While it's true that you can't control Mother Nature, it's certainly possible to imitate her.

That's the premise of Offshore Model Basin, a Escondido, California company co-founded by Victor Grinius ('61) thirty-four years ago. Offshore Model Basin is a working ocean laboratory that replicates actual conditions like wind, waves, and currents so that seafaring vehicles may be tested for stamina amid the variables they're likely to encounter at sea.

"You wouldn't consider flying in an airplane that hadn't been tested in an aircraft lab for wind tunnel resistance," explains Grinius. "Similarly, we conduct ship model tests against ocean conditions." As general director, Grinius presides over the largest commercial facility of its kind in the United States, which has been making waves in the industry since it began operations in 1969.

Grinius received his BS in aeronautical engineering back when the College of Engineering was known as the College of Industrial Technology. While the name of the school was different, the fundamentals were the same. "I'm grateful to BU for providing me with the knowledge I needed to become a success," he says.

Grinius' first job out of BU was at Boeing. "The fellow in the next office was a retired U.S. Navy captain," he says. "We worked together on various projects, and we realized that a commercial sea testing facility was needed. The Navy had its own model basin, but it was only available for government use."

So Grinius and Frank Biewer, his Boeing office neighbor, started building a model basin in 1968; operations began the following year. "Our timing was good, because it coincided with the onslaught of the offshore drilling industry," says Grinius. Ironically, since OMB's creation, "The Navy has opened up their model basin to commercial use, and now they're our competitors!" he laughs.

Most of the faux seafaring at OMB takes place in the company pool, or as it's more accurately called, the tank. Typically, the companies that turn to OMB for testing, research, and analysis manufacture underwater vehicles or floating systems like oil-drilling ocean platforms. Scale ratios are used in smaller prototype sizes in the 300 foot long, 50 foot wide tank. An additional pit at the bottom of this towing and sea-keeping basin allows structures to be tested up to a maximum depth of 30 feet.

Perhaps even more impressive than OMB's tank is the array of conditions that can be simulated inside it with a few button pushes. Waves are generated by a hydraulically driven pivoted flap on the bottom, and clients typically request a variety of wind conditions as well. OMB whips it up using a Wind Spectral Load Generator, whose two blades can be angled to generate an array of wind load while its motor rotates at a speed of 4,000 RPM.

Currents are also a inescapable reality on, or under, water. OMB has a specialty made "towing carriage," whose movement may be programmed for constant velocity, acceleration, and vertical or horizontal motion to create measurable current effects. Scuba-certified technicians are on hand to provide research support.

Many of the customers taking a swim in OMB's tank are major multinational oil companies like Shell, Chevron, and Texaco who all operate deep-sea drilling platforms. "We just completed a project with Exxon-Mobil for an oil-production initiative in West Africa," says Grinius. Construction companies that build and install ocean-based oil platforms also depend on OMB for testing. Clients glean motion data from a series of monitoring instruments, and they may also refer to photographic and video services to analyze underwater and surface conditions.

Last year, Grinius came to BU for 40th reunion festivities and had an opportunity to meet with ENG faculty and Dean David Campbell. "I have a warm spot in my heart for BU," Grinius says. Meanwhile, back on the West Coast, the tank at Offshore Model Basin's headquarters continues challenging seacraft with churning waters and gusty conditions. Perhaps Mother Nature realizes that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.