Development of the Marine Steam Turbine: Trialling in SY Turbinia from 1894 to the commissioning of RMS Mauretania in 1907

In 1894 the Hon Sir Charles Algernon Parsons OM KCB FRS MA DSc LLD, one of Tyneside’s most famous engineers, filed his patents for the marine steam turbine. As part of his development strategy, he also designed, constructed, launched and trialled in 1894 the 100-foot-long Steam Yacht Turbinia. Over the next decade the marine steam turbine revolutionised naval and merchant ship propulsion and was the predominant prime mover for most of the next century.

131 years later, this presentation will discuss Sir Charles’ early career, his development on Tyneside of steam turbine technology and the subsequently the marine steam turbine, and also his design of the of the revolutionary and record breaking first-ever turbine steamer SY Turbinia which was built on the River Tyne. It will also illustrate the rapid early adoption of the steam turbine for propulsion by both navies and the merchant marine up to the completion only 13 years later in 1907 of her direct descendant Cunard’s famous steam turbine propelled Blue Riband transatlantic liner RMS Mauretania by Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson also at Wallsend on the River Tyne.

Finally, the modelling of both ships on the Ship Simulator at South Shields Marine School will also be briefly described.

Keith Hutchinson is Head of the Professional Technical and Engineering Services (PTES) sector and Senior Consultant in Whole Ship Design and Naval Architecture at Safinah on Tyneside, where he undertakes commercial and offshore marine consultancy for a range of clients globally. He has held senior roles in the design of a wide variety of ships, having previously worked as a researcher in ship design, and has shipyard experience in construction, conversion/upgrade, and repair.

Over a 38-year career as a ship designer and naval architect, Keith has been constantly at the forefront of the technical development of robust but flexible solutions for a multitude of extremely novel, complex, bespoke merchant ship and offshore vessel design problems, both new-build and conversions. He has consistently strived with clients to explore unknown multiple dimensional design spaces utilising both established and emerging technologies. Keith has published over 65 technical papers etc. and given many more public presentations and lectures.

He is a member of numerous industrial technical committees, is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer together with being a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, the Institute is Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, and is also a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and Freeman of The City of London – showcasing his leadership in the maritime industry.

This lecture is a hybrid lecture - if you would like to attend the Zoom lecture please follow the link below:

Zoom lecture (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/development-of-the-marine-steam-turbine-by-sir-charles-parsons-zoom-tickets-2001506001329?aff=oddtdtcreator)

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