2010 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

if the Institution is fulfil that important role of providing a focus between the individual, academia and the maritime industry. At the same time, of course, the Institution has continued to promote and facilitate the exchange of information and discussion through its international publications, conferences and website – its mission statement in 1860, and no less relevant 150 years later in 2010. Over the past three years, the

membership of the Institution has increased each year, and in total by just under 10%. It is now once again at its highest level at any time in the Institution’s history. I paid tribute earlier to the contribution

made by the members of Branch Committees. For many members worldwide, the opportunity to meet with other maritime professionals at local Branch meetings represents one of the greatest benefits of membership. Over the past three years, new branches and sections have been formed in Italy, Poland Cyprus, Australia, India and China. All the Institution’s branches and sections have had active programmes of technical meetings and other activities. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Institution to thank those members who give willingly and freely of their time to serve on the Branch and Section Committees. Without their efforts such activities would not take place. Troughout the past three years, the

Institution has continued to improve the way in which it promotes and facilitates the exchange of information and discussion _

as it has done since it was founded in 1860 _ through its international publications, conferences and today, increasingly through the website. Promoting and facilitating the exchange

and discussion of technical and scientific information in 1860 was achieved primarily through the publication of papers in the Transactions _ 15 papers published in Volume 1 _ and by their presentation at a meeting in London – the Institution’s first conference perhaps. Today, the Institution’s much respected international conferences are an important part of enabling that exchange of information and discussion. Over

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the past three years, the Institution has organised or co-organised 61 conferences and training courses _ an increase of

nearly 20% over the previous three years _ expanding their scope and location, both to meet the changing professional needs of its members and others, and to make them more available. Over the past three years, the Institution’s conferences have been organised in the UK, Italy, France, Belgium, Greece, India, Korea, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, China and Japan – what better demonstration of the internationalism of the Institution? Over the last three years, the Institution’s

leading international technical journals were again distributed in over 100 countries, providing the access to up-to-date information that is vital to the professional success of both individuals and companies. During this time, online digital versions of the journals were introduced. This extension of the journals is essential if they are to remain competitive in the modern media era. Year on year, the Annual Accounts show

the importance of the income which the Institution derives from its publications, and particularly its journals. Te Institution is grateful for the work of the editorial staff in maintaining such high quality and to the advertising sales and production staff whose efforts ensure the commercial success of the journals. I spoke earlier of the priority which the

Institution has given over the past three years to encouraging the involvement of the younger members of the naval architecture profession in the Institution’s activities. It achieves this though student membership, sponsored places at the Institution’s conferences, and its prizes and awards which recognise the achievement of students and graduates. Over the past three years, nine new awards have been presented at universities in the UK, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, India and France, joining those already presented in UK, Italy, Poland, France, Canada, Korea Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and China. Tese awards and conference places at

conferences are sponsored by local industry, and the Institution is grateful to all those companies whose sponsorship makes this possible. Te Institution continually seeks

to extend these and other awards, which provide a valuable link between industry and universities. The Institution has continued to

develop its links with universities and colleges through the membership of students and staff, with such links now at more than 60 universities and colleges worldwide. During the past three years, the Institution accredited or reaccredited 32 academic courses that met the Institution’s requirements for membership, in universities in the UK, Malta, Serbia, Egypt, Singapore, India and New Zealand, again reflecting the internationalism of the Institution. Tat such organisations should seek endorsement of their courses by the Institution is yet another example of the standing which the Institution enjoys in the international maritime community. Te Institution also continued to give

guidance and assistance to Graduate members in achieving the necessary Initial Professional Development to become Corporate members of the Institution. An increasing number of Graduate member workshops were held during the past three years and the Institution assisted an increasing number of companies in producing Graduate Training Programmes of which 16 were subsequently accredited. It is reassuring that more companies are recognising both the necessity and value of being able to offer graduates such opportunity for career development. During the past three years, 37 companies

and organisations chose to demonstrate their commitment to achieving and maintaining high professional standards by their employees by becoming Corporate Partner members of the Institution. Te number now stands at over 80 companies and organisations, ranging from classification societies and shipyards to small design consultancies in 25 counties. Tis is yet another demonstration of both the internationalism and the standing of the Institution. The Institution continued to work

closely with other organisations which share the Institution’s aims and objectives through its Agreements of Co-operation. In the past three years, such agreements have been signed with the Turkish Society of Naval Architects and Marine

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