China to train Pinoy engineers in shipbuilding research

China to train PH engineers in shipbuilding research
GENIVI FACTAO May 22, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/china-to-train-ph-engineers-in-shipbuilding-...

The Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS) and China’s Harbin Engineering University Ship Equipment & Technology Co. Ltd. (Heuship) aim to strengthen their collaboration and cooperation by training filipino engineers and naval architects on maritime research and engineering.

PRS President Engr. Thaddeus Jovellanos said they are in the process of drafting a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Heuship for the scholarship program of PRS-endorsed Filipino engineers at Harbin Engineering University (HEU).

“We want to take advantage of the training and research development program that China is offering to PRS to jumpstart the growth of the shipbuilding technology in the Philippines,” Jovellanos said.

“HEU is the leading institution in China. China develops its own raw materials, and it is one of the top shipbuilders in the world. With the research training that HEU offers, we can also develop our own materials for the shipbuilding industry in the Philippines. Our strategy is to do the research now and present it to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina),” Jovellanos added.

Jovellanos met deputy manager Liu Zhiangiang to discuss the scholarship program in China last April. He then endorsed licensed Naval Architect and Marine Engineers to take the scholarship grant for the Master in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering.

“PRS scholars would take the three-years program at the prestigious Harbin Engineering University in China upon the university’s and Chinese government’s approval,” he said.

Jovellanos said, “The College of Shipbuilding Engineering of HEU serves to educate highly qualified researchers, technicians and engineers through meticulous studies and rigorous practices of relevant subjects. It was ranked as one of the leading institutions in China and enjoys the fame as “the cradle of China’s shipbuilding engineers.”

“In the field of scientific research, the faculty mainly emphasizes investigation, design and development of advanced and high-performance vehicles and marine structures. As a result of the faculty’s diligent research efforts, great progress has been made in the areas of hydrodynamics and structural mechanics of ships, such as resistance, propulsion, maneuver ability, sea-keeping, wave loading, and strengths and weaknesses of naval and offshore engineering structures,” according to the HEU website.

In a related development, Jovellanos and Engr. Rodel Brigola, PRS senior surveyor recently visited Heuship for an official meeting and ship inspection.

PRS reviewed some of the key submission drawings of a 20 meter FRP passenger ship, including general arrangement plan.

“After the communication between shipyard (operator) and surveyor, several structural construction problems raised by surveyor were determined to be revised as soon as possible. This is the first time the ship was inspected in succession. The most systematic final review and inspection will be carried out in May before its launching, to examine and survey underwater machines,” the memorandum read.

Heuship has backed-up PRS as the single classification society in the Philippines.

Jovellanos said ship classification is a highly technical undertaking which requires proven expertise, reliability, integrity and international recognition.