With the vulnerability of satellite-based navigation systems, the need for physical aids to navigation remains as important as ever in providing safety at sea for shipping and the prevention of pollution, which is so essential to our island nation's prosperity and global trade. We have been well served by our predecessors with the wonderful engineering of the Victorian era. however, the drive to innovate and incorporate emerging new technology has ensured that the service provided today is robust, reliable, efficient and enhances the safety of both those who operate and maintain the service and those at sea who depend upon it. The lecture will take a technology journey through the delivery of aids to navigation around our shores.
Commodore Robert Dorey started his career at sea as a Cadet with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1980 and progressed to Captain, through a turbulent time including the Falkland's Campaign, the Gulf wars, the break-up of Yugoslavia and with his final role at sea conducting counter piracy from RFA Fort Victoria off Somali. With the post Falklands RFA coming closer to the Royal Navy, other opportunities emerged, and Rob qualified as a RN Specialist Navigator, attended the Advanced Command and Staff Course and had appointments to COMUKTG and MoD Whitehall. He then came ashore as Marine Superintendent and later became Commodore and Head of Service of the RFA during which time, he was SRO for the new Fleet Tankers being built in Korea. Rob then moved to Trinity House as the Operations Director, responsible for delivery of Aids to Navigation for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. This included responsibility for engineering, ships and commercial operations, through teams with a huge variety of skills, based around the country, to deliver this essential safety service. This is a statutory service delivered by Trinity House as a General Lighthouse Authority, along with colleagues in Northern Lights for Scotland and the Isle of Mann and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, for Northern Ireland. With a passion for technology, he was President of IMarEST in 2018. He continues to support IMarEST and is a trustee of the Trinity House charities and of the White Ensign Association. In 2024 he moved on from Trinity House and now operates as a Marine Consultant.
17:30-18:00 - Tea and Coffee
18:00-18:50 - In person talk and live stream starts
18:05 to 18:50 - Lecture Starts
18:50 to 19:00 - Q & A
Welcome to our June NEIMME Lecture. NEIMME is the Royal Chartered membership organisation for Engineering, Science and Technology in the North.
For more information about our events and the benefits of NEIMME membership see: https://mininginstitute.org.uk/membership/
For information on IOM3 membership see: https://www.iom3.org/
