In Houston on August 21, at The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology’s (IMarEST) First Offshore Oil and Gas Engineering conference, Les Douthwaite received the President’s Commendation Award, an annual international award recognizing exceptional service to the organization.
Douthwaite was named the honorary Secretary of IMarEST’s US Gulf Coast Branch about four years ago.
Founded in London in 1889, IMarEST is “the first institute to bring together marine engineers, scientists, and technologists into one international multi-disciplinary professional body.” Chairman of the local branch, Alan Mills, presented the award to Douthwaite saying the US Gulf branch grows at a particularly fast rate, making Douthwaite’s service all the more essential.
Douthwaite supports the local chair by organizing branch meetings; and conducts the intensive and time-consuming professional review interviews required for chartered engineer registration for new members.
“[It] is by far the most demanding role on any branch committee,” Mills said. “The fact that Les has, for so many years, gone above and beyond what many would do is precisely why he was singled out for recognition of his tireless work and selflessness.”
Giving back to IMarEST is something Douthwaite feels strongly about, as IMarEST helped him navigate his professional career as a young engineer.
“We all used to go to the Liverpool branch meetings as young marine engineersto- be; we were very much on the learning curve,” he said. “Now that I have a little more time, I’d like to give back to the institute and to promote it [in the US], particularly to young members. I’m paying back what I got out of it.”
Douthwaite joined IMarEST in December of 1961, while serving as a cadet with the British Merchant Navy, when the organization was known as the Institute for Marine Engineers. He was later elected Fellow of the Institute.
“Marine engineering has been a part of my life since I was 16,” said Douthwaite, a native of West Kirby, Cheshire. It was at that age that he began apprenticing for Liverpool’s Blue Funnel Line. While steaming around the Far East, and during summer breaks from Newcastle University, Douthwaite worked his way up to second engineer for the company within eight years. Upon graduating, he was recruited by Lloyd’s Register, starting as a surveyor and retiring as the quality manager for the Americas. He retired in 2010, having worked 47 years for only two companies.
“Marine engineering is a highly-skilled profession because a ship is like a floating town,” Douthwaite said. “Not only do you have the main propulsion engines and their support systems, but you’ve also got power generation systems, electrical systems, sanitary and water systems, and the galley. You’re a jack of all trades. It is what I’d call a noble profession.” OE
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