“Re-Birth of the Marine Technical Community”
Ottawa, Canada
Co-hosted by “The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, Eastern Canadian Section and the Ottawa Branch of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering”
With attendance numbers over 500, Mari-Tech 2012 in Ottawa this past April was a huge success. In addition to over 30 sessions, including keynote speeches, panel discussions and technical presentations, attendees were able to browse through the Expo hall with over 50 exhibitors.
Co-hosts Jeffrey Smith, Chair, National Council of the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering (CIMarE), and Glenn Walters, Chair, Eastern Canadian Section, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), welcomed industry representatives from all across Canada and all sectors of the maritime community.
In keeping with the theme "Re-birth of the Marine Technical Community", conference speakers presented and discussed topics that ranged from marine safety; engineering; naval and coast guard fleet renewal and maintenance; shipyard productivity and innovation; plus much more.
Keynote speakers Michelle Vermette, Peter Noble, Wendy Tadros and Tom Ring provided valuable insights into a number of issues and projects.
Technical presentations provided the latest information on technology and best practices from companies such as BMT Fleet Technology, Thordon Bearings, Rolls-Royce Canada, L-3 Communications MAPPS, Siemens PLM Software, as well HAMANN AG, MAN Diesel & Turbo Canada and Babcock Canada.
Panel sessions generated a great deal of discussion. One session in particular, "Engineering smarter marine businesses — sharing experiences", looked at the U.S. National Shipbuilding Research Program which facilitates a collaborative approach to problem- solving with participation from all major shipyards in the U.S. The discussion led to a suggestion that the value propositions put forth by Irving Shipyards and Vancouver Shipyards. In the winning bids of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy be combined to create such a vehicle here in Canada. Peter Cairns, President of the Shipbuilding Association of Canada, was keen to see this happen and volunteered to take the lead.
Credit for the photo in our masthead goes to the Department of National Defence: DND photo HSC71-322. 3/4 view of HMCS BRAS D'OR on foils, 19 January, 1971.
