Vladimir Urkevich Russian and American naval engineer. Date of Birth: 05.06.1885 Country: Russia

1. Early Life and Education
2. Naval Career in Russia
3. Emigration and Career in Europe
4. Design of the "Normandie"
5. Success and Legacy
6. Emigration to the United States
7. Awards and Recognition
8. Legacy

Early Life and Education

Nikolai Yurkevich was born in Russia and graduated with honors from the 4th Moscow Gymnasium. In 1903, he entered the shipbuilding department of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic Institute and defended his diploma work on increasing the efficiency of steam installations in 1909.

Naval Career in Russia

Yurkevich continued his studies at the final year of the Kronstadt Naval College, graduating as a shipbuilding engineer and commissioned as a second lieutenant. He worked as a shipbuilding engineer at the Kronstadt port and participated in the design of the "Sevastopol" battleships and "Izmail" battlecruisers at the Baltic Works design bureau. He also served as the builder of the submarines "Trout" and "Ruff."

Emigration and Career in Europe

After the Russian revolution, Yurkevich left Russia in 1920 and settled in Turkey, initially working in an auto repair shop. In 1922, he moved to Paris, where he worked as a turner and draftsman at the Renault factory. Through the recommendation of Admiral Pogulyayev, he joined the shipyard Penhoët, which specialized in building large passenger ships.

Design of the "Normandie"

Yurkevich designed a large passenger liner for transatlantic routes, proposing an innovative bulbous hull shape. Model tests in Hamburg confirmed the ship's superior performance. His design was selected among over 20 proposals and formed the basis for the "Normandie."

Success and Legacy

The "Normandie," built in the early 1930s, became one of the largest, fastest, and most comfortable ships of its time and won the "Blue Riband of the Atlantic" for the shortest crossing time and highest average speed. After the success of the "Normandie," Yurkevich founded his own design bureau, specializing in ship hulls.

Emigration to the United States

In 1937, Yurkevich moved to the United States, becoming a citizen in 1941. He worked as a technical consultant for the United States Merchant Marine Administration and taught at the University of Michigan and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also led the Union of Russian Naval Engineers in exile.

Awards and Recognition

Nikolai Yurkevich received the Order of St. Stanislav, 3rd Class (1913) and the Order of St. Anna, 3rd Class (1915).

Legacy

After Yurkevich's death in 1964, Columbia University requested his archive but his widow, Olga Vsevolodovna Kretovskaya-Yurkevich, donated it to the Central State Archive of the National Economy of the USSR in Moscow in accordance with his wishes.