BEng (Hons) Yacht Design and Production
Plot a course for your engineering skills - specialise in naval architecture for power- and sail-craft. Solent’s highly regarded degree is taught by experienced marine architects and designers.
View course Harris Maidment
MSc, BEng (Hons), AMRINA
Lecturer
School of Technology and Maritime Industries
Biography
Harris developed an interest in yacht design and naval architecture through his fascination with hullform development and marine decarbonisation, leading him to study a BEng (Hons) in Yacht and Powercraft Design at Solent University from 2015 to 2018. Following his undergraduate studies, he continued his education at Solent, completing an MSc in Superyacht Design in 2020 and graduating with Distinction. His master's thesis focused on the application of biodiesel, methanol and hydrogen as alternative fuels for a 68-metre superyacht developed as part of his master's degree.
Following his studies, Harris began his professional career in naval architecture and structural engineering, spending six years working across the luxury yacht, military and commercial marine sectors with companies including Lateral Naval Architects, HPi Verification Services, Rockabill Marine Design and QinetiQ.
During this time, he contributed to a variety of projects, developing experience in structural design and analysis, global structural loading assessments, component analysis, weight studies and technical design development. His work also included military free-surface model experiments, investigating vessel behaviour and performance, with a particular focus on manoeuvring. His project experience ranged from small craft certification to early-stage structural design work for a 130-metre superyacht.
Having previously studied at Solent University, Harris returned to the institution as a lecturer in 2026. He is particularly interested in bringing his industry experience into the classroom, helping students develop the technical knowledge, practical skills and industry awareness needed to pursue careers in yacht design and naval architecture. He is also keen to explore the engineering challenges associated with improving vessel efficiency and decarbonising the marine industry.
In his free time, Harris enjoys cooking, photography and sailing his RS200 with his family. He and his wife share a passion for travelling and have a tradition of attending a cooking lesson in each country they visit.
Further information
Lateral Naval Architects
Luxury yacht naval architecture and structural engineering
Contributed to luxury yacht design projects, primarily undertaking detailed structural design and assessment of local structures.
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of structural components and assemblies.
- Global hull girder strength assessments.
- Local plate and stiffener scantling calculations.
- Structural component analysis and fatigue assessments.
- Weight studies and structural design development.
- Structural assessments in accordance with Lloyd's Register requirements.
- Involvement in concept design and detailed structural design.
- Early-stage structural design work for a 130-metre Oceanco superyacht.
Software: Rhino, AutoCAD, Maxsurf and Strand7.
HPi Verification Services
Marine verification, inspection and certification
Worked across recreational craft certification, undertaking vessel inspections and technical design assessments in accordance with the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and applicable international standards.
- Conducted physical inspections of recreational vessels and reviewed technical design documentation.
- Assessed vessel systems, stability, buoyancy and safety against applicable ISO standards, Bureau Veritas (BV) and Lloyd's Register requirements.
- Undertook conformity assessments under the RCD.
- Prepared and issued certification for ISO Design Categories C and D, subject to senior approval.
- Worked directly with boatbuilders, private owners and internationally contracted inspectors.
Rockabill Marine Design
Commercial marine design and naval architecture
Worked on the design and technical development of specialist commercial vessels, producing engineering documentation for review and approval by Lloyd's Register.
- Produced structural arrangements, shell expansions and construction drawings.
- Developed detailed engineering drawings and design documentation from established design briefs.
- Undertook SolidWorks modelling of vessel systems, including raw water and fuel systems.
- Developed spreadsheets for the assessment of local structural components.
- Prepared technical submissions for Lloyd's Register review and approval.
QinetiQ
Military marine research, experimental testing and engineering
Worked within the military marine research and testing environment, contributing to experimental investigations into vessel behaviour and performance at Haslar Marine Technology Park.
- Prepared and conditioned physical vessel models for experimental testing.
- Contributed to free-surface model experiments within the ocean basin.
- Worked with models representing both existing naval vessels and experimental hullform designs.
- Contributed to research activities involving vessel hydrodynamics and manoeuvring performance.
- Gained exposure to research reporting and the development of naval architecture software, including Paramarine.
- Assisted with the preparation of a naval submarine for a full-scale inclining experiment.
Courses
BEng (Hons) Yacht and Powercraft Design
Plot a course for your engineering skills - specialise in naval architecture for power- and sail-craft. Solent’s highly regarded degree is taught by experienced marine architects and designers.
View course
