Page 94: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Oct/Nov 2013)

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Spotlight

By Sarah Parker Musarra

US Gulf branch grows at a US], particularly to young

IMarEST President’s Commendation particularly fast rate, making members. I’m paying back

Award travels to the Gulf

Douthwaite’s service all the what I got out of it.” the honorary Secretary of more essential.

Douthwaite joined

Leslie (Les) Douthwaite,

IMarEST’s US Gulf Coast Douthwaite supports

IMarEST in December of

Honorary Secretary

Branch about four years ago. the local chair by organiz- 1961, while serving as a cadet of IMarEST’s US Gulf

Founded in London in with the British Merchant

Coast Branch, was 1889, IMarEST is “the frst

Navy, when the organization recently honored by institute to bring together was known as the Institute marine engineers, scien- for Marine Engineers. He was the institute’s highest tists, and technologists later elected Fellow of the award. OE discusses into one international

Institute.

his career and multi-disciplinary profes- “Marine engineering has commendation.

sional body.” Chairman been a part of my life since

In Houston on August 21, of the local branch, Alan I was 16,” said Douthwaite, at The Institute of Marine Mills, presented the award a native of West Kirby,

Engineering, Science and to Douthwaite saying the Cheshire. It was at that age

Technology’s (IMarEST) ing branch meetings; and that he began apprentic- “Marine engineering

First Offshore Oil and Gas conducts the intensive and ing for Liverpool’s Blue

Engineering conference, Les time-consuming professional Funnel Line. While steam- is a highly-skilled

Douthwaite received the review interviews required ing around the Far East, profession because a

President’s Commendation for chartered engineer regis- and during summer breaks ship is like a foating

Award, an annual interna- tration for new members. from Newcastle University, town…It is what I’d tional award recognizing “[It] is by far the most Douthwaite worked his way exceptional service to the demanding role on any up to second engineer for the call a noble profession.” organization. branch committee,” Mills company within eight years. – Les Douthwaite

Douthwaite was named said. “The fact that Les has, Upon graduating, he was for so many years, gone recruited by Lloyd’s Register, above and beyond what starting as a surveyor and many would do is precisely retiring as the quality why he was singled out for manager for the Americas. recognition of his tireless He retired in 2010, having work and selfessness.” worked 47 years for only two

Giving back to IMarEST is companies.

something Douthwaite feels “Marine engineering is a strongly about, as IMarEST highly-skilled profession helped him navigate his pro- because a ship is like a fessional career as a young foating town,” Douthwaite engineer. said. “Not only do you have “We all used to go to the the main propulsion

Liverpool branch meetings engines and their support as young marine engineers- systems, but you’ve also got to-be; we were very much power generation systems, on the learning curve,” he systems, sanitary electrical

Les Douthwaite, honorary secretary of IMarEST’s US Gulf said. “Now that I have a and water systems, and the

Coast branch, was honored with the President’s Commenda- little more time, I’d like to galley. You’re a jack of all tion Award on August 21. Pictured from left to right: Americas

Division President Paul Jukes, Douthwaite, US Gulf Coast give back to the institute trades. It is what I’d call a

Branch Chairman Alan Mills.

Courtesy IMarEST and to promote it [in the noble profession.”

OE | October 2013 oedigital.com 96 096_OE1013_Spotlight_People_OK_spm.indd 96 9/29/13 11:32 PM