Thomas McKenney is currently an Associate Professor of Engineering Practice in the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department at the University of Michigan. He teaches introductory and advanced ship design courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. His research interests includes maritime decarbonization, sustainability, and passenger vessel design and operation.
Thomas was previously Head of Ship Design at the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (Center) in Copenhagen, a not-for-profit independent research and development (R&D) center with the vision to sustainably decarbonize the maritime industry by 2050. He was responsible for ship design activities within an active portfolio of over 50 R&D projects related to maritime sustainability and decarbonization including alternative fuel pathways and ship technologies. Before joining the Center in 2021, Thomas held various positions at Royal Caribbean Group including Senior Manager, Technical Projects & Newbuild Development where he was technical and project manager of $1 billion first-in-class cruise ship design and construction projects based in Miami, Florida, and Saint Nazaire, France.
As an Associate Professor of Engineering Practice, his goal is to help strengthen the collaborative bridge between academia and the maritime industry to maximize global impact. This includes highlighting research and studies with immediate relevance and impact potential for the broader maritime industry as well as identifying research gaps and providing relevant use cases and necessary background and data from industry to academia.
Based on his research background and industry experience, one of his main research themes is maritime decarbonization. Sustainability has become a pressing concern in various industries, especially in maritime. Maritime decarbonization is a complex challenge with no one-size-fits-all solution. Numerous alternative fuels and ship technologies, both existing and under development, complicate the landscape. Industry stakeholders also grapple with uncertainties and dynamics such as shifting regulations and geopolitical events.
The need for immediate action, coupled with numerous options and evolving conditions, requires a substantial shift in the approach of industry players. Thomas' research in this area will combine recent academic research on sustainable ship design with industry advancements driving decarbonization. It caters to both researchers and practitioners, providing actionable insights for their daily work.
Relevant topics include:
- Sustainability beyond greenhouse gas reduction.
- Effects of energy efficiency and emissions regulations.
- Alternative fuels and ship technologies, with a focus on their impacts.
- Ship design methodologies, tools, and approaches to tackle uncertainties and dynamics.
- Holistic lifecycle approach, considering optionality, conversion potential, and economic modeling.
