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EAAW VII successfully demonstrated how problems have been solved

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Cdr Ian Hassall RN J

Over 120 delegates from Canada, The Netherlands, Poland, UK and USA attended the recent Engine As A Weapon International Symposium (EAAW VII) in Bristol (20 and 21 June at No.1 Brunel Square), with its topical theme ‘Combat Power at Sea’.

Organised by FIGS Events Limited on behalf of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) EAAW VII explored the reality of fully integrated engineering systems and equipment, and discussed the merits and challenges of delivering combat power at sea.

“This year’s symposium took significant progress forward in bringing the platform and combat systems closer together, epitomised by a step change in the debates and conversations which focussed on how we deliver and integrate now rather than looking at future developments,” said EAAW VII’s Chairman Cdr Ian Hassall RN, Ministry of Defence, UK looking back at a highly successful event.

As Rear Admiral Nigel Guild CB FREng, one of EAAW VII’s Patrons, who delivered the closing summary presentation at the end of the two-day event, explains: “As this symposium evolves over the years, we’ve moved from papers which analyse a problem and suggest solutions for other people to do – to papers which describe what the authors have done to solve a problem: real circuits and systems which are working.

“Perhaps a measure of the success of the EAAW series, in bringing together the naval engineering specialisations, is that audiences now understand what speakers are talking about!” he adds.

“Engineering policy used to be a top down directive – introduction of the COGOG (combination of gas or gas) era would be a good example. Now we see practitioners analysing data, exploring the consequences of decisions and a consensus view of optimum design emerging for specific ship roles.

“The warship is being viewed much more as a whole system and integration issues are being addressed. And there is a realisation that those who are integrating marine engineering systems have much to learn from those who integrate weapon and mission systems.”

Delegates described the symposium as ‘an unrivalled opportunity to meet and discuss multidisciplinary projects and technologies’; ‘a world class overview of how disruptive technologies such as unmanned systems and high-power energy weapons can be integrated in future power and energy solutions while addressing the changing energy landscape at sea’; and ‘the organisation and general feel of the conference was professional and conducive to sharing of knowledge and professional development’.

Babcock International Group, BMT Defence Services and BAE Systems were the major sponsors of EAAW VII with the US Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG), Society for Underwater Technology, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, UKNEST, and The Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers (KIVI) as supporting organisations. The symposium was CPD approved by IMarEST; and proceedings can be found in the IMarEST Digital Archive. The next EAAW symposium will be held in 2019.

Further information is available at www.eaaw.org.uk; eaaw@figsevents.co.uk and @Naval_IMarEST

The EAAW VII Technical Advisory Committee

Chairman:
Cdr Ian Hassall RN, Ministry of Defence, UK

Vice Chairman:
Mr Oliver Simmonds, GE Power Conversion

Dr Sal Ahmed, Office of Naval Research Global
Mr Rob Andrews, BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships
Mr Roger Bartlett, MBDA
Prof Fred Eastham FREng FRSE, University of Bath
Lt Marcel den Hartog RNLN, Ministry of Defence, UK
Mr Keith Howard, Babcock International Group
Mr Steve Mason, Ultra Electronics PMES Ltd
Lt Tom McKenna RN, Ministry of Defence, UK
Eur Ing Andrew Michael, QinetiQ
Mr Christopher Pollard, BMT Defence Services
Dr Zareh Soghomonian, CACI International, USA
Mr Andrew Tate, Dstl
Dr Ian Whitelegg, Rolls-Royce

EAAW VII Patrons
Rear Admiral Nigel Guild CB FREng
Cdre Peter Knipping MBE RNLN, Director, Directorate of Materiel Support, Royal Netherlands Navy
Mr Henry Parker CB, Director Ship Acquisition, Ministry of Defence, UK

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