Schemes for University Lecturers

Industrial Secondment Scheme: Case Study

Safety, Reliability and Security of Large Maritime Systems

Picture of Professor Jin WangProfessor Jin Wang
 Liverpool John Moores University
Seconded to ABS Consulting Ltd

Following his BEng in Marine Automation from Dalian Maritime University of China in 1983, Jin Wang joined Qingdao Ocean Shipping Mariners College as an Assistant Lecturer. In 1988 he was sponsored by the International Maritime Organization to study for an MSc degree in Marine Engineering at Newcastle University, which he received in 1989. He worked as Scientific Researcher at Loughborough University in 1990 and subsequently went back to Newcastle University to work on two EPSRC-funded safety engineering research projects. Following the award of his PhD in Marine Safety Engineering from Newcastle University in 1994 he worked as a postdoctoral researcher on an EU-funded project on the study of safety critical software systems. He joined Liverpool John Moores University as a lecturer in 1995 and was promoted to Reader in Marine Engineering in 1999 and to Professor of Marine Technology in 2002.

Why a secondment?

Further to the extensive research activities in the areas of safety, reliability and security assessment at Liverpool John Moores University, it was decided to develop new, industry-related modules and to revise the existing modules with a view to making them industrially relevant. An industrial secondment sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering provided an ideal opportunity to achieve these goals.

The primary aims of the secondment were to learn of the latest developments in industry in the safety, reliability and security subjects and to gain the additional benefit of exposure to current industrial and commercial practice. In an attempt to achieve these aims, the following main objectives were set:

  • To develop a BEng module “Engineering Safety and Risk”.

  • To improve the quality and relevance of the teaching of an MSc module “Marine and Offshore Safety Analysis”.

  • To develop an industry based MRes in Safety, Reliability and Security.

  • To strengthen collaboration in safety, reliability and security assessment between ABS Consulting (ABSC) Ltd and the University.

ABS Consulting Ltd, Warrington

ABS Consulting (ABSC) Ltd is a worldwide risk management and quality evaluation company, which is affiliated to the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS). While ABS provides services including the making of guidelines and codes for the marine industry, ABSC provides services in quality evaluation, engineering, safety and risk analysis to a wide range of clients in the marine, process and offshore sectors.

During his secondment Jin worked on a number of projects including: Risk-based verification of offshore systems; Standby vessel requirement project – Teak, Samaan and Poui Oil Field, Trinidad; Offshore HAZID project for Royal Oak and Teak B Drilling Campaign, Trinidad and Modification of The Health, Environment and Safety Information System (THESIS) training materials.

Benefits

Both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching activities at Liverpool John Moores University will benefit from the materials developed during the secondment.

  • A BEng module “Engineering Safety and Risk” (level 3) has already been developed with a set of lecture notes and reading materials. It will be used for several undergraduate engineering courses.

  • Industrial case study materials on safety, reliability and security assessment in marine and offshore areas have been generated for an MSc module “Marine and Offshore Safety Analysis”.

  • An MRes programme in Maritime Safety, Reliability and Security has been developed with appropriate research materials collected.

  • As a team member on three real-world industrial projects, significant experience of current industrial practice has been gained.

  • One-to-one training on the use of ABSC’s in-house software THESIS (The Health, Environment and Safety Information System) has been received.

  • Industrial management experience has been gained through participation in ABSC’s weekly management meetings.

  • The secondment has greatly enhanced the research collaboration between ABSC and the University.

Statement from the Industrial Host

‘As a leading consulting firm with experience in safety management and quality evaluation for a variety of industrial sectors, we have been most impressed with this initiative. It has been mutually beneficial to many of the staff, especially to those in the Oil and Gas Section, to work with Professor Wang. We would be happy to host more secondees from universities in the future.’
Dr George Green
Vice President Europe’

 

 

Updated July 2012

/research/univ/secondment/profiles/wang.htm