Professor of maritime studies who campaigned for better conditions for fishermen

Born: June 4, 1931;

Died: September 12, 2018.

PROFESSOR Alastair Couper, who has died aged 87, was a noted Scottish cademic and spent much of his distinguished career at Cardiff University. He was a pioneer of marine geography as an academic subject and was an instigator in developing fundamental research and development of many maritime projects throughout the world. This led to his making expert contributions to such high-profile publications as The Times Atlas of the Oceans and Lloyds Maritime Atlas.

He was renowned as an expert on the rights of seafarers and fishermen under international law and campaigned that they should have better working conditions. Professor Couper, in conjunction with the UN, helped to establish the Seafarers International Research Centre (SIRC) in 2010 to ensure these conditions were upheld.

The SIRC have paid tribute to his work: “Alastair was a true and loyal friend to seafarers; a master mariner, an esteemed academic and a passionate advocate and prolific writer on the rights of seafarers and fishers. Alastair was an international authority on marine life and throughout his professional career advanced and greatly enhanced the welfare and working conditions of seafarers.”

Alastair Dougal Couper was born in Aberdeen where his father was a stonemason. He attended Robert Gordon’s School of Navigation and from 1947-57 served with the Merchant Navy becoming a master mariner.

After spending some time with Denholm Shipping in Glasgow he studied for a degree at Aberdeen University and gained honours in both geography and archaeology in 1962. He then wrote his PhD at the Australian National University in Canberra (1963-66) where he also studied the ancient navigation methods of South Sea islanders. He returned to the UK and was appointed a lecturer in geography at Durham University.

In 1970 he was appointed head of the new department of maritime studies and international transport at the University of Wales (then the department of maritime studies at University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology) which gained university status and his department focused on the professional training of seafarers. This involved many new administrative duties and Professor Couper introduced undergraduate degrees in maritime commerce (business) and maritime technology (focused on ship science). In 1976 he added maritime geography.

The creation of such a new department was a formidable undertaking but Professor Couper had a definite vision of what was required. He always ensured that graduates from the first two degrees found work in the shipping and ports industries, while the maritime geography graduates focused on careers in the offshore oil industry and allied trades.

Professor Couper’s work was widely acknowledged and greatly enhanced the international reputation of Cardiff University. He retired in 1998 and was made an emeritus professor. His enthusiasm and keen interest in maritime affairs never flagged and he remained in demand as an adviser to various organisations and continued to work with colleagues in Cardiff as an academic geographer.

He was a widely published author and wrote Voyages of Abuse and Fishers and Plunderers as well as lecturing and chairing discussions on maritime matters. He preserved a keen interest and love for the people and islands of the Pacific and his Development and Change in the Pacific was much praised. He was a trustee of the National Maritime Museum and in 2015 was awarded The Maritime Fellowship Award for his “truly outstanding contribution to stimulating public engagement in maritime issues.”

Professor Couper maintained close relations with Scotland and he and his wife Norma were both keen hill walkers – they annually climbed Bennachie in Aberdeenshire. In Cardiff both were keen singers in Cardiff Reds Choir who regularly gave concerts to raise money for good causes.

All his life he was a dedicated socialist and campaigned for social justice throughout society. At 19, while in New Zealand, he helped to persuade British seamen to strike in support of local dock workers protesting about poor working conditions. Many years later he smuggled anti-apartheid books into South Africa on ships that he captained.

Dr Hance Smith was a colleague of Professor Couper at Cardiff and remembers him as an inspiring academic figure. “Alastair was always ahead of his time in his establishment and development of maritime education, research and its practical application worldwide. Generations of students and seafarers owe him a considerable debt both directly through his professional and personal roles and experience and indirectly through his great influence in the world of marine affairs.”

He is survived by his wife, Norma (nee Milton), a civil servant whom he met in Aberdeen through local trade union activities and married in 1958, and by their four children, Callum, Rona, Katrina and Roderick.

ALASDAIR STEVEN