WHAT NAVAL ARCHITECTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT ON MARINE ENGINEERING ITEMS, AND HOW - A VIEW FROM FINLAND

摘要

The ship machinery topics that are lectured to naval architecture students show an established content worldwide. There are some variations, e.g. turbine propulsion plants receive more attention at US universities than in Europe. Respectively special courses on naval craft and fishing vessels arae lectured in some countries. The paper deals with the changing demands. New types of vessels and propulsion plants are entering to the market. Criteria on performance and optimal total economy are becoming stricter. As the extent of naval architecture professional courses are growing there is not necessarily enough space for marine engineering topics. The key question is, 'What should a naval architect know about ship machinery?' If the volume of ship machinery courses is greatly expanded, he is bound to forget more on the skills and knowledge that he once possessed. A distinction is here made between naval architect whose most typical task is a project engineer and engine room designer who through his career specializes in machinery topics. Some comments are also made in the engine room specialist courses and teaching methods. The paper is based on 10-year university teaching experience. The feedback of graduated naval architects and their employees is included. Also the students' views on the courses, various teaching methods and textbooks is commented. Finally, some remarks are made on the means of naval architects to maintain and upgrade their professional skills.