Chairman’s Welcome
Welcome to the EAAW International Symposia series, the leading forum which aims to unite the international marine and combat systems communities to discuss relevant thinking and challenges of current and future naval platforms.
EAAW VII aims to further explore the reality of fully integrated engineering systems and equipment and discuss the merits and challenges of delivering Combat Power at Sea. The Technical Advisory Committee’s focus has been to ensure that we continue to develop the level of innovation, technical discussions and informed networking that have become synonymous with an IMarEST Learned Society event.
It is the dawn of a new era for the Royal Navy with the re-birth of the nation’s seaborne strike capability and the acceptance into service of the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. This refreshed capability brings with it the challenge of total ship integration across the platform, combat and air boundaries, together with the reality of operating and maintaining these complex systems at sea; challenges which are being experienced by navies worldwide. At this exciting time, the traditional marine and weapon engineering disciplines are being driven closer together by the explosion of technology with an ever more complex and software driven landscape in which to operate. EAAW VII will bring together the international maritime community to update and discuss the delivery of Combat Power at Sea now and the outlook and direction for the future, through presentation and discussion of relevant themes and topics.
EAAW VII will be complemented with a networking programme starting on Monday evening, the night before the start of the Symposium, as well as the Symposium Reception aboard the magnificent ss Great Britain at the end of day one; this informal programme will provide invaluable networking opportunities between government, industry and academic representatives both in the UK and overseas.
On behalf of the Technical Advisory Committee and IMarEST, we look forward to welcoming you to EAAW VII in June 2017.
Cdr Ian Hassall RN
Chairman, EAAW VII