Staff Profile

Roles and Responsibilities

Professor of Small Craft Design 

President of the RINA (the Royal Institution of naval Architects) 2018 - 2020

Qualifications

PhD: Newcastle 1994
BEng: Newcastle 1991
CEng: 1996
FRINA
MSNAME

Research Interests

Design methodologies applied in the marine environment
Design of small craft, including working craft (such as tugs and fishing vessels), high speed craft and recreational craft
Ecologically sustainable recreational craft
Design for safety applied in the marine environment
Design and production of traditional working craft in developing economies
Sustainable operation of working craft in developing countries
Stability of marine vehicles

Background: Richard Birmingham was involved in all aspects of the small craft sector of the marine industry, including building, operating, designing, and regulating small craft, before joining the School in 1994.

Postgraduate Supervision

Probabilistic damage stability regulations
Safety of high speed craft
Stabilisation of fishing vessels
Ecologically sustainable recreational craft
Safety of escort towing operations
Optimised surface generation procedures
Build of of traditional working craft in Indonesia
Sustainable operation of tradtional working craft 

Esteem Indicators

President of RINA (the Royal Institution of Naval Architects) from 2018 to 2020

Member of RNLI Technical Advisory Panel (from 2017)

Member of Michigan SNAME Advisory Board (from 2016)

ITS International Cooperation Award 2011 - ITS surabaya, Indonesia 

Bronze medal awarded for paper in Transactions of Royal Institute of Naval Archtecture: 'The Application of Artificial Intelligence to Roll Stabilisation for a Range of Loading and Operating Conditions.' International Journal of Maritime Engineering, 2003, 145(A4).

Member of the Board of the MMO, 2010 - 2013

Member of the Board of Trustees, RINA, 2013 

Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects
National Committee participation:

• Chairman of the RINA Small Craft Committee
• Member of the RINA Publications Committee
• Member of the RINA Executive Committee
• Member of the RINA Council

International Committees

Member of Technical Committee IV.1 (Design Principles and Criteria) of ISSC (International Ship Structures) 

Member of the International Coordinating Committee of IMDC (International Marine Design Conference)
Member of International Coordinating Committee of PRADS (Practical Design of Ships and Offshore Structures Conference)
Coordinator of International Working Group on Student Friendly Software in Marine Design
Corresponding member of the SNAME Working Group on Stability Criteria for Fishing Vessels

Editor: Internatinal Journal of Small Craft Technology (Part B of Proceedings of Royal Insitution of Naval Architects)

Editorial Board Membership

Indonesian Journal of Marine Technology Research
International Journal of Maritime Engineering

Recent Participation in Conference Organisation

Coordinator: SURV V (2000, RINA, Southampton)
Coordinator: Safety of Small Craft (2001, RINA, London)
Coordinator: Sail Training and Other Commercial Sailing Vessels (2002, RINA, London)
Organising Committee: HISWA Symposium on Yacht Design (2002, Amsterdam)
Coordinator: International Conference on Fishing Vessels, Fishing Technology and Fisheries (2005, RINA, Newcastle)

International Coorinating Committee for IMDC 2018 Helsinki Finland, 2015 Tokyo Japan, 2009 Trondheim Norway

Particiapant in collaborative research programms funded by the EC:
Harder, Safety at Speed, Intellistab, Intermodeship, ERASTAR.

Undergraduate Teaching

• MAR1012: Naval Architecture
• MAR2017: Further Naval Architecture
• MAR3036: Small Craft Design
• MAR3037: Future Marine Projects

Postgraduate Teaching

• MAR8064: Research and Commercial Skills
• MAR8069: advanced Naval Archtiecture
• MAR8105: Working Craft Design
• MAR8499: Group Project and Report

• Prini F, Birmingham RW, Benson S, Dow RS, Sheppard PJ, Phillips HJ, Johnson MC, MediavillaVaras J, Hirdaris S. Enhanced Structural Design and Operation of Search and Rescue Craft. In: 13th International Marine Design Conference (IMDC 2018). 2018, Helsinki, Finland: Taylor and Francis Group.
• Prini F, Benson S, Birmingham RW, Dow RS, Ferguson LJ, Sheppard PJ, Phillips HJ, Johnson MC, Mediavilla Varas J, Hirdaris S. Full-Scale Seakeeping Trials of an All-Weather Lifeboat. In: SURV9 Conference: Surveillance, Pilot & Rescue Craft. 2018, London: The Royal Institution of Naval Architects.
• Wibawa IPA, Birmingham R. Improving Safety Working Environment on Indonesian Fishing Fleet: A Case Study on Local Fishing Communities in East Java. In: Maritime Safety International Conference (MASTIC 2018). 2018, Bali, Indoneisia: Clausius Scientific Press Inc.
• Birmingham R, Wibawa PA. The Role of Aesthetics in Engineering Design – Insights Gained from Cross-cultural Research into Traditional Fishing Vessels in Indonesia. In: 13th International Marine Design Conference (IMDC 2018). 2018, Helsinki, Finland: CRC Press.
• Chumali DKP, Birmingham RW, Dev AK. A Comparative Study in Design and Operation of Offshore Support Vessels (OSVs) between the North Sea and the Brazilian Water. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Technology and Operation of Offshore Support Vessels. 2016, Singapore: Research Publishing.
• Prini F, Birmingham RW, Benson S, Phillips HJ, Sheppard PJ, Mediavilla Varas J, Johnson M, Dow RS. Motions and Loads of a High-Speed Craft in Regular Waves: Prediction and Analysis. In: 24th International HISWA Symposium on Yacht Design and Construction. 2016, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Prini F, Benson S, Birmingham RW, Dow RS, Sheppard PJ, Phillips HJ, Mediavilla Varas J. Seakeeping Analysis of a High-Speed Search and Rescue Craft by Linear Potential Theory. In: International Conference on Lightweight Design of Marine Structures (LIMAS 2015). 2015, Glasgow, UK.
• Wibawa PA, Birmingham RW, Woodward MD. Challenges on designing sustainable fishing vessels for Indonesian fisheries. In: International Conference on Ship and Offshore Technology (ICSOT 2014): Development in Ship Design & Construction. 2014, Makassar, Indonesia: Royal Institution of Naval Architects.
• Enshaei H, Birmingham R. The application of signal processing techniques for real-time monitoring of the dynamic stability of a ship via its motion responses. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part M: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment 2013, 227(2), 114-124.
• Brunner E, Birmingham RW, Committee IVi. Design Principles and Criteria. In: 18th International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress. 2012, Rostock, Germany: University of Rostock.
• Enshaei H, Birmingham R, Mesbahi E. Identification of influential parameters in a ship's motion responses: A route to monitoring dynamic stability. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, Part A: International Journal of Maritime Engineering 2012, 154, A43-A51.
• Birmingham R, Utama K, Zaky M, Enshaei H. Marine safety in Indonesian waters and some insights gained from the European experience. In: ICSOT: Develpments in Ship Design & Construction. 2012, Ambon, Indonesia: The Royal Institution of Naval Architecture.
• Enshaie H, Birmingham R. Monitoring of Dynamic Stability via Ship’s Motion Responses. In: 11th International Conference on the Stability of Ships and Ocean Vehicles (STAB). 2012, Athens, Greece.
• Enshaei H, Birmingham R. Monitoring of Dynamic Stability via Ship's Motion Responses. In: 11th International Conference on Stability of Ships and Ocean Vehicles (STAB). 2012, Athens, Greece.
• Murphy AJ, Birmingham RW. An investigation into a method for determining the stability of small craft without reference to hydrostatic data. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects Part B: International Journal of Small Craft Technology 2009, 151, 23-36.
• Landamore M, Cabezas-Basurko O, Wright P, Birmingham R, Reichel M, Kremer E. Create3S: An outline of the concept and overview of possible solution routes for the hull form. Journal of Maritime Research 2009, 6(1), 3-14.
• Murphy AJ, Landamore MJ, Birmingham RW. The role of autonomous underwater vehicles for marine search and rescue operations. Underwater Technology 2008, 27(4), 195-205.
• Ernst G, Birmingham R, Mesbahi E. Application of artificial neural networks in preliminary sailing yacht design. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects Part B: International Journal of Small Craft Technology 2007, 149(1), 33-38.
• Landamore MJ, Downie MJ, Birmingham RW, Wright PNH. Applying Stakeholder Consultation to the Identification of Sustainable Technologies for Inland Leisure Craft. In: SSEE International Conference on Engineering Sustainability: Sustainability in a Changing World. 2007, Perth, WA, Australia.
• Landamore MJ, Cabezas-Basurko O, Wright PNH, Birmingham RW, Reichel M, Kremer F. CREATE3S: An outline of the concept and overview of possible solution routes for the hull form. In: 5th Interntaional Congress on Maritime Technological Innovations and Research. 2007, Barcelona, Spain.
• Landamore M, Birmingham R, Downie M. Establishing the economic and environmental life-cycle costs of marine systems: A case study from the recreational craft sector. Marine Technology 2007, 44(2), 106-117.
• Landamore MJ, Birmingham RW, Downie MJ, Wright PNH. Sustainable technologies for inland leisure craft. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part M: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment 2007, 221(3), 97-114.
• Jones EB, Roskilly AP, Webster B, Birmingham RW. Adaptive roll stabilization of fishing vessels. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Part M: Journal of Engineering for the Maritime Environment 2006, 220(1), 13-27.
• Cho K-N, Birmingham RW, other Members of ISSC Committee IV.1. Design Principles and Criteria. In: 16th International Ship and Offshore Structures Congress (ISSC). 2006, Southampton, UK: University of Southampton.
• Landamore MJ, Birmingham RW, Downie MJ. Establishing the Economic and Environmental Life Cycle Costs of Marine Systems: A Case Study from the Recretional Craft Sector. In: International Conference on Ship and Shipping Research (NAV). 2006, Genoa, Italy.
• Papanikolaou AD, Kaklis PD, Andersen P, Birmingham RW, Wright PNH. IMDC 2006 State of the Art Report - Marine Design Education. In: 9th International Marine Desing Conference. 2006, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
• Birmingham RW, Landamore MJ, Wright PNG, Downie MJ. Investigation of Sustainable Technologies for the Design, Construction, Operation and Decommissioning of Recreational Craft. In: HISWA - International Symposium on Yacht Design and Construction. 2006, Amsterdam: HISWA and Delft University.
• Landamore MJ, Wright PNH, Birmingham RW, Downie MJ. Investigation of sustainable technologies in the leisure craft sector. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects Part B: International Journal of Small Craft Technology 2006, 148(B2), 41-54.
• Landamore MJ, Birmingham RW, Downie MJ, Mesbahi E, Jackson S. Life Cycle Analysis and Cost Benefit Analysis of Selected Technologies for Sustainable Inland Boating. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Newcastle University, 2006.
• Birmingham R, Williams M, Al-Zahrani A. Shallow water bathymetry derived from VHR satellite (IKONOS) remote sensing (Red Sea Saudi Arabia). In: The Inland Water Transport 3rd International Conference and Exhibition (MELAHA). 2006, Luxor, Egypt.
• Alzahrani AS, Birmingham RW. Shallow Water Bathymetry Derived from VHR Satellite (IKONOS) Remote Sensing (Red Sea Saudi Arabia). In: Melaha. 2006, Luxor, Egypt: Arab Institute of Naviagation.
• Wright PNH, Birmingham RW. Towards Student Friendly Ship Design Software. In: 9th International Marine Design Conference. 2006, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
• Birmingham R. Boat Building Techniques Illustrated. London: Adlard Coles Nautical, 2005.
• Webster BN, Jones EB, Dannenberg J, Traenkmann I, Birmingham RW, Roskilly AP. Development and implementation of an adaptive roll stabilisation system for use on fishing vessels. In: Royal Institution of Naval Architects International Conference on Fishing Vessels, Fishing Technology and Fisheries. 2005, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Royal Institution of Naval Architects.
• Landamore MJ, Birmingham RW, Downie MJ, Wright PNH. EcoBoat - Boats for a Sustainable Future on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. University of Newcastle, newcastle-Upon-Tyne: Confidential Report to Norfolk and Suffolk Boatbuilders Association, 2005.
• Birmingham RW, McGregor J, Besse P, Delautre S. Creating a Framework for Risk Based Design. In: Proceedings of 2nd International Conference on Design for Safety. 2004, Sakai, Japan: Osaka University, Osaka Prefecture University, and ship and Ocean Foundation.
• Birmingham RW. Design for Stability and Instability – Finding the Right Balance for Small Craft. In: Proceedings of 18th International HISWA Symposium on Yacht Design and Yacht Construction. 2004, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Allan RG, Molyneux D, Birmingham R. Escort tug design alternatives and a comparison of their hydrodynamic performance. In: Transactions - Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. 2004, Washington, DC: The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
• Goran O, Danisman DB, Atlar M, Birmingham RW. Forebody optimisation of a conventioanl fishing vessel operating at F_N=0.36. Transactions of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects Part B: International Journal of Small Craft Technology 2004, 146(B1), 33-52.
• Alzahrani AS, Birmingham RW, Williams M. Integration of Multispectral Satellite Imagery and Field Measurements for Inlet Channel Mapping in the Red Sea. In: Melaha. 2004, Cairo, Egypt: Arab Institute of Naviagation.
• Birmingham R, McGregor J, Delautre S, Astrugue J-C. Risk evaluation at the preliminary design stage of a high-speed craft. Journal of Ship Production 2004, 20(3), 183-187.
• Birmingham RW, McGregor J, Delautre S, Astrugue JA. Risk Evaluation at the Preliminary Design Stage of High Speed Craft. Journal of Ship Production and Design 2004, 20(3), 183-187.
• Roskilly AP, Jones E, Webster B, Birmingham RW. Adaptive Roll Stabilisation of Fishing Vessels. In: World Maritime Technology Conference. 2003, San Francisco, California, USA.
• Delautre S, McGregor J, Birmingham R, Astrugue J-C. Application of Risk Based Methodology to the Preliminary Design Phase of High Speed Craft. In: 7th International Conference on Fast Sea Transportation (FAST). 2003, Naples, Italy.
• Webster B, Birmingham RW, Jones E, Roskilly AP. Developing an artificially intelligent roll stabilisation system for use on fishing vessels. In: 8th International Conference on the stability of ships and Ocean Vehicles (STAB). 2003, Madrid, Spain: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Navales.
• Birmingham R, McGregor J, Astrugue J-C. Development of a Safety Based Design Tool for High Speed Craft. In: International Marine Design Conference (IMDC). 2003, Athens, Greece.
• Jones EB, Webster BN, Birmingham RW, Roskilly AP. Development of an Adaptive Roll Stabilisation System for Fishing Vessels. In: World Maritime Conference. 2003, San Francisco, California, USA: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.
• Webster BN, Birmingham RW, Jones EB, Roskilly AP. The Application of Artificial Intelligence to Roll Stabilisation for a Range of Loading and Operating Conditions. International Journal of Maritime Engineering 2003, 145(A4), 277-288.
• Smith J, Birmingham RW. Creating the Virtual Tug , Bilbao, Spain, 13 -17 May, 2002. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Tug and Salvage Convention. 2002, Bilbao, Spain: ABR.
• Birmingham RW, Webster B, Roskilly T, Jones E. The Application of Artificial Intelligence to Roll Stabilisation fo a Range of Loading and Operating Conditions. In: 17th International Symposium on Yacht Design and Construction. 2002, Amsterdam: HISWA and Delft University of Technology.
• Birmingham R, Samodra S, Widjaja S. Development of traditional Indonesian boatyards: the simulation of collaborative working with a large shipbuilding facility. Journal of Ship and Ocean Technology 2001, 5(1), 1-14.
• Birmingham R, Sampson R. Fishing Vessel Design in a Regulation Driven Environment Proceedings of 5th International Workshop on Stability and Operational Safety of Ships. In: Proceedings of 5th International Workshop on Stability and Operational Safety of Ships. 2001, Trieste, Italy: University of Trieste.
• Cain CF, Sen P, Birmingham RW. Methods for Modelling the Confidence in Probabilistic Failure Estimates. The Journal of the Safety and Reliability Society 2001, 21(2), 107-123.
• Birmingham RW, Sampson R. Safety and stability in the fishing industry – a design conflict?. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Small Craft Safety. 2001, London: Royal Institute of Naval Architects.
• Birmingham R. Some Developments in Marine Technology Education in the United Kingdom. Journal of Ship Production 2001, 17(4), 183-190.
• Birmingham RWB, Sampson R. Sustainability and Survivability in the UK Fishing Fleet, a design Conflict?. In: RINA International Conference on Small Craft Safety. 2001, London: RINA.
• Birmingham R, Cleland G, Maffin D, Driver R. Understanding Engineering Design - Context, Theory and Practice. London: Pearson Education, 2001.
• Birmingham RW, Cain C, Sen P, Cripps RM. Development and implementation of a design for safety procedure for search and rescue craft. Journal of Engineering Design 2000, 11(1), 55-78.
• Birmingham R, Sen P, Cain C, Cripps RM. Development and implementation of a design for safety procedure for search and rescue craft. Journal of Engineering Design 2000, 11(1), 55-78.
• Birmingham RW, Samodra S, Widjaja S. Development of traditional Indonesian boatyards: the simulation of collaborative working with a large shipyard. In: Proceedings of 7th International Marine Design Conference (IMDC). 2000, Kyongju, Korea: The Society of Naval Architects of Korea.
• Birmingham RW, Smith J. Establishing safety limits for escort tug operations and so reducing the risks of pollution incidents. In: Proceedings of ENSUS 2000: Marine Science and Technology for Environmental Sustainability. 2000, Newcastle upon Tyne: Newcastle University: Departments of Marine Technology and of Marine Science.
• Birmingham R. Exploring the possibility of stability assessment without reference to hydrostatic data. In: Vassalos, D., Hamamoto, M., Papanikolaou, A., Molyneux D, ed. Contemporary Ideas on Ship Stability. London: Elsevier, 2000, pp.597.
• Birmingham RW, Molyneux D, Smith J. Modelling the stability behaviour of excort tugs in transient conditions. In: Proceedings of STAB 2000, the 7th International Conference on Stability of Ships and Ocean Vehicles. 2000, Launceston, Australia: Australian Maritime Engineering.
• Birmingham RW, Cain C, Sen P, Cripps RM. A practical formal safety assessment system for the marine design environment. Marine Technology 1999, 36(4), 183-193.
• Cain CF, Birmingham RW, Sen P, Cripps RM. A practical formal safety assessment system for the marine design environment. (mt) Marine Technology 1999, 36(4), 183-193.
• Birmingham RW, Grimwade J. Tanker stopping distances and the performance of escort tugs. Transactions of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects 1999, 142(C), 198-216.
• Birmingham RW. Wooden boatbuilding: practice and prospects. In: Boatbuilding: Practice and Prospects in the New Indonesia. 1999, Surabaya, Indonesia: ITS Surabaya.
• Sen, P., Birmingham, R.W. (Editors). IMDC'97; 6th International Marine Design Conference: Vol 1, Proceedings. Vol. 2, State of the Art Reports. Vol. 3, Discussion, Replies, Seminar - Alternatives for the Royal Yacht. Newcastle: Department of Marine Technology, Newcastle University, 1997.
• Birmingham RW, Hall S, Kattan MR. Shipyard technology development strategies. Journal of Ship Production (Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, New Jersey) 1997, 13(4), 290-300.
• Birmingham, R.W., Chandler, H.W., Wilcox, J.A.D., Marshall, A.L. A graphical model for compression struts that integrates material and form in structural design. Journal of Engineering Design 1994, 5(3), 227-241.
• Birmingham, R.W., Wilcox, J.A.D. Charting the links between material selection and elemental form in structural design. Journal of Engineering Design 1993, 4(2), 127-140.