Graduate engineers as experts: a trainee’s research project on biofuels and shipping

Dan Griffiths is a trainee surveyor at Lloyd’s Register. He has an MEng in ship science (specialising in marine systems engineering) from the University of Southampton, 2006.

If the global demand for biofuels increases, the shipping industry will have to transport them. The CEO of my organisation was asked to give a lecture on biofuels and their impact on the shipping industry. Another graduate and I had joint responsibility for researching biofuels, while a colleague investigated ship designs for carrying biofuels as cargo, and a consultant forecast the growth areas and examined potential shipping routes. We started work in January 2008 and the project culminated in a lecture at the end of April.

Becoming an expert

When I started the project I knew very little about biofuels, but by the end I was enough of an expert to be available for questions after the lecture. My research covered historical information and the different types of biofuels. I investigated the drivers for using biofuels, which are political as well as economic. I got advice on technical aspects from experts including engine manufacturers, fuel producers, a consultancy service that deals with fuel oils, and environmental specialists within my organisation. It helped that I could apply and build on my previous knowledge of fuel systems.

We weren’t investigating whether biofuels are good or bad, but I still needed to keep track of developments in the news because an increased requirement will have an impact on the shipping industry, which is at the heart of the supply chain. Biofuels are still being developed so we don’t know exactly what the cargo will be, which makes it tricky to design ships to carry the fuel.

Overcoming challenges and developing skills

My work on the project was supposed to take about three hours a week, but it sometimes reached as much as 20. I spent some of the time on a short placement in Hamburg, working in structures plan approval. I wanted to make the most of it by getting really involved in the department, so I learned to manage my workload so I had time for research too. At the same time, my graduate colleague was on placement in Copenhagen, so we communicated by e-mail and phone. Being physically apart from colleagues and working remotely was quite frustrating at times, but we coped and my communication skills certainly improved. As my career as a surveyor progresses, I’m likely to work alone often so it’s good to be comfortable and confident on the phone. Contacting external companies for information taught me how to be persuasive, too.

My project management skills also developed. I was partly responsible for co-ordinating everyone’s work and making it flow as one lecture. I’d had a lot of training and had learned the fundamentals, but this was my first chance to put it to use: we met all the deadlines. It was really interesting to work with such senior management and see that my work could affect the company standpoint on the issue. The highlight was the lecture itself – there was a positive reaction from the audience, while several directors and the CEO were pleased.

Career story

In 2005, I did a summer placement at Lloyd’s Register. They encouraged me to apply to the graduate training scheme, and I joined the organisation in October 2006. I spent three months in Southampton doing surveys of existing ships, then four months in a shipyard learning about new construction. This was followed by a three-month residential course on HMS Sultan, learning about marine engineering systems. I’ve spent the last nine months rotating through the London departments, as well as a short placement in Hamburg on structures plan approvals.

I have another three to four months on the training scheme and then two years of development. I’ll spend these two years in one department to build on my technical skills and start to specialise. I will probably choose consultancy, but I’ll decide once I’ve done a placement there in a few weeks. I would recommend joining a structured training scheme that allows you to get into lots of departments and areas, so you can meet people and try out several areas of work.

Using risk management principles

The most important thing I’ve learned is to make decisions using risk management principles. My organisation has prescriptive rules but a client will often want a solution that’s not strictly in the rules so we have to make a decision as to whether it’s acceptable. To do this, you need background knowledge and experience; I’m getting there and hope to use the skills more in the future.

Career milestones

• 2005 Summer placement at Lloyd’s Register.
• 2006 Joined the Lloyd’s Register graduate training scheme.