Preparations are well underway in Southampton by the student team looking to compete in HYDROcontest 2016. This competition brings together engineers and naval architects from all over Europe and beyond to face technical and management challenges.
The University of Southampton team took part for the first time last summer. One of the company partners ABB was looking for a student to take up an industrial challenge of optimising the hydrodynamics of an electrical pod (thrust unit) for a six month internship at Hydros Innovation in Lausanne.
One of our MS students, Nicolas Verkant member of the 2015 Southampton Hydro Team applied as he was looking for a complex and interesting project to begin my career with. It was great news that he was selected and took up the challenge starting in mid February. Nicolas reports, ‘ I spent a few days discovering the goals, constraints, software and geometries. I ran a few simulations in order to find the correct setups before starting the optimisation process. The project really is interesting as a R&D study and also because it is a concrete case that may improve maritime transportation efficiency. The great quality work of the 2015 Southampton Hydro Team has been determinant for my application for this project. Therefore I really encourage people to take part in such a great adventure as this will develop knowledge and skills in very diverse fields, and it may even bring career opportunities. Good luck!’
Ariadna Pons Forn, MSc Yacht & Small Craft 15/16 and Marion James, PhD research student in the Fluid Structure Interactions group, went to the RINA headquarters in London on the 24th of February 2016 to attend the Maritime Project Management conference. They thank ABS and BMT for supporting them with sponsored student places.
Several speakers discussed the challenges related to the management of concept design projects. In addition, the increased complexity of working in a multi-cultural ship building project was raised. Ariadna and Marion learnt key points to ensure good communication in the multi-cultural and multi-discipline project that is the Southampton Hydro Team.
www.SouthamptonHydroTeam.co.uk