Laurie Prandolini Fellowship Awarded to Underwater Motion Tracking Researcher
We are pleased to award the 2025 Laurie Prandolini Research Fellowship to Yi-Ting Tsou, a PhD candidate at the Australian Maritime College, University of Tasmania.
The Fellowship, valued at up to $7,000 per year for two years, supports early-career researchers in the maritime field across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. It honours the legacy of Laurie Prandolini, a pioneer in Australian maritime research. The fellowship is part of our wide-ranging awards programme, designed to recognise and nurture talent in our industry.
Captain Ken Greig, OAM RAN(Rtd) awarding Australian Maritime College PhD candidate Yi-Ting Tsou the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology’s (IMarEST) 2025 Laurie Prandolini Research Fellowship.
Yi-Ting’s research focuses on the development of a ‘Six Degree of Freedom Underwater Measurement System’, a pioneering technology designed to precisely track the motion of submerged structures. This work has significant implications for offshore engineering, ocean renewable energy, and the broader blue economy.
The project addresses key challenges in underwater tracking, particularly the affordability and accuracy of current systems used in experimental testing of submerged platforms such as artificial reefs, underwater docking stations, and autonomous marine vehicles.
“Understanding the motion of submerged structures is critical in many offshore applications,” Yi-Ting said. “Uncontrolled rotation can lead to entanglement with mooring lines, and aligning natural frequencies with wave patterns can enhance energy capture in renewable systems.”
Jo Lewis, engagement director at the IMarEST, said: “It’s an honor to support such important research. Technology in the marine industry is developing at pace, and it is vital that projects such as this one support accuracy and safety and we move into a new age.”
This article has been adapted from an original news story appearing on the University of Tasmania's website.
