The University and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (Rina), London, recently presented the 2010 Rina Student Naval Architect Award for the best final year marine related project to Stephen Mallia.
Mr Mallia’s award-winning project was entitled ‘The Evaluation of an existing Fishing Boat Hull, developing relevant characteristics and properties’, and was done under the academic supervision of Dr Claire De Marco, from the University’s Mechanical Engineering Department.
The dissertation discusses and analyses an existing six-metre and 70-centimetre fibreglass fishing vessel that was designed and constructed in a traditional manner.
It outlines how the physical data has been gathered and analysed through practical and theoretical methods, and compared with leading Naval Architecture software.
The fishing vessel characteristics have also been analysed to ensure that the vessel conforms to local, European and international specifications.