106TH PRESIDENT OF IMarEST APPOINTED

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) appointed Professor Yoo Sang Choo as its 106th President at its AGM today (13 March).  The first IMarEST member from the Far East to take on this prestigious role, he takes over the reins of office from Dr David Wynford (‘Wyn’) Williams CB, the National Hydrographer 2001-2006. Michael Everard has been appointed President-Elect.

Professor Choo’s first task as President will be his speech tomorrow (14 March) at the IMarEST 105th and Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) and Nautical Institute joint Annual Dinner. Up to a thousand guests representing the global engineering, science and technology sectors of the maritime industry will be present in London for the occasion.

Paying tribute to his predecessor, Professor Yoo Sang Choo said: “I am deeply honoured to succeed Dr Wyn Williams, the first scientist to be our President who has served as an excellent ambassador for the IMarEST.  His significant contributions in strengthening the bond between the engineers, scientists and technologists in the Institute are clearly visible.”

Looking forward to his year in office Prof Choo professes that: “It is a great privilege for me to be the first President of the IMarEST to come from the Far East. As a Singaporean academic, who was educated in both East and West, and served in many international organisations and committees, I will endeavour to do my best to further the growth and reach of this great Institute.

“I am delighted that our Institute, in addition to Non Governmental Organisation status at IMO, has been similarly recognised by the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea.  I look forward to us making significant contributions in an arena which is growing in importance as the struggle for national influence and resources related to the oceans intensifies.  Our contribution to the climate change debate, the problems of pollution and the training and recognition of our seafarers and marine professionals, of all disciplines, are all areas where the Institute and its members are increasingly being asked to contribute. Our members are rightly very proud of their contribution in these policy areas.

“I am very pleased that the IMarEST contribution to the Pan Asia Association of Marine Societies (PAAMES), through our East Asia Division, is bringing the Institute’s work to an ever wider marine audience in China and the Far East.  I look forward to work with fellow members of IMarEST and PAAMES to mentor young talents, to take on challenges and seize opportunities by devising innovative solutions through integration of engineering science and technology.”

President-Elect, Michael Everard explains: “I am very honoured to be elected as President–Elect. It will be a great pleasure to support the President and the staff to promote the aims and standards of The Institute.  I will use this year as an opportunity to learn and meet as many members as I can.”

About the New President and President-Elect
Professor Yoo Sang Choo (Yoo Sang) was born in Kampar, Malaysia in 1953.  He attended Pei Yuan School in Kampar, and Anglo Chinese School in Ipoh in Malaysia before embarking on his undergraduate studies in the University of Manchester.  He graduated with First Class Honours in 1977, and was supervised by Professor M. R. Horne for his MSc and PhD projects. He worked on structural behaviour of deepsea production systems before joining VO Offshore (U.K.) to design floating and fixed offshore structures. He returned to Singapore in 1984 and worked for McDermott South East Asia on the design, analysis and installation of offshore platforms. He joined the National University of Singapore in 1987, and served as Director of CAE/CAD/CAM Centre from 1995 to 1999, and then in the Department of Civil Engineering since 1999.

Yoo Sang is Founding Director of the Centre for Offshore Research & Engineering (CORE), and Director of the Offshore Engineering Programme in Department of Civil Engineering in National University of Singapore (NUS).  

Yoo Sang has been invited to serve in many scientific or technical committees for international organisations and conferences, and three journals. He served as President of Singapore Structural Steel Society in 1992 to 1994, and in the Board of Directors, International Society of Offshore & Polar Engineers (ISOPE) during 2000-2002. He has been Visiting Professor to Delft University of Technology since 2000. He served as the Chairman for the Joint Branch of The Royal Institution of Naval Architects and The Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST) in Singapore for 4 years. He has served as member of Editorial Boards for Journal of Marine Structures, International Journal of Ships and Offshore Structures, and Journal of Marine Engineering and Technology.

Yoo Sang is National Convenor and member of International Standards Organisation TC8/SC8/WG Ship structures – Ultimate strength limit state assessment, and the International Institute of Welding Sub-commission XV-E: Tubular Structures. He is Correspondent for Singapore and member of Technical Committee III.1: Ultimate Strength in International Ships and Offshore Structures Congress.

Yoo Sang has received a number of international and national recognitions in recent years. These include two ISOPE Awards for his significant contributions to the International Society of Offshore & Polar Engineers. His research team also won the Stanley Gray Award for best paper in offshore technology presented by the Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology in 2001, and the Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award presented by the Institution of Engineers Singapore in 2003. He is a recipient of the Stanley Gray Medal from IMarEST in 2005 and the James Watt Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2005.

Yoo Sang was conferred the Honorary Fellowship of Singapore Structural Steel Society (SSSS) in August 2004 in recognition of his technical expertise, outstanding contribution and development in Offshore and Structural Engineering. He has served as technical consultant in major offshore projects, and participates in international joint industry projects.   His research interests include installation engineering, tubular structures and marine operations.

Yoo Sang is happily married to Pin, who is a Systems Consultant.   They have three children: Yuan is in his 3rd year medical course in the University of Manchester, Min is in her 2nd year engineering science programme in NUS, and Yang is serving his national service. Yoo Sang’s hobbies are music, photography and cooking.

Michael Everard was Chairman of the family shipowning company FT Everard from 1988-2006.  He was formerly President of Bimco, President of UK Chamber of Shipping and President of The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.  He was a Non-Executive Director of P&O and Lloyds Register of Shipping and a member of The British Waterways Board.  He is currently Vice Chairman of The International Chamber of Shipping and a Non-Executive Director of James Fisher and Sons PLC.  He is a trustee of The Marine Society and Sea Cadets.  
 

ENDS

 

About IMarEST

• Voucher copies/tear sheets with coverage are always welcome, as is a simple notification of use of the release to judithpatten@wwmail.co.uk
• The IMarEST (Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology) is the leading membership body and learned society for marine professionals, industry, research and education, with 49 branches and 15,000 members worldwide
• Professional Recognition: qualifications for membership are based on the educational background and/or multi-disciplinary experience ensuring that high professional standards are maintained
• The only membership body that can award Chartered Marine Scientist and Technologist, Chartered, Incorporated and Engineering Technician status to their professional engineering counterparts
• The IMarEST is part of the Marine Engineering, Science and Technology Federation
• IMarEST Marine Partners:  a membership network for organisations in industry, research and education operating in the marine and offshore sectors
• Maritime journals include MER (Marine Engineers Review), The Marine Scientist, The Journal of Offshore Technology (JOT); Maritime IT & Electronics; Shipping World & Shipbuilder; and the newly launched Journal of Operational Oceanography
• IMarEST Publications: Technical Proceedings Parts A, B, C and D; and a catalogue of 100+/- books
• The IMarEST Marine Information Centre (MIC) has 36,000 references available; 86,000 references on the combined IMarEST/BMT database; and some 5,000 books and 3,000 conference proceedings
• IMarEST organisers 30-40 events and conferences annually; and was the host organisation for the World Maritime Technology Conference held in London 6-10 March 2006

Issued on behalf of IMarEST by Judith Patten @ JPPR

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