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125 Years & Counting

As SNAME celebrates its 125-year milestone, we look back at some historic high-points, we look ahead to the challenges coming.

hen the Society of Naval Ar- “ chitects and Marine Engineers

W was founded in 1893, the maritime world was well past the dawn

On April 28, 1893, 13 maritime professionals signed the of the age of technology. The steam articles of incorporation of SNAME, an act which not only engine had been with us for nine de- breathed new life into the seemingly moribund ? eld of ma- cades, and the art of building a hull from rine technology, but also brought those two specialties – iron and moving it with a screw propel- naval architecture and marine engineering – together to ler had ? rst been accomplished nearly a half century before.

work for the common good in the creation of powered iron or steel vessels.

For a number of years after the Civil

War, marine technology in the United

States was dormant. The war had virtually ended naval ship construction into the seemingly moribund ? eld of ma- learn and to better the performance of until the mid ‘80s; our merchant ? eet rine technology, but also brought those ships of all types. Under the able and was very slow in its conversion from two specialties – naval architecture and long-time leadership of Admiral David wood to iron and steel, and from sail to marine engineering – together to work W. Taylor (who presented no less than steam. The immense in? ationary result for the common good in the creation of 20 interesting and worthwhile papers of the war seemed to put an end to any powered iron or steel vessels. before our annual meetings during the competitive edge we might have had 40-year period from 1893 to 1933), we previously. In addition, the nation’s eyes For this remarkable ? rst step, we must learned much of the basic theory of the were ? rmly focused on the western thank such industry stalwarts as William speed and power of ships. Later, the frontier and the oceans were forgotten. H. Webb, Charles H. Cramp, Washing- mysteries of vibration of hull and propel-

Even the continuing waves of immi- ton Lee Capps, W.T. Sampson and the ler were made clear to us by Professor grants, which had been previously been other nine in? uential men of merchant Frank M. Lewis, and other leaders of passengers aboard our sailing packets, or naval background who could envis- tour industry guided us through those were now to be found in the steerage age the rise of American expertise and 100 years. class of European steamships. enterprise at a time when the seaways were almost universally crowded with Little by little, year by year, and scholar-

This was the picture when, on April 28, the fruits of European technology. ly paper by paper, the naval architects, 1893, 13 maritime professionals signed There followed a century-long learn- marine engineers, shipbuilders and oth- the articles of incorporation of SNAME, ing experience, throughout which we ers who contributed to the success and an act which not only breathed new life as a professional group were eager to safety of merchant and naval vessels 1960 1961 1967 1969

Bathyscaph USS Enterprise (CVN-65), formerly Torrey Canyon oil The ? rst Offshore Technology

Trieste descends CVA(N)-65, was commissioned spill off U.K. leading Conference, devoted to the development to deepest part November 25, 1961 as the world’s to new rules for of offshore resources for the of the ocean, ? rst nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. improved tanker petroleum industry in the ? elds of

Marianas Trench Vessel built at Newport News. safety and spill drilling, exploration, pro-duction, and response environmental protection.

Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, October 2018 th

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