vessels, Tugs, Pilot Vessels, Rescue Craft etc.
  
• Yachts, Power Boats and other recreational craft
  
  

Some of these are amongst the largest and most complex and highly valued moveable structures produced by mankind. Without them to provide for the safe and efficient transport and recovery of the world's raw materials and products, modern society, as we know it could not exist.

Modern engineering on this scale is essentially a team activity conducted by professional engineers in their respective fields and disciplines. However, it is the Naval Architects who integrates their activities and take s ultimate responsibility for the overall project. This demanding leadership role requires managerial qualities and ability to bring together the often-conflicting demands of the various professional engineering disciplines involved to produce a product, which is 'fit for the purpose'.

In addition to this vital managerial role, the Naval Architect has also a specialist function in ensuring that a safe, economic and seaworthy design is produced.

To undertake all these tasks the Naval Architect must have an understanding of many branches of engineering and must be in the forefront of high technology areas such as computer aided design and calculation. He or she must be able to utilise effectively the services provided by scientists, lawyers, accountants and business people of many kinds.

A Naval Architect requires a creative, enquiring and logical mind; the ability to communicate clearly in speech and writing with others inside and outside the engineering profession, sound judgment and qualities of leadership. The education and training given to the Naval Architect are designed to develop these skills and to lead him or her to recognised qualifications and professional status.

Modern engineering on this scale is essentially a team activity conducted by professional engineers in their respective fields and disciplines. However, it is the Naval Architect who integrates heir activities and takes ultimate responsibility of the overall project. This demanding leadership role requires managerial qualities and ability to bring together the often-conflicting demands of the various professional engineering disciplines involved.

Naval Architects have a wide range of employment opportunities, both in the UK and worldwide. They are involved in such a wide variety of work that it is difficult to categorize it comprehensively. However, the main areas are as follows:

• Design
  
• Construction and Repair
  
• Consultancy
  
• Marketing and Sales
  
• Operations
  
• Regulations, Surveying and Overseeing
  
• Research and Development
  
• Education and Training
  
  

Each type of work has its own distinctive character and offers opportunities for initiative and imagination in a wide variety of technical and managerial posts as well as opportunities for foreign travel. The work place may be a large company, a small group, a consultancy or a government department.

Depending mainly on the type of qualifications held and personal inclination, Naval Architects may become specialists in one field or develop broad experience in several. Eventually they may find themselves in senior executive positions using their knowledge and experience of general management as well as their professional skills in engineering a project leadership. Indeed, aided by the breadth of their education, training and experience, professional Naval Architects are successful in top management posts in government, industry and commerce quite outside the maritime field.

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects

Founded in 1860, the Royal Institution of Naval Architects is an internationally recognised professional engineering institution whose members are involved at all levels in the design, construction, repair and operation of ships, boats and marine structures. Members of the RINA are widely represented in industry, universities and colleges and maritime organisations worldwide. There are classes of membership to suit all those who are professionally qualified in naval architecture, or who are involved or interested in the maritime industry.

The RINA enjoys an outstanding reputation for the quality and range of its technical publications covering all aspects of naval architecture and the maritime industry. The RINA also organises an extensive and successful programme of international conferences and training courses and training courses covering a broad range of experience and opinion on research, development and operation of all aspects of naval architecture. The RINA also provides advice and assistance on all aspects of naval architecture. The RINA also provides advice and assistance on all aspects of academic study, training and professional development.

Students at schools and colleges who are studying to enter university and are interested in career as a Naval Architect may also join the RINA.

Further information can be obtained from The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, 10 Upper Belgrave Street, London, SW1X 8BQ Tel: +44 (0) 207 235 4622 Fax: +44 (0) 207 259 5912 or log onto their website www.rina.org.uk E-mail: hq@rina.org.uk