2009 AGM & SGM
rina affairs
Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval NGO, and where its contribution is both
Architects. recognised and valued.
The ‘William Froude Medal’ is As in previous years, it has therefore
awarded from time to time to a person been a very busy and challenging year
of any nationality who, in the opinion for the Institution, not least for the
of the Council of the Institution, has Chief Executive and the members of
made some conspicuous contribution to the Secretariat. Without his and their
naval architecture and/or shipbuilding efforts, whether it be in regards to
and whose services and personal membership, conferences or publications,
achievements in this direction merit the Institution would certainly not be
special consideration. The Medal may the forward looking, highly respected
only be awarded to a person and not to international professional institution
an organisation or other corporate body. that it is today, with its modern outlook,
As such, it is the Institution’s highest responsive to the needs of its members
professional honour to an engineer. and the profession. On your behalf, I
The full citation for the award will be would therefore like to thank them for
published in RINA Affairs, but I am sure their efforts over the past year.
many members will be aware of Bob’s “In the face of I have so far given what I am sure you
significant contribution to both Scottish
and UK shipbuilding during his 42 year
the undoubted
would agree is a very upbeat report on the
Institution’s activities and achievements,
career which started as an apprentice
difficult times which
which provide much for us to be proud
at Fairfield Shipbuilding Company of and ample opportunity for us all to
and ended as Chairman and Managing
lay ahead, you
bang the Institution’s drum. However, it
Director of Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd.
may ask what the
would be remiss of me not to refer to the
This year saw an increase of 20 challenges which the Institution faces this
companies and organisations which have
individual member
year and beyond, arising from the impact
chosen to demonstrate their commitment
to achieving and maintaining high
can do to help”
of the global financial crisis and its effect
on the maritime industry.
professional standards in their employees As the Treasurer alluded to in his report,
by becoming Corporate Partner members the downturn in the industry’s activities
of the Institution. The number now stands safety at sea, as well as protecting the will inevitably affect all the Institution’s
at over 80 companies and organisations, environment. Over the past 12 months, sources of revenue, whether from
ranging from classification societies and the Institution continued to make a membership, advertising in its journals,
shipyards to small design consultancies, positive contribution to the work of the attendance at conferences and dividends
from including shipping companies to International Maritime Organisation from its investments. In some areas, such
equipment manufacturers, in 23 counties. in its capacity as a Non-Governmental as advertising, the impact is already being
This is yet another demonstration of both Organisation (NGO), representing felt, and in other areas, the full impact is
the internationalism and the standing of the views of the professional societies yet to be seen.
the Institution. which are members of the IMO Naval Over the past ten years, the Institution
The Institution continued to work Architecture Group. I spoke earlier of the has achieved a modest annual operating
closely with other organisation which contribution which the members of the surplus, whilst at the same time both
share the Institution’s aims and objectives Institution’s standing committees make, increasing and improving the services to
through its Agreements of Co-operation. and that applies to all the committees. members. However, if the Institution was
It was a great pleasure to renew the Nonetheless, I feel that I should make a commercial company, I would be issuing
Agreement with the Polish Society of reference to the increasing workload of a profits warning for the next year. As you
Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, the IMO Committee, which forms the would expect, the Chief Executive has
with whom the Institution shares a link between the IMO Naval Architecture taken a number of measures to maintain
joint Branch in Poland. The Institution Group and the IMO. During the year, income, as far as that is possible in the
continues to play a leading role in the members of the Committee attended current climate, and to reduce expenditure
Confederation of European Maritime all appropriate IMO Committee and in the short to medium term where that
Technology Societies, of which the Chief Sub-committee meetings, and actively can be achieved with the minimum impact
Executive is the Chairman. participated in many of the drafting and on the Institution’s ability to achieve those
Whilst naval architects do not have working groups. The Institution can take priorities which I spoke of at the start of
a patent on safety, undoubtedly they great satisfaction in its contribution to my address.
and therefore the Institution have an the work of the IMO where I believe It is too soon to accurately state what
important part to play in improving it punches well above its weight as an the impact on the Institution’s finances
Rina affairs June 2009 5
RA JUNE 09.indd 5 02/06/2009 11:59:56
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15