Through the exercise of his own intellect, he Dr Terry O’Brien created a system that has saved the resources, ports and shipping industries literally billions of dollars.

Dr O’Brien’s invention, Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC), has, in its various forms, been adopted by ports around the world.

Apart from having an unblemished safety record, the DUKC technology has saved untold amounts of money through reducing regular maintenance dredging and, in some cases, avoiding high spot dredging. Dr O’Brien’s technology allows vessels to sail with a deeper draught – allowing more cargo to be carried on fewer voyages.

So, for instance, every centimetre deeper that a bulker carrying iron ore can sail, means around an extra 150 tonnes of cargo, which, depending on the price, can be worth many thousands of dollars of revenue per centimetre per sailing.

When you stop to think of the cumulative impact of that saving over literally decades, it is quite astonishing.

The system also improved safety – so much so that it was deployed at several ports purely on safety grounds alone. And, in 2011, the system was first accepted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority for use in the Torres Strait.

Dr O’Brien has also invented a wide variety of other systems, such as the Berth Warning System, that can be used to help increase berth operating safety, both for ship-berth planning and as a forecasting tool to provide real-time operational warnings on forecast wind and wave conditions which may cause ships to break lines at the berth, causing unacceptable OH&S risk to personnel and damage to vessels and wharf structures.

The impact of Dr O’Brien’s inventions and development of technology has resulted in both he and his company being recognised at home and around the world for their achievements and contributions to the maritime industry.

There has been international award recognition for innovative technology, engineering excellence and in June 2010, Dr O’Brien was awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Birthday honours list for services to the maritime industry.

After literally decades of service to the shipping industry, as an academic, as a member of international advisory bodies such as PIANC, the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure and latterly and most significantly, as an inventor of technologies of global significance, Dr Terry O’Brien OAM was a rightful inductee into the Australian Maritime Hall of Fame.