Fair Winds and Following Seas

Commencement 2011 

Webb Institute hosted its 115th Commencement Exercise on Saturday, June 18 overlooking the Long Island Sound. Twenty-one worthy young men and women from the Class of 2011 were awarded Bachelor of Science degrees in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Additionally, a few students were recognized for exceptional scholastic performance. For a list of the Commencement Awards and Prizes, click here.

John C. Couch returned to Webb to deliver the Commencement Address. Mr. Couch received an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science during the ceremony. Webb Institute also conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Science upon alumnus Dr. Joseph A. Burns '62.

Banquet Honors Compton & Hadler:

An Affair to Remember... 

Webb Institute hosted a Retirement Banquet on May 20, 2011 for retiring Dean Roger Compton and Professor Jacques Hadler. One hundred and eighty-six guests joined in celebration of our honorees. The impact these gentlemen have made on the Webb community is felt throughout. Two endowment funds have been established in their honor; The Jill and Roger Compton Endowment for Performing Arts and The Jacques B. Hadler Endowment for Research. A minimum of $100,000 was needed to fully fund each of Webb's newest endowments. Please visit us online to make a donation, or contact Webb at 516.759.2040 to learn more.

The Webb community will greatly miss these two men.

Alumni Spotlight: Jon LaBerge '76

Oh how the world has changed in the 35 years since I graduated from Webb. With all of the stresses and complications of life in the 21st century, it sometimes makes me nostalgic for the era of Vietnam and Nixon and Watergate. On second thought, maybe not. But I will say that on my infrequent visits to the campus over the years since graduation, there has been a feeling of constancy and familiarity with a place that has had a remarkable influence on my life and career, and that sentiment feels a lot like nostalgia to me. more...

Webbies at Stolt in Rotterdam!

Stolt Tankers in Rotterdam, Netherlands, saw its "Webb network" grow from one to many this winter, as new employees joined and winter work students from ship and shore gathered to sample Dutch beer, travel through Europe, and work on various Stolt projects. more...

Juniors treated to Offshore Technology Conference Presentations

On May 3, 2011, Alumni Tom Koster '67 (retired) and Keith Michel '73 (Herbert Engineering) with friends of Webb, Lars Henriksen of Viking and Sam Ryu of ExxonMobil Offshore, made presentation to the Junior Class and Professor Petrie who were visiting Houston for the Offshore Technology Conference. The presentations included the following topics:

• Lars Henriksen, Viking Systems: FPSO hydrodynamic and structural strength and fatigue analysis tools, spread and turret mooring interface, topsides module support and collision analyses
• Sam Ryu, Exxon Mobil: Past work while with Sofec on disconnectible mooring design and installation, leading edge offshore projects at ExxonMobil including gravity-based structures and floating LNG
• Keith Michel, Herbert Engineering: Trim, stability, and loading software for Tension Leg Platform, Semisubmersible, and FPSO production platforms and development of emergency response/salvage tools
• Tom Koster (retired, formerly of Amoco, BP, and Modec): Career opportunities in the offshore sector, work term possibilities in the Houston area

Bas Buchner, the new President of Marin, had planned to speak about the work in the Marin deepwater wind/wave/current basin but was unable to participate. 

A special thanks to Tom Koster '67 for arranging this.