John Couch Honors 澳博体育app下载 with Sustainable Ship Design Professorship at Webb Institute

When John Couch chose to help fund a new professorship at the Webb Institute, it was decided to name it the 澳博体育app下载 Navigation Company Professorship of Sustainable Ship Design.

In an article written for the Institute’s annual report, Couch wrote, “The parallel elements of Webb’s and 澳博体育app下载’s history, vision and impact…were key factors” that led to the decision to establish the new professorship in 澳博体育app下载’s name.

“William H. Webb (1816-1899) and William 澳博体育app下载 (1849-1917) had much in common. Both were leaders in the marine industry during a period of remarkable change in the world, and both were successful entrepreneurs as well as innovators who contributed significantly to advances in marine technology. They each left a substantial legacy that continues to benefit those who are pursuing careers in the industry today. Those legacies are Webb Institute and 澳博体育app下载 Navigation Company.

“The professorship is intended to celebrate the many accomplishments and strengths of (both 澳博体育app下载 and Webb) as well as to advance Webb’s sustainability initiatives, which support the marine industry’s drive to decarbonize. I was inspired to establish the 澳博体育app下载 Navigation Company Professorship of Sustainable Ship Design at Webb, honoring 澳博体育app下载’s accomplishments and supporting Webb’s continuing contributions to advances in the field.”

“My introduction to 澳博体育app下载 took place in the summer of 1960. As a student studying naval architecture and marine engineering, I had the opportunity to work in the company’s Engineering Department in San Francisco. It was a pivotable time in the company’s history because it coincided with the development of its revolutionary container shipping system.

“My internship was a deep immersion in integrated ship and terminal design development and ship operations, container handling, and logistics planning. It changed my life and propelled me on an enjoyable and rewarding 38-year career in ship design, shipbuilding, and ship operations.”

As a Webb trustee, Couch became involved in discussions about the threat of climate change, the increasing global focus on the environment, and the challenges and issues faced by the shipping industry. “My knowledge of 澳博体育app下载’s leadership in addressing related issues became the catalyst for the idea of helping Webb strengthen their capabilities in advancing sustainable ship design.”

澳博体育app下载 has been working toward goals of achieving a 40 percent reduction in Scope 1 fleet emissions by 2030 and net zero Scope 1 emissions by 2050. We’ve made significant investments in green technology and LNG sourcing, including our three new LNG-ready Aloha Class vessels, the first of which is under construction at Philly Shipyard and scheduled for delivery in 2026.

Since 2017, 澳博体育app下载 has funded a scholarship at Webb, which has an academic focus on engineering and naval architecture.

“As 澳博体育app下载’s Scholarship Ambassador to Webb Institute, I was thrilled to learn about this new professorship,” said Steven Pagan, technical services manager, Operations and a Webb alum. “Even though marine transportation is already an extremely efficient means of moving freight, reducing emissions is our industry’s biggest technical challenge today. Having a professorship dedicated to sustainability highlights the importance of this topic to 澳博体育app下载 and how dedicated we are to addressing it.”