Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine EngineeringPrizes & Awards

This is awarded each year to the student in the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering with the best Honours Mark and was first awarded in 1994.

The origins of the cup are interesting.  It was presented to King Harald V of Norway by the workforce at the Kvaerner Govan shipyard in Glasgow to commemorate his visit to the yard during the state visit he made to Scotland in 1993.  He in turn presented the cup to the Department to be awarded to a student for Meritorious Achievement in Marine Technology.

King Harald V has a number of connections with the University of Strathclyde.  As Crown Prince Harald, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by theUniversity of Strathclyde in 1985.  He was also the Royal Patron on the University's development programme "Campaign 2000" which was launched in 1990 to support a number of major developments in facilities on the campus, and initiatives for staff and students.

Founded in 1912 by Archibald Denny, LLD (Glasgow) 1911, the prize is open to students who, (according to the official citation) “ in the session of competition, have attended the Senior class of Naval Architecture and who are completing the final examination in Naval Architecture embracing:

(a) Naval Architecture with Marine Engineering and

(b) practical work in Ship and Marine Engineering Design.

The award is determined by the proficiency shown in (b) provided that the candidate has also reached a satisfactory standard in (a) .” The prize was intended by the donor to enable the winner to take a holiday after the work of the session.

In current practice the prize is awarded to the M.Eng or B.Eng graduate with the highest Honours mark.

Archibald Denny (1860-1936) was a younger brother of William Denny III and took over the technical direction of the family firm, William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton, following William’s early death. Dennys were a very forward looking firm and were noted for building high speed passenger ships for cross channel services; consequently they were interested in understanding the power requirements of high speed ships and so commissioned the first scientific towing tank to be owned by a shipbuilding company.

Founded in 1893 in memory of Alexander Carnegie Kirk, LLD (Glasgow) 1888, a former president of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, the prize is open to students who (according to the official citation) "in the session of competition have attended the Senior class of Naval Architecture and who are completing the final Science examination embracing:

(a) Naval Architecture with Marine Engineering and

(b) practical work in Ship and Marine Engineering Design.

The award is determined by the proficiency shown in (a) and (b)".

In current practice the prize is awarded to the MEng or BEng graduate with the second highest Honours mark.

Dr Kirk (c1830-1892) worked in a number of well known shipbuilding and engineering firms during the latter half of the 19th Century and also worked for 'Paraffin' Young in the first Scottish oil industry - shale oil.  He is best known for introducing the triple expansion steam engine into both merchant and naval ships, initially with John Elder and Co. (which became the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd.) and later with Robert Napier and Sons.

Founded in 1930 by the bequest of William Reid Birrell of Glasgow, this prize is one of two prizes awarded annually to a student in the Final Year of study for the degree of BEng in Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering who has shown overall distinction in Naval Architecture subjects, and the second prize to the best continuing student(s).

William Reid Birrell (c1880-1922) was connected to a firm of India Rubber manufacturers in Glasgow. He studied Naval Architecture and Mathematics at the University of Glasgow from 1898-99 to 1901-02 but did not graduate. (NOT the best role model for modern day students!) When he died in 1922 at the comparatively early age of 42 his will directed his Trustees to use the income from his estate to look after his mother and his sister. After his sister died in 1930 the income from the residue of his estate provided for the Reid Birrell Prizes in Naval Architecture.

The two prizes originally awarded have become four; in any year one or two of the prizes are awarded to graduating students and the remainder, which are often split among a number of winners, are awarded to continuing students from 4^th Year and 3^rd Year.

The Prize was founded in 1973 by the bequest of Mrs Dorothy Harvey Hedderwick in memory of her husband, Harold James Hedderwick, formerly chief draughtsman of Messrs G L Watson, Naval Architects, of Glasgow.  Two prizes shall be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering on the basis of the results returned to the boards of Examiners for the degree of MEng in Naval Architecture with High Performance Marine Vehicles.

Harold James Hedderwick was born in 1878 into a wealthy family connected with printing and publishing in Glasgow. By 1901 he was employed as a Naval Architect’s Draughtsman and in 1915-16 he was recorded as studying Navigation at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, one of the predecessors of Strathclyde University, while working for G. L. Watson & Co. The leading Naval Architecture consultancy. At this time the firm carried out all the design work for lifeboats of the RNLI (Royal National lifeboat Institution) under the direction of J R Barnett, an arrangement which continued for many years.

It is believed that Mr Hedderwick served in the Royal Navy in the latter years of the First World War and subsequently returned to G L Watson & Co however the Department has been unable to obtain details of the later stages of Mr Hedderwick’s career.

This prize was proposed by Jim McCaig of McCaig Watson Ltd, a Consultancy firm specialising in Small Craft, while he was a Visiting Lecturer to the Department.

As a practising small craft naval architect he wished to encourage students in this area. Initially the award was based on performance in the class that Jim taught and in an individual project on a small craft theme. The prize was first awarded in 2001

Sadly Jim died in 2004, however the new owners of the firm, both graduates of this department, wished to continue with the prize and now it is awarded based on performance in the specialist small craft classes in fourth year.

It may be interesting to note that there is a tenuous connection with the Hedderwick Prizes also awarded by this department in that Jim McCaig worked for, and subsequently owned, G. L. Watson & Co, before setting up his own business McCaig Watson Ltd.

Under its present owners the business has been renamed Marine Design International. In 2009 they commissioned a perpetual Trophy to recognise this Prize and record the names of the winners. The Trophy was presented to the Department on the occasion of the Reception following the July 2009 Graduation Ceremony.

This prize is awarded to the student with the best overall performance in Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering.

It is provided by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology.

Salilaksha Basu Memorial Prize (£150) Founded in 1996 by Mrs Indrani Basu in memory of her husband Salilaksha Basu who graduated with the degree of BSc in 1961 from the Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at the University of Glasgow, this prize is awarded annually to the student in the fourth year of BEng study who has shown greatest practical proficiency and overall distinction in naval architecture.

The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, or the Shipwrights’ Company, is a City of London Livery Company with its origins in the fourteenth century and its roots in shipbuilding and associated skills.  The fundamental purpose of all Livery Companies is to support charitable works and education, with the emphasis on those connected with their own craft or speciality.

1. Purpose of the Shipwrights’ Prize

The general purpose of the Prize is to provide a monetary award to the top student from the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME) at the University of Strathclyde.

2. Award Eligibility

Potential students shall be eligible for the Prize if they are in their 4^th year of study in the Department of NAOME.  The method of application and assessment shall be decided by the University’s Selection Committee and selection will be based on academic achievement and performance with the award being made to the student judged top of the 4^th year in the Department of NAOME.

3. Level and Number of Awards

One prize will be awarded annually to the top 4th year MEng student in the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering.  The Department will award the prize at the end of the academic year, with the prize winner being invited to attend the Shipwrights’ dinner the following January.