Paul Rodhouse

The University of the Oceans comes at a time of unprecedented environmental change. Two thirds of our planet is covered by sea and the oceans are vital to its health. They are essential to our climate system, they contain much of the world’s biodiversity and they provide resources including food and energy.

The University of the Oceans will train young people at sea on a tall ship designed for science and education as well as sail training. Researchers and educators will bring ocean science to the sail training experience in the tradition of seagoing science that has as much relevance today as it ever did in the past.

Team & Supporters

The individuals below are the trustees and architect of the FSP21 project

Trustees / Board

Rear Admiral David Bawtree CB DL BSc (Eng) CEng FIMechE FIET FRSA

David Bawtree retired from the Royal Navy in 1993 from his appointment as Flag Officer and Naval Base Commander Portsmouth, where he was particularly responsible for the repair and maintenance of ships based in the area. His career spanned 38 years in a variety of project management, support and personnel appointments. Since leaving the Navy he has been a Special Adviser in the Home Office on crisis management and the Chairman of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. He is involved with education as a governor of three schools, of one of which he is Chairman, and the musical education of children. He is the Chairman of the Trustees of HMS Warrior (1860) and director of the Portsmouth Dockyard heritage area 'Flagship Portsmouth'

Maldwin Drummond OBE DL Hon DSc

Maldwin Drummond is a past Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron and past Chairman of the Sail Training Association. He was Chairman of the Maritime Trust and of the Boat and Shore Works Committee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. He is a Past Warden of the Fishmongers' Company and is a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire. He is the author of a number of books on the maritime environment.

Colonel John Blashford-Snell OBE

In 1968 Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia invited the British Army to send a team to explore and make the first descent of the infamous Blue Nile. Captain John Blashford-Snell of the Royal Engineers was commissioned to select, train and lead the 60 strong party. The success of this immense expedition led to even tougher assignments such as the first vehicle crossing of the complete Darien Gap. In 1969 John and his colleagues formed the Scientific Exploration Society, their aim being to 'foster and encourage scientific exploration world-wide'. Inspired by the spirit of Sir Francis Drake's voyage 400 years ago the Fairbridge Drake Society was formed to help under-privileged young people and subsequently a second and much larger global youth programme was organised. In 1984 JBS launched Operation Raleigh and by 1992 over 10,000 young men and women from 50 nations had taken part in challenges and worthwhile expeditions all over the world, returning home as true young pioneers intent on putting something back into their own communities. John has found time to write thirteen books, including his autobiography 'Something Lost Behind the Ranges' .He also broadcasts and appears on a variety of wildlife and entertainment programmes.

Colin Mudie RDI CEng FRINA FRSA FRIN

Colin Mudie, a Royal Designer for Industry, who has prepared the concept drawings and information for FSP21, has been a naval architect throughout his career. His designs include a wide range of craft built in the UK and all parts of the world for navies, individual owners and for multiple production. He has designed many sail training ships, among them TS Royalist, STS Lord Nelson, STS Young Endeavour, KLD Tunas Samudera and INV Tarangini. Colin is a life president of the RNLI. The Colin Mudie design business is a partnership of Colin and Rosemary Mudie, both of whom have practical square rig sail training experience. Rosemary also provides the media and public relations advice to the team.

Malcolm Vincent

Malcolm Vincent served as an Engineer Officer in the Merchant Navy prior to joining the Technical Services Division of the P & O Group. His career developed from specialization in control and instrumentation through to the technical management of naval architects, marine and electrical engineers together with the responsibility for the design, specification, project and contract management and construction supervision of over 200 new shipbuilding projects. This encompassed a wide range of ship types including tankers, bulk carriers, reefers, cruise liners, Ro-Ro vessels, LPG and LNG carriers, chemical carriers, super yachts and sail training vessels. As Chief Executive he was responsible for design and construction projects undertaken in every major shipbuilding country of the world. Other career highlights include Chief Executive of a ship repair company and commercial development responsibility with British Telecommunications Global Services where he developed innovative solutions for financing the communications infrastructure for major international corporate customers. He is a Chartered Engineer, a Trustee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution where he chairs the Technical Committee and a member of the Council of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology chairing the Audit and Marine Strategy committees.

PROF PAUL G K RODHOUSE DSc

Paul Rodhouse is head of the Biological Sciences Division and a member of the Management Board at the British Antarctic Survey. He is a marine scientist with an extensive publication record on the biology, ecology and sustainable management of marine resources in the Antarctic, South Atlantic, Peru Current, USA, Ireland and the UK. He is the Principal Scientist for the applied fisheries research laboratory at King Edward Point on South Georgia. He has wide experience in the management of marine research and in training postgraduate scientists. His recent research has been concerned with the relationships between fisheries, physical oceanographic variability and marine predator populations. He is an honorary Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Aberdeen.

Latest news

05/10/2007
New Website!
Welcome to the launch of the new website for the University of the Oceans. On this site you can view the latest news, role of the ship, financials and team and support.
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04/02/2012
Revised web site
We apologise that this web site has not kept up with the news in the media in January 2012. The web site will be fully updated over the next few weeks.
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