The Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) has a new president: Bas Buchner. Former president Arne Hubregtse resigned from his position on 1 January 2011 to become general manager at heavy lift specialist Biglift.
Buchner: “With my predecessors George Remery and Arne Hubregtse, MARIN has developed into an enterprising organisation at the heart of Dutch and international maritime industry and the largest of its kind. We will continue this course: enthusiastically expand the boundaries of our knowledge to offer solutions in a fast changing maritime world. Innovation is key, in efficiency, safety and sustainability.”
Open Cooperation
With the respect to the problems of the future, Buchner stresses the need for open cooperation with both customers and partners. Buchner: “Think about reducing fuel consumption and emissions. One needs knowledge of resistance and ship propulsion in all kinds of conditions along with knowledge of engines and fuels: too complex to solve alone. This calls for cooperation and extra openness; you have to like sharing your knowledge. Keeping it to yourself is not an option.”
Experience
As manager of MARIN’s Offshore department he is used to cooperating. He started many international Joint Venture Projects in the oil and gas industry: projects in which MARIN and other specialists worked together solving a mutual problem for a large group of companies.
Buchner: “It is stimulating to see that MARIN’s independent position was able to bring competing companies together which has resulted in more efficient and safer offshore projects.
Societal Challenges
Buchner intends to apply MARIN’s maritime knowledge to societal challenges, such as sustainable energy production at sea. Two years ago, he started the MARIN Renewable Energy Team (RENT), which focuses on energy production at sea from wind, waves and tides.
Career
Dr.ir. Bas Buchner (44) studied Shipbuilding at the TU Delft and started as project manager at MARIN in 1991. In 2000 he became manager of the Offshore department. He remained involved in technology and got a doctoral degree in ‘green water’: water coming on deck in high waves that can damage the construction on deck. He used this knowledge in developing the wave energy concept, where green water is used to produce energy from waves.
Picture: Bas Buchner (left) took over from Arne Hubregtse on January 1, 2011
