Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, Victorian Branch

Description

Agent TypeOrganisationActivities & OccupationsProfessional organisationsHistoryThe inaugural meeting of the Institute of Marine Engineers was held on 12th February 1889 in Stratford, East London. Chief engineers of steamships from the nearby Port of London dominated the attendance of 284. The Institute moved into its own premises in Stratford in 1891, and thence to Tower Hill in 1914. Membership had grown to around 5,500 during the years of World War II. The vision of limitless post-war industrial recovery and growth took them to a dedicated ultra-modern (and ultimately unaffordable) ‘Memorial Building’ in Mark Lane in 1957. After this, moves to Coleman Street in 1999 and to Aldgate in 2011 have reflected declining fortunes and membership

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) Victoria Branch was formed in 1952 and forms a part of a larger global association whose head office is located in London. It is a professional and multidisciplinary society for all marine professionals, who include marine engineers, scientists and technologists.

During the golden years of the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the membership of around 300 comprised incorporated Fellows and Members, associate and technical grades. Career-wise, numbers were divided about equally between the considerable shipbuilding, repair and maintenance on land, and shipboard engineering and maintenance at sea. The latter had to be versatile, hands-on engineers, able to understand, maintain and even repair when underway the propulsion and ancillary machinery. Lesser numbers were engaged in classification and inspection, research, teaching and technical support services.

In this era there was a huge demand for engineers of all disciplines, and the marine engineering profession carried considerable prestige.

The industries included four dry docks: Duke and Orr (now heritage listed, housing Polly Woodside), the AG Wagglen floating dry dock, Johnson’s Tyne, and Hobson’s Bay. Williamstown Naval Dockyards (now BAE Systems) were a major shipbuilder. Major slipways included Port of Melbourne Authority at Williamstown and Port of Geelong Authority at Rippleside in Geelong. Commonwealth Government Engine Works at Port Melbourne started out in 19xxxxx building triple expansion steam engines to power Australian-built ships; they later built and maintained Doxford (British) and Sulzer (Swiss) marine diesel engines and maintained the complex Napier ‘Deltic’ engines. Branches of international propulsion equipment companies included English Electric (UK) and General Electric (US). Thompsons Foundry in Castlemaine produced many engine components. Robinson Bros, ship repairers and engineers, pieced together Australia’s first shipboard cold air refrigeration system for exporting meat products to Britain. Numerous boat builders and chandlers dotted Hobsons Bay.

Coastal shipping was busy. Major fleet operators included the four international oil companies BP, Esso, Mobil and Shell, and local oil companies Ampol and H.C.Sleigh. Other Australian operators included the Australian National Line which served both coastal and international trades, BHP, Associated Steamships (which was an amalgamation of three of the original coastal shipping companies), Bulkships, and Howard Smith. Nationwide the Australian-registered merchant fleet - ships above 500 gross registered tonnes - numbered around 250 vessels. By 2012 this number had fallen to just over 20 vessel.Search records of this agent

Dates

Date1952-

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Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology, Victorian Branch