STAMFORD, C.T., March 19, 2013 – Midshipman Ian Holtzworth took first prize in the Student Research Papers Competition for his paper “The OBO: A Bridge between Supply and Demand Fundamentalists and Those Ushering in the ‘Eco Age' ” at the Connecticut Maritime Association’s annual Trade Show and Conference, Shipping 2013.

Holtzworth, a First Classman and President of the Kings Point Sustainability Alliance, was given a cash award and the opportunity to present his paper to an international audience that included industry professionals and students. His paper outlined a proposal where Ore-Bulk-Oil carriers (OBOs) could triangulate trade routes allowing them to complete fewer annual voyages than single trade vessels. As a result, Holtzworth stated, “In the oil trades, an OBO’s supply contribution would be 13% less than the equivalent sized tanker. Even more impressive, a 24% reduction in capacity impact could be found in this dry-bulk trade. Owners operating these new ECO OBOs would be reaping the benefits of optimized fuel efficiency and increased laden time without the full impact on supply that comes with a newbuild single-trade vessel.”

RADM James A. Helis, Ph.D., superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) commented, “The Academy strives to be on the cutting-edge of technology and innovation. We are especially proud when innovative ideas come from midshipmen. To be recognized during a prestigious event such as Shipping 2013 is quite an honor for Midshipman Holtzworth and the Academy.“

Holtzworth’s Academic Advisor, Changqian Guan, Ph.D., an associate professor in USMMA’s Department of Marine Transportation, explained “His idea is quite unconventional, the OBO type of ship was popular for a while before it was out of favor due to changes in trade patterns and some operational complexities to run this type of vessel. His paper is focused on out-of-the box thinking. This demonstrates his intellectual capacity and analytical skills to challenge the status quo and conventional way of thinking.”

Other Midshipmen who participated were:

Kristen Bell, “The Expansion of the U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas Market”.

Dustin Downing, “Breaking into Artic Drilling: Difficulties and Possibilities”.

Ian Nisley, “LNG as Alternate Fuel for Marine Vessels”.

Joshua Sindorf, “Modern Day Iran and the Persian Gulf Oil Trade”.