Robert G. Allan P.Eng(ret.), FRINA, HMSNAME
Executive Chairman; Robert Allan Ltd.
Keynote Title: Frontier Engineering: Innovations in Ship and Offshore Design for the Mackenzie River and Western Arctic (1972-1985)
Biography: Robert G. Allan is a third-generation naval architect who has followed his grandfather and father as independent consulting naval architects in BC since 1928. Incorporated as Robert Allan Ltd. in 1961, their company is the most senior in its field in Canada, and well-regarded internationally.
A graduate of the University of Glasgow (1971), he is a Registered Professional Engineer in BC, a Fellow of both SNAME and RINA, and an Honorary Member of SNAME.
He is a recognized authority on the subject of escort tugboat design and has authored numerous papers and several textbook chapters on the subject of tugboat and workboat design.
He has received major peer awards for achievements in Naval Architecture including:
- 2004: Small Craft Group Medal: Royal Institution of Naval Architects (UK)
- 2005: David W. Taylor Medal: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (USA)
- 2005: German Red Dot Industrial Design Award, "Best of the Best", Transportation Category, for Z-Tech tug design
- 2012: "Beaver" Medal (Now Lieutenant-Governors Medal) from Maritime Museum of British Columbia for Significant Contributions to the marine industry of BC
- 2017: BC Export Award for Leadership from the BC Ministry of International Trade
- 2017: West Coast Towboat Legacy Award from Council of Marine Carriers "for an individual who has made a significant, positive and lasting contribution to the BC marine towing industry"
- 2017: Meritorious Achievement Award from the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia in recognition of significant technical achievements within the engineering and geoscience professions
- 2022: Lifetime Achievement Award International Tug & Salvage Conference
- 2024: "Admiral's Medal" from Canadian Naval Association "to recognize the advancement of maritime affairs in Canada"
- 2025: Lifetime Achievement Award from British Tug Owners Association