RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN OCEAN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Abstract

Ocean engineering is a broad branch of engineering covering all aspects of engineering associated with the design, construction and operation of fixed and floating structures in the marine environment. It differs from naval architecture which traditionally focusses on ships and related ocean vehicles, and is of relevance to engineers in the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Australian Maritime College (AMC) commenced running Australia’s first Bachelor of Engineering (Ocean Engineering) degree in 1997, with the first students graduating in 2000. The program was designed to meet the growing need of the Australian offshore oil and gas industry for graduate engineers skilled in the analysis and design of structures and facilities capable of operating in ever-increasing water depths. It builds on the already successful naval architecture degree offered by AMC, and has the first year completely in common.

AMC makes use of its uniquely maritime focus and its wide variety of specialist facilities to produce graduates with a strong hands-on approach to complement their theoretical studies. The program features a unique blend of traditional marine and ocean-related subjects with a thorough grounding in hydrodynamics, wave theories, reservoir engineering, drilling technology, well design, offshore operations, oil and gas production technology and sub-sea engineering. As such, it is believed that the syllabus has a composition that is basically unique in the world.

To support this new degree, AMC has commissioned the construction of a new Model Test Basin to complement its existing towing tank. This will have a plan form of 35 x 12 m and will be equipped with multi-directional wavemakers, making it ideal for student use, as well as consulting and staff research.

The aim of the program is to produce engineering graduates with a broad theoretical background and a practical approach to problem solving. The ocean engineering graduates from AMC will be exceptionally well equipped to pursue successful careers within the international oil and gas industry.

This paper describes briefly the various subjects that are unique to the ocean engineering degree and shows how the subject syllabi come together into a coherent program which will produce systems engineers rather than specialists. The course has just recently received Full Accreditation from The Institution of Engineers, Australia (IEAust).