2010 AGM

Engineers and the Serbian Society of Naval Architects. The Institution continues to play a leading role in the Confederation of European Maritime Technology Societies, of which the Chief Executive is the Chairman. Whilst naval architects do not have a

patent on safety, undoubtedly they and therefore the Institution have an important part to play in improving safety at sea, as well as protecting the environment. During the past three years, the Institution has increased the positive contribution to the work of the International Maritime Organisation which it makes in its capacity as a Non-Governmental Organisation, representing the views of the professional societies which are members of the IMO Naval Architecture Group. I spoke earlier of the contribution which the members of the Institution’s standing committees make, and that applies to all the committees. Nonetheless, I feel that I should make reference to the increasing workload of the IMO Committee, which forms the link between the IMO Naval Architecture Group and the IMO. During the past three years, members of the Committee attended an increasing number of IMO Committee, Sub-committee meetings, and actively participated in many of the draſting and working groups. Tey are of course supported by the Institution’s standing technical committees. The Institution can take great satisfaction in its contribution to the work of the IMO where I believe it punches well above its weight as an NGO, and where its contribution is both recognised and valued. Te Institution has also become a member of the International Standards Organisation. Te past three years have not been without

its challenges to the Institution, as indeed they have for many sectors and companies of the maritime industry and community. As you would expect, the downturn in the industry’s activities in the wake of the global financial crisis has had an inevitable and adverse affect all the Institution’s sources of revenue, whether from membership, advertising in its journals, attendance at conferences and dividends from its investments. Over years, the Institution has normally achieved a modest annual operating

RINA Affairs May 2010

Stephen Payne – President of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

surplus, whilst at the same time both increasing and improving the services to members, achieving a value for money which I am sure many larger organisation would envy. Keeping membership fee increases to a minimum has contributed to this value. For those members who consider membership fees and conference delegate rates to be high, I would suggest a comparison with those of other professional societies and commercially organised conferences. Te Institution faces no little challenge over the next few years in maintaining the level of financial resources which it needs if it is to continue the increase in services to members and it activities which have been such a feature of recent years, and which I believe are essential. However, that is not code for cuts in services and increases in taxes! In the face of the undoubted difficult

times which lay ahead, you may ask what the individual member can do to help. I make no apology for repeating what I said at this time last year. As at any time, but perhaps more necessary at this time, members should seek to promote the Institution – to bang the Institution’s drum. Do you have engineering colleagues who are directly involved in the design, construction and maintenance of

marine structures, regardless of whether they are naval architects, who are not members? Do you have colleagues who are not engineers but who are involved or interested in the design, construction and maintenance of marine structures? Would your company benefit from being a Corporate Partner member of the Institution? Would your company benefit from a graduate training programme? Would your company benefit from its employees attending the Institution’s conferences? Would your company benefit promoting its product or services through the Institution’s publications and conferences? Are your 2010 membership fees still outstanding? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, please contact the Chief Executive who will do the rest in his usual persuasive manner. As I am sure you would agree, this is a great institution – please let the world know – or at least those parts that are not already aware. As I said at the start of my address, I

have described the achievements over the past three years, not to claim credit, but to illustrate the scope and scale of the Institution’s achievements. However, I am quite sure that my predecessors could equally well have reported a similar level of change over their terms of office, reflecting the forward looking, responsive organisation that is the Royal Institution of Naval Architects of today. My three years as President have been

three most enjoyable three years, not least to be so closely involved with the changes and achievements I have described. It has undoubtedly been a great honour and a privilege to be the Institution’s 29th President. I wish Peter French every success during his term of office as its 30th, and the only advice I would offer is that given by my predecessor _ to enjoy the honour and forget about the trepidation. You now have the opportunity to

become involved through the general discussion on the Institution which traditionally follows this address. Te floor is yours.”

Photographs

Photos taken at the 2010 AGM may be viewed and downloaded online at ht tp://picasaweb.google.com/ RINAPhotographs

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