Freeport, Bahamas - The 3rd annual Bahamas Society of Engineers Northern Branch 2 day workshop got off to a rousing start, after being opened by Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon. Dr Michael Darville, with two excellent presentations. The first was given by the Grand Bahama Power Company team of Kevin Seymour and Lee Marvin Johnson who gave a very passionate talk on what one may normally consider a uninteresting subject; waste sludge minimization. With their managing director Paul Miller lending his support from the audience, Seymour and Johnson showed how the company has manage to cut their waste sludge generation in half and improve the amount of clean oil delivered to the engine per unit processed. This has resulted in reduce cost of fuel oil and an improvement to both the bottom line of the company and the cost of fuel.

The second presentation was given by Wendell Grant on the topic “The New Providence Gateway Project as an illustration of the need for GB Engineers to be Mobil”. In his presentation he illustrated how a group of mainly Grand Bahama Engineers were able to win the contract to represent the Government of the Bahamas by combining their efforts to successfully manage the completion of the project on time and within budget and how individual small engineering companies can combine on a one time basis to generate large company results. By so doing they were able to survive in a weak economy.

During the AGM luncheon a new board was nominated and installed for the term 2015-2017. The new board consist of Remmington Wilchcombe – President, Ed Pavey- Vice President, Jaims Carey- Treasurer, Alete Sands-Secretary, Dudley Franics – Director, Bary Dickson – Director, Hilniuqa Gibson - Student Director, and Darius Williams – Immediate Past President.

The 1st annual Popsicle bridge contest was won by St Paul’s College whose bridge was able to withstand 280 lbs without breaking. 2nd was Grand Bahama Academy of Seven Day Adventist at 87.5 lbs and third was St Georges with 57.5 lbs.

Friday promises another exciting day with Lesley Davies-Baptista and Steve Vickers of Paint Fair & International Paint and Leon Williams of BTC giving presentations at Ruby Swiss starting at 9:30. The workshop will continue with a luncheon with DPM Hon Philip ‘Brave’ Davis as keynote speaker and conclude with a plant tour to the Grand Bahama Shipyard.