Achievements Networking Opportunities
Members are kept informed through SMI’s e‐mail alerts with news from our web site and ‘tweets’. This Handbook and Directory is widely distributed to potential customers and stakeholders throughout the world, and the members’ listing at the rear of the publication provides a brief snapshot of the information available on the web site.
In February 2016 SMI’s Annual Conference was organised in the maritime city of Kingston upon Hull. The overall conference theme was entitled UK Maritime Engineering: Exploring business opportunities in a diverse sector. The conference was opened by former minister and local MP, the Rt Hon Alan Johnson, and as usual the speakers came from the highest echelons of industry and government to talk on the three themes of autonomy, offshore maritime engineering and the Strategic Defence and Security Review. The industrial visit organised prior to the conference was to the UK’s largest power station, Drax, to see how it was reducing its carbon footprint through its innovative adoption of biomass fuel. As usual the conference breakout sessions provided an ideal opportunity to network amongst the many senior level delegates who attended.
Our annual dinner this year returned to the historic and iconic House of Commons Members’ Dining Room. SMI President, Archie Bethel, and SMI Chairman, Peter French, welcomed members and their guests to the dinner. The guest of honour was intrepid round‐ the‐world yachtsman, Sir Robin Knox‐Johnston, who entertained diners with an enthralling account of his first record breaking journey around the globe.
SMI’s Annual General Meeting lunch was held once again at Coopers’ Hall, courtesy of SMI Vice Chairman, Mr Duncan Cunningham, who is a ‘Cooper’. The packed room heard a fascinating account of polar research by Dr Huw Griffiths, Biogeographer with the British Antarctic Survey, who also provided the context for the new polar research ship, RRS Sir David Attenborough, currently under construction. As usual, the convivial surroundings enhanced the networking over excellent food and wine!
Sir David Attenborough and SMI Board Member John Syvret at the keel laying of the new £150million polar research vessel
The launch of the SMI interest group in MAS was marked by a pecial reception at Oceanology International 2016 at ExCel in March 2016, which attracted a large gathering and from across the MAS community and led to a number of new members!
A regular and valuable source of contact between members across all of SMI’s interest groups is the member only discussion meetings arranged in our boardroom. These are held with invited speakers around a particular business topic and generate opportunities for members to develop informal business collaborations. A new initiative, which is proving popular, organised by the ports and terminals Council, has been a “Members’ Showcase” when, to deepen the memberships’ knowledge of one another as a possible source of opportunities for new business, two or three members present on their capabilities prior to an open discussion. This has led to further business co‐operation and assists in developing SMI's community of purpose. As these events are not on our open calendar they are the ‘hidden’ benefit of being a member of SMI.
Members’ Services
Members are able to enjoy the free use of the 20 seat board room in SMI’s headquarters, which is in a prestigious location in the heart of the City of London. Whether it is meeting clients from other parts of the UK or overseas or bringing together personnel from around the UK, our facility is ideal and has been well used during the year.
Our web portal continues to be at the core of the information stream we provide for our members, who are also able to have their news releases and newsletters published on the web site thereby increasing their footprint on the internet. The team of experts within SMI are also a valuable source of information for companies wishing to explore new markets or find their way through the labyrinthine process of selling into the domestic defence business!
Sir Robin Knox‐Johnston entertaining the diners at the SMI Annual Dinner
10 Society of Maritime Industries Handbook & Members’ Directory 2017
Our full seminar programme has covered topics such as “Where next with sensors for marine applications?”; “Type Approval and the EU Marine Equipment Directive (MED)”; “The environmental issues relevant to the development and operation of ports and
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 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60