Southampton entrepreneur Dan Hook joins SMMI as a visitor to help foster links between industry and academia

Ship Science alumnus Dan Hook will be undertaking collaborative research with the University of Southampton through a visiting appointment with SMMI. Dan is currently involved in establishing a centre for low carbon propulsion technologies to be based in Southampton and plans to support research projects in this domain along with working on various models for robotic logistics programs. Building on existing relationships within academia, Dan will work on joint industry/academia funded projects at the scale of student projects, major multi-year projects and will support spin-out business opportunities.

Dan is currently a major shareholder in an electric propulsion business called RAD Propulsion and is also the Managing Director of Ocean Infinity. In this role, he is responsible for the development of business models that will allow the benefits of robotic shipping to be realised in a wide range of industry sectors.  He is overseeing the growth of a team to develop, manage the construction and operation of Ocean Infinity’s Armada fleet of robotic ships. Ranging in size from 21 to 80m in length these vessels and associated technology represent a leap forward in the offshore industry.

Dan graduated from the University of Southampton in 2002 with a First Class degree in Ship Science (MEng Yacht and Small Craft) and went on to join Seaspeed Marine Consulting as a Naval Architect before moving onto the position of Technical Director in 2007.   

In 2010 Dan co-founded ASV Global (now L3 Harris) and became Managing Director.  ASV was successful in achieving its targets, maintaining high standards for quality and safety and was awarded many accolades including Hampshire Business of the Year and South Coast Technology company of the year.

Dan is a qualified Naval Architect and Chartered Engineer and is a Trustee of the National Oceanography Centre.