Four Webb Students win the Dr. James A. Lisnyk Student Ship Design Competition


(Pictured left to right: Benjamin Hunt, Oscar Como, Luke Herbermann, Alec Bidwell, and Professor Bradley D.M. Golden ’99)

By Professor Bradley D.M. Golden ’99

It is our pleasure to announce that Alec Bidwell, Oscar Como, Luke Herbermann, and Benjamin Hunt have won first place in this year’s SNAME Dr. James A. Lisnyk Student Ship Design Competition for their design of an LNG Bunkering Vessel. The vessel was originally designed for last semester’s SD1 course and, with only a few minor additions to their analysis, they were able to submit the same design for the Lisnyk competition.

A challenging enough project during a “regular” semester, all six groups successfully completed their designs while scattered across the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and all of them did very well. Alec, Oscar, Luke, and Ben went above and beyond and put in the extra effort that was required to meet the demands for the SNAME competition, and I’m very happy to see that all their hard work paid off.

According to the SNAME website, “The Lisnyk Student Ship Design Competition challenges groups of young people to design theoretical but practical cutting-edge vessels. Open to the world’s colleges and universities supporting maritime careers, the program has fostered teamwork and learning through competition.”

Dean Werner would like to add, “Congratulations to the Team, Professor Golden, and the industry advisors.  The design and its presentation were very well done and quite worthy of the honor.  It is always rewarding when outside groups recognize the excellent work of our talented Webb students. I hope that members of this year’s junior class see this as inspiration to enter their SD1 designs in one of the various design competitions available.”

To make this award even more special, Dr. Linsnyk was a Webb graduate from the class of 1963.

LNG Bunkering Vessel

4,200 M3 LNG Bunkering Vessel


About Dr. James Lisnyk ’63 (Portions from “A Centennial History of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture”)

Born in Jamaica, New York Dr. Lisnyk was a graduate of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. Attended MIT as SNAME Scholar receiving a MS in Naval Architecture in 1964 and joined BuShips. He earned a D.Sc. degree in Engineering Management from George Washington University in 1977. Then transferred to MARAD as Program Manager for Advanced Ship Systems then becoming Acting Director, Office of Maritime Technology in MARAD’s Office of Research and Development. Authored numerous technical papers for ASNE and SNAME; served on SNAME and ASNE governing boards; was Chairman of SNAME’s Chesapeake Section and VP of that Society.  Elected VP of the Webb Alumni Association. Returned to NAVSEA in 1980, as Chief Naval Architect and Deputy Director, Hull Division. Awards include, the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal and SNAME Spring Meeting Paper Award 1979. Dr. Lisnyk was honored posthumously by having an ASME scholarship named in his memory; the Chesapeake Sect. Established the James A. Linsyk Student Design Competition Award; and NAVSEA’s Association of Senior Engineer’s named its award for its outstanding young engineer after him. Married Bridget DiGesu in 1964; two children Linda and Amy.

Tragically, he and his daughter were killed on August 1st, 1984 in an automobile accident. Dr. Lisnyk’s wife Bridget and another daughter were injured in the accident but survived.

About the Junior Class Small Vessel Design Project (SD1)

As a part of Professor Bradley D.M. Golden’s ’99 Ship Design 1 (SD1) class, the juniors spent the first two-and-a-half months of the spring semester preparing their first complete concept designs.

Using the knowledge they’ve gained in their nearly three years studying at Webb and the experiences from their winter work periods to date, this was the students’ first opportunity to apply the naval architecture and marine engineering principles they’ve studied including stability, ship’s structures, main machinery systems, auxiliary systems, resistance and propulsion, and electrical engineering.

Working in small groups of three and four, the students selected one of the vessel types and took their first couple of spins around the design spiral to prepare vessel concept designs. To help make the project as realistic as possible, members of industry familiar with each of the vessel types helped prepare the statements of design requirements that each of the designs had to meet. To challenge the students even further, one or two “curveballs” were thrown into each design statement to make the students think long and hard about how they would achieve their objectives.

At the end of the spring semester, the students presented their final designs to their fellow students, faculty, and members of industry who served as part of an evaluation team. After three years at Webb, the Junior class can now say with confidence that they’re familiar with the design process and are well on their way to joining the fields of naval architecture and marine engineering.

About SNAME:

The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) was organized in 1893, to advance the art, science, and practice of naval architecture, shipbuilding and marine engineering. SNAME is an internationally recognized non-profit, professional society of individual members serving the maritime and offshore industries and their suppliers. For many, SNAME has been absolutely essential to career development and success in the industry. With more than 6,000 members around the world in 95 countries, SNAME is THE International Community for Maritime and Ocean Professionals! For more information, please visit: https://www.sname.org/

Senior Spotlight: Matthew Migliozzi ’20


Hometown: Chatham, NJ

Thesis Title: A Thermodynamic Exergy Analysis to Optimize a Combined Brayton-Rankine Cycle

Post Graduate Plans: Graduate work in Shipping, Trade and Finance at Cass Business School

Favorite Quote.
“You should take the approach that you’re wrong. Your goal is to be less wrong.” – Elon Musk

What would people be surprised to know about you?
Math was my worst subject in high school. English was my best. I came to Webb because I loved ships and wanted to improve on what I perceived as my weaknesses.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Join the sailing team, the intercollegiate dinghy team. You have your whole life to sail big boats, but only four years to compete in intercollegiate sailing. This team gives you the opportunity to compete in an intercollegiate sport and meet people from different schools with different majors and different ideas. Try to meet people with as many different perspectives as you can. Webb is great, but everyone is a Naval Architect. It is refreshing and beneficial to speak with people with different backgrounds that will challenge you to think differently. Take the time to develop your own thoughts and think deeply to ensure they’re your own. My hardest moments at Webb were when I forgot this, and being part of the sailing team helped me remember.

What was your favorite class at Webb and why?
Ship Design II because in that class, for the first time, I felt like I understood what it meant to design a ship. The class was a lot of work, but it solidified a lot of the concepts I had learned in previous Webb courses which were just abstract concepts to me before Ship Design II.

Senior Spotlight: Duane Lee ’20


Hometown: Portland, OR

Thesis Title: Concept Design and Economic Feasibility Study of a Modular Underwater Apartment: A Case Study at Webb Institute

Post Graduate Plans: Aspire rotational program at ABS

Why did you choose Webb?
I wanted to study architecture at first, but after learning about Webb, I gained an interest in naval architecture and marine engineering. While I wanted to design something cool, I also liked math/science, so I thought NA/ME was a nice combination of the two. Also, I wanted to be part of the small, unique community at Webb.

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I will miss living together with my classmates. Even with numerous late-nighters, my classmates made my time here enjoyable.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot on campus is my couch in my dorm room in STH (room #211). After a long day, I enjoyed staring out the window or at my white wall while sitting on my couch.

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
My favorite Winter Work internship was working at Eagle Bulk in its Singapore office. The internship gave me a nice exposure to the global maritime industry. It was also fun to work and learn from people from around the world. Also, living in Singapore was a lovely experience.

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about doing interesting and/or meaningful things. I hope to apply what I’ve learned at Webb to do cool and interesting work.

Senior Spotlight: Audra Milbitz


Hometown: Denton, Texas

Thesis Title: An Environmental and Feasibility Analysis of a Dual-Fuel System for a High-Speed Diesel Engine on a Fishing Vessel

Post Graduate Plans: BLOM Maritime

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
My favorite winter work experience was my senior year working at BLOM Maritime in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I enjoyed the office environment and the responsibilities I was given at the company as an intern. Another thing that made this winter work my favorite is that I was able to hang out with other Webbies, go to the beach, and get my scuba certification.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot on campus is anywhere I can watch the sunset because the sunsets over the Long Island Sound never get old.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Take full advantage of your four years at Webb. Get involved with leadership, participate in the sports teams, and volunteer in the community. The workload may seem overwhelming sometimes, but don’t let it stop you from participating in the Webb community.

Favorite Quote.
“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway” – John Wayne

Senior Spotlight: Nicholas Yarka ’20


Hometown: Hillsborough, New Jersey

Thesis Title: An Investigation of Marine Gurney Flaps

Post Graduate Plans: Working at Gibbs and Cox

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
Sophomore year I served aboard the MV Maersk Peary. We went down to McMurdo Station Antarctica, delivering jet fuel and diesel oil. It was a great experience, I learned a ton, hiked around two continents I had never visited before, and saw a ton of penguins.

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I think I’m going to miss the sense of community the most. This place is a family, and it’s going to take a lot of time to find new people who can take their place.

What activities were you involved with at Webb?
I tried to stay involved during my time at Webb. I headed Webb’s Tabletop Gaming Club, served on the Student Court, and was an active member of the Running club all four years. Webb provided me the opportunity to go to SNAME meetings and Broadway plays in the city. I also tried to give back to Webb in my own small way, taking part in the bathroom renovation committee and was a student member for Webb’s reaccreditation.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
I really like the overlook next to Third Terrace by the President’s House. No one really goes there, so it’s quiet and peaceful, but it’s a fantastic little nook to watch an unobstructed sunset.

Senior Spotlight: Isa Hill ’20


Hometown: Frederick, MD

Thesis Title: An Environmental and Feasibility Analysis of a Dual-Fuel System for a High-Speed Diesel Engine on a Fishing Vessel

Post Graduate Plans: Naval Architect at NASSCO in San Diego, CA

What activities were you involved with at Webb?
I have been involved in Women’s Tennis and Women’s Basketball since the teams were started, and I had the opportunity to be Co-Captain of both during my last season. I have also been involved in student leadership as SO President, part of the Education Committee, and planning various events.

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
My favorite internship was going out to sea with Maran Gas during my Sophomore year. Seeing a ship in operation, working with the operators, and witnessing the creativity needed to solve problems while underway has given me a much broader perspective on the industry and engineering as a whole than I could have otherwise gotten.

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I can easily say that the thing I will miss most is the people, especially my classmates. I have made so many great friends and I have four years of great memories of them. It will be tough to adjust to life when I don’t see them every day, but I know we will remain friends for years to come.

Who was your favorite mentor at Webb and why?
My favorite mentor was Peggy Michel. I spent a lot of time working on the garden and baking with her during my freshman and sophomore year, and she passed on a lot of wisdom. She taught me practical skills like gardening while showing me the importance of making those around you feel welcome, supported, and at home. Peggy remains one of the kindest, most sincere people that I have ever met and I am grateful that I knew her for the time that I did.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
From your first day at Webb, be grateful for the opportunities you have here and look for ways to contribute and “make your mark”. Find your way to contribute and leave Webb a better place than you found it, but never forget how special this experience is. It is okay to recognize that something is great, and still push to make it greater!

Senior Spotlight: Galen Ng ’20


Hometown: New York, NY

Thesis Title: Hydrodynamic Performance of a Lifting Body Using Near-Field Flow Kinematics from PIV Analysis

Post Graduate Plans: PhD in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering – Hydrostructural optimization.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I was on Sesame Street a few times as a child actor. I got to meet the puppeteers for Elmo, Grover, Big Bird, and Kermit.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Do as much as you can (academic or extracurricular) early on to find your niche and then stick with your passion to develop it.

Favorite Quote.
I talked to Professor Gallagher about it because it happened to him too.”
– Professor Onas talking about his incoming baby

What have you learned from other students?
If you want to impart change in your community, take initiative. Don’t wait for others to take up your idea.

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I will miss the late nights and camaraderie associated with all the work.

Senior Spotlight: Louis (L.J.) Bock ’20


Hometown: Doylestown, PA

Thesis Title: Design of a High-Speed, Common-Rail Diesel Engine Test Platform and Support Systems

Post Graduate Plans: Marine Systems Engineer

Favorite Quote:
“Family is not necessarily blood, but instead who you’d bleed for.”

What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about learning. To me, life is boring if we do not ask questions. In today’s digital world, an infinite amount of knowledge is so easily accessible. All it takes is a bit of curiosity and becoming a life-long learner is the natural next step. Having learned so much in the past four years, I am excited to dive into an incredibly broad industry and learn as much as I can from the individuals already shaping it.

Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Never take any opportunity for granted. Learn to be grateful for the things and people in your life because there are many others who would do anything for a chance at what you have. The quicker one can ingrain this trait in their outlook on Webb and life, the more fulfilling the experience will be.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
I guess my favorite spot on campus is technically not on campus. But in four years, I have not found a better spot than about a half-mile off Webb’s beach into the Sound. Straight out from Webb, I get the most beautiful view of the campus, the NYC skyline, or a Long Island Sound Sunset.

Senior Spotlight: Reneé Tremblay ’20


Hometown: Bristol, Rhode Island

Thesis Title: Bow Flare: The Effect on the Seakeeping Performance of Containerships

Post Graduate Plans: Horizons Hull & Systems Engineer at Chevron Shipping Company (California)

Favorite Quote.
“In a flight simulator, some users will practice flying first-aid missions into underdeveloped countries. Some users will practice flying passenger jets into skyscrapers. Knowledge is a tool, and like all tools, its impact is in the hands of the user.”
(The Lost Symbol, Novel by Dan Brown)

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
It is just impossible to pick a favorite Winter Work internship but I think my sophomore sea term is one to highlight. Never did I think I would step aboard a 300-meter liquefied natural gas carrier to sail from Texas all the way to South Korea in one shot. I spent nearly 50 days at sea, setting no foot on land in the between time. I made close friends with the officers and crew aboard and enjoyed working in the engine room with the engineers and my classmate, Chris. In addition to learning the life of a seafarer, my experience at sea gave me a great understanding of how ships operate, and how their design impacts their operation.

What’s your favorite spot on campus and why?
My most-recently acquired favorite spot on campus is my desk in the new Couch Academic Center. Despite only being able to spend two weeks there due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I really enjoyed my spot by the windows facing Bollinger Courtyard. Each night, it was the perfect place to view the sunset over Long Island Sound. Throughout my time at Webb though, I have had a great appreciation for Stevenson Taylor Hall too. I am impressed by the rich history of both the building and the grounds which I was able to study extensively in a humanities elective class I took during my Junior year.

Why did you choose Webb?
When I looked at a list of engineering majors in high school, I decided “Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering,” the most-specific on the list, was probably the one for me. I pictured classes that combined three seemingly awesome subjects: math, science, and ships. When I visited Webb for the first time, I was enamored and knew it would be the perfect place to go. The opportunity to build my résumé, the impassioned engineering instruction, and the friendly atmosphere are just some of the things that attracted me initially.

Looking back at freshman year, to the time when I had spent only a few weeks at Webb, I remember it had already felt like a comfortable second home to me. Nearly four years after having made the choice to attend, I find myself incredibly thankful. I developed that résumé and received a great education which helped open the door to a career, my next opportunity. In Webb, I truly found a family beyond mine at home, and I made friendships that I am confident will last a lifetime.

What activities were you involved with at Webb?
I was involved in a multitude of activities at Webb, but some of my favorite things included helping both the admissions and communications departments. With admissions, I enjoyed giving tours of campus, managing prospective student visits, and volunteering at open house and events to share Webb with others. During my freshman year, I even took a trip to Texas to represent Webb in a college fair at a robotics championship competition. I love to speak to others about Webb because for me, it was a truly great place to attend college.

With communications, I served as the Public Relations Chair of the Student Organization for three years. Through helping manage Webb’s social media accounts, contributing content for Webb publications, learning about branding principles with administrators, staff, and the board of trustees, and more, I feel like this position gave me a minor in marketing with all of the skills I was able to develop!

In general, being super involved at Webb allowed me to improve my time-management skills and to contribute to keeping the school environment flourishing and fun to be a part of.

Senior Spotlight: Mary McGuinness ’20


Hometown: Glenville, NY

Thesis Title: Concept Design of a Floating Home: Adapting to Sea Level Rise in the California Bay Area

Post Graduate Plans: Bruce S. Rosenblatt & Associates, LLC in Newport News, Virginia.

What was your favorite Winter Work internship?
My favorite Winter Work internship was my sophomore year sea term. Since I had studied abroad at the University of Southampton during the winter that year, my internship was completed in the summer – I was on the Cape Horn, a MARAD contracted ROS ro-ro container ship moored at Pier 50 in San Francisco. It was seven weeks of biking around the city, sightseeing, and delicious food (and of course completing the sea projects).

What will you miss the most about Webb?
I will miss my class the most – It’s been a unique experience to spend three and a half years with the same group of people. We’ve had a lot of fun times together and it will be sad to not be all together again (at least until reunions).

Why did you choose Webb?
I chose Webb because I was interested in pursuing engineering or architecture in college and thought it would be cool to go to school in the Batman mansion. (It turns out naval architecture is very different than regular architecture)

What activities were you involved with at Webb?
Throughout my time at Webb I have been involved with the Social Committee, Running Club, Art Club, and Leadership Committee. My favorite role has been as Social Committee co-chair during my Junior and Senior year which involved planning various on and off-campus events and parties.