December 5, 2000

1998 Titanic Research Expedition

RICHARD F. SILLOWAY

Dick Silloway is an independent consulting marine engineer who has been specializing in forensic investigations and analysis since 1996. Prior to that, he had two full careers both as a Marine Engineer and a Naval Officer designated for Engineering Duty. Dick graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1966 and started active naval service in the nuclear power program aboard submarines. Following several sea tours, he left active duty to work in ship design and modification with the national Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering firm of M. Rosenblatt & Son.

In 1981, he was brought to the Houston area by Exxon as one of their staff marine engineers for that company's fleet of tankers, tugs, towboats and barges. One of his most significant accomplishments during his time at Exxon (later SeaRiver Maritime), was development of the system that prevents release of hydrocarbon vapors while loading barges. This system not only became the national standard, but has also been incorporated into Federal Regulations.

Throughout this time, he also worked as a Naval Reserve Officer in marine and naval engineering, concentrating largely on strategic sealift projects and issues. Several of the sealift ships moored at the Port of Houston were ones in which Dick was directly involved in the design and modification.

After taking early retirement from SeaRiver and regular retirement as a Captain from the Navy in 1996, he began his full time work in marine forensic engineering. He has been working primarily with Engineering Partners International, Inc., a forensic engineering firm headquartered in Kingwood, Texas.

Dick is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, a life member of the American Society of Naval Engineers, and a member of the Nautical Research Guild, the National Maritime Historical Society, and the Naval Institute. He has been particularly active as a member of the Marine Forensics Panel of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and, as such, was requested to participate in the 1998 scientific expedition to the wreck of RMS TITANIC.

His talk will describe that expedition and discuss some of the more important findings and results, particularly with regard to metallurgical questions and issues.