Marine Engineering

Engr Kombo Theophilus-Johnson

The Current Head of Department

Marine Engineering

The Department of Marine Engineering was established in 1974 in the School of Engineering of the then College of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt.

When the Rivers State University of Science and Technology was established in 1980, it inherited the assets and liabilities of the College, and the Department commenced the Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) degree program in Marine Engineering. It was the first and only University in Nigeria and, indeed, the entire West African sub-region that offered Marine Engineering programs at Bachelor’s and Post graduate degree levels, although other Universities are currently running Marine Engineering programs at the Bachelor’s degree level. Until 1980, the Department only offered programs at the Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma levels. The first Acting Head/Coordinator of the Department was Mr. Sauer.

The Bachelor of Technology degree programme has been designed to produce Marine Engineers that can be readily employed in the various areas of the maritime Industry as well as providing a platform for graduates to undertake Postgraduate studies/research in Ship power plants and engines/machinery, Naval Architecture, Offshore Engineering, Subsea Engineering, and other related disciplines. The Department provides a highly functional environment for students to acquire sound and extensive knowledge in the theory and practice of ship design and construction, ship power plants and equipment design and repairs, shipyard and large components/units/systems fabrication processes, offshore systems/structures design, construction and operations, and quality and safety assurance.

Prior to 1986, most of the Senior academic staff members of the Department were recruited from Poland based on a bilateral agreement between the University and the Gdansk University of Technology (GUT) in Poland. Based on this agreement, Prof. J. Stalinski (who was formerly Rector of GUT) became the first Polish staff and Head of Marine Engineering Department. Other eminent academics of the Department that came from GUT include Prof. Urbanski, Prof. Fracowiak, Prof. Welnicki, Prof. Thierry, Mr. Nierowski, Mr. Kaluza, Dr. Lemski and Dr. Jettmar. These academics contributed immensely to the development of the Department and were responsible for the planning and equipment of academic facilities and laboratories to International Standards.

SUMMARY OF HEADSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT

	NAME OF STAFF	ACADEMIC PERIOD(S)/SESSION(S)
	Engr. Prof. KDH Bob-Manuel	1987-1990; 1995-1999; 2005-20082
	Engr. Dr. I. E. Douglas	1991-1995; 1999-2004; 2010-2012; 2015-2017
	Engr. Prof. E. A. Ogbonnaya	2008-2010
	Engr. Dr. I. Olaghadien	2012-2015
	Engr. Dr. E. Akandu	2017-2018
	Engr. Prof. I. Fubara-Manuel	2018-2021
	Engr. Dr. C. U. Orji	Feb. – Nov. 2021
	Engr. K. Theophilus-Johnson	Nov. 2021 till date

Staff list in the Department

Name	Rank	Area Of Specialisation	Email
Engr. K. Theophilus- Johnson	Senior Lecturer (Ag. Head of Department)	Marine & Offshore Engineering	kombo.theophilus-johnson@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Prof. K.D.H. Bob- Manuel	Professor– Contract	Marine Engineering	bob-manuel.kelvin@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Dr. I. E. Douglas	Senior Lecturer	Marine Engineering & Naval Architecture	ibibadouglas@yahoo.com
Engr. Dr. C. U. Orji	Senior Lecturer	Marine/Offshore Engineering and Naval Architecture	orjicharles1@gmail.com
Engr. Dr. E. Akandu	Senior Lecturer	Naval Architecture & Offshore Engineering	akandu.ezebuchi@ust.edu.ng
Engr. Dr. D. Tamunodukobipi	Senior Lecturer	Marine Engineering & Naval Architecture	tamunodan@yahoo.com
Engr. I. F. Dick	Lecturer l	Naval Architecture & Offshore Engineering	ibitoru.dick@ust.edu.ng
Engr. I. Morrison	Lecturer l	Naval Architecture & Offshore Engineering	ineng22002@yahoo.com
Engr. S. Nitonye	Lecturer l	Naval Architecture & Offshore Engineering	nitonye.samson@ust.edu.ng
Engr. S. Adumene	Lecturer ll	Marine & Offshore Engineering	adumenejr@gmail.com
Engr. A. J. Chuku	Lecturer l	Marine & Offshore Engineering	azubuike.chuku1@ust.edu.ng
Engr. C. K. Ihunwo	Assistant Lecturer	Marine Engineering	chimaobi.ihunwo@ust.edu.ng
Mr. Osilem R. Chibuzor	Graduate Assistant	Marine Engineering	osilem3@gmail.com
Mr. Kpigibue N- aabe		Principal Confidential Secretary	n-aabe.kpigibue@ust.edu.ng
Mrs. Boma J. Iyoyo		Higher Executive Officer	boma.iyoyo@gmail.com
Mrs Miriam Wagwu		Confidential secretary (Casual)	wagwumirian@gmail.com
Mr. Martins Koriko (Corp Member)		Laboratory Staff
Mr. N. Wilcox		Chief Technical Officer
Mr. A. Bariture		Technologist 11	akamon4real@gmail.com
Mr. Alfred Victor		Technologist 11	alfredvic365@gmail.com
Mr. Tubonemi Fiberesima		Marine Lab Attendant (Casual Staff)	tubofibz@gmail.com

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities of the Marine Engineering Department is to train teaching and research. The Department train Marine Engineers that can be readily employed in the various areas of the maritime Industry as well as providing a platform for graduates to undertake Postgraduate studies/research in Ship power plants and engines/machinery, Naval Architecture, Offshore Engineering, Subsea Engineering, and other related disciplines.

The Department provides a highly functional environment for students to acquire sound and extensive knowledge in the theory and practice of ship design and construction, ship power plants and equipment design and repairs, shipyard and large components/units/systems fabrication processes, offshore systems/structures design, construction and operations, and quality and safety assurance.

The Department of Marine Engineering has the following academic programmes:

Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech)
Postgraduate Diploma (PGD)
Master of Technology (M. Tech)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The Department of Marine Engineering currently runs postgraduate programmes at the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master of Technology (M. Tech), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) levels.

The PGD programme is offered generally in Marine Engineering, while the M. Tech and PhD programmes are offered in the respective Marine Engineering disciplines as follows:

- Marine Engineering (Ship Power Plant)
- Naval Architecture and Ship Building
- Offshore Engineering
- Subsea Engineering

STRUCTURE OF THE UNIT

The Marine Engineering Department, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt is one of the eight Departments that make up the Faculty of Engineering. Consequently, the Head of Department is responsible directly to the Dean of Faculty for the day-to-day running of the Department. A chart of the organizational structure of the Department is as shown below:

DEAN OF FACULTY

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

ACADEMIC STAFF

ADMINISTRATIVE

STAFF

TECHNICAL STAFF

LECTURERS

GRADUATE

ASSISTANTS

CONFIDENTIAL

SECRETARY

WORKSHOP

MANAGER

INSTRUCTORS

TECHNICIANS

CRAFTSMEN

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMMES

The undergraduate programmes in Marine engineering are designed to apply the basic principles of the physical sciences of mathematics, physics, chemistry, geotechnics, marine hydrodynamics as well as the various engineering principles for the safe and efficient design, construction, maintenance, and management of marine systems.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the programme in the Department of Marine Engineering ensures that students are:

Impacted the principles of Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Offshore, and Subsea Engineering that would reflect the requirements of ship and boat building firms, oil/gas industries, security operatives. And Governmental Agencies.
Trained to prepare and read technical drawing of engineering design, manufacturing and assembling of engineering structures and systems.
Trained to run, maintain, and repair ship power plants, instrumentation, and onboard equipment necessary for the propulsion and safety of passengers and crew
Equipped with tools and skills required to design reliable, efficient, and economic marine power plants and their control systems.
Able to solve complex engineering problems related to shipbuilding, offshore, and subsea systems using Computer-Aided engineering software (such as CAD, CAE, CAM), mathematical analysis and empirical procedures.
Capable of applying critical reasoning, good professional judgement, and the ability to take responsibility when undertaking important tasks.
Proficient in maritime operations as to carry out ship’s hull and equipment, offshore and subsea systems survey for classification societies and consultancy work.
Furnished with the state-of-the-art technologies for the optimal implementation of soft and hardware.
Taught entrepreneurial skills that can facilitate human capacity building, for sustainable socioeconomic development.
Professionals adequately trained to improve on indigenous technology with a view to enhancing local problem solving and resource optimization.