Perhaps one of the things I am most satisfied with is the increased general awareness of IIMS’ presence in the surveying and wider marine
industry. The prominence of brand IIMS over the past decade has grown exponentially and has opened several doors, some of which have proved to be significant. Through the Marine Surveying Academy, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Institute, we have created and delivered a high-profile quality accreditation scheme for the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) for those auditing vessels in the offshore industry. The widely accepted eCMID accreditation scheme has resulted in nearly 1,000
applications since launch in 2015. Furthermore, our unique work in the superyacht paint coating sector has brought recognition from the burgeoning superyacht sector and rewards. I refer to the Registered Marine Coatings Inspector (RMCI) standard. Our stakeholders include ICOMIA, SYBAss, and AkzoNobel.
Over that past decade I have seen five Presidents come and go and I am now well into my sixth! Each has been quite different and brought their own style to the role. I am grateful to them all, but also to the Institute’s Management Board who stood by and supported me in those challenging early years as I found my feet during what were, as I have said, parlous times indeed.
Over the decade several well-known and highly respected members (who became friends) have sadly passed away. Having to write obituaries at semi-regular intervals for people one knew and respected is not an easy task. The list has inevitably grown over the years, but those whose passing has saddened me greatly were Jeffrey Casciani-Wood, Peter Morgan, Tom Elder, Capt Mark Souter, John Excell, Capt Barry Thompson and Monday Ogadina. All are sadly missed.
Although not a technical person on any level, I have acquired boating knowledge. Now they say that a
little knowledge can be a dangerous thing! But worryingly I have learnt a great deal and feel sure I could survey a small boat and write a half decent report! Let me assure you I have no intention of doing so.
There are a number of other achievements that I would cite, and it is hard to know what order to put them in terms of importance but let me try. Knowing that IIMS is now financially stable is a comforting feeling and makes sleeping at night easier. Having the opportunity to negotiate and complete the purchase of Murrills House as the Institute’s permanent headquarters in Portchester, UK, a few years ago is something that continues to give me and my colleagues great pleasure. For the Institute to own its own property of this magnitude with history traceable back 500 years is remarkable and a huge asset for the members.
The meaningful training and courses we have developed and delivered over the years and the growth and success of our distance learning education programme are gratifying.
Maintaining a government contract with the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency to provide coding and tonnage measurement services for commercial vessels up to 24 metres has presented constant challenges, but over the past decade IIMS has sought to impose higher standards
2023
and is meticulous in the attention to detail it applies and the records it keeps in these areas.
I am immensely grateful to my colleagues, for it has truly been a team effort. Without them none of this would have been possible.
I am increasingly being asked how long I will continue in my role. I have said to the Management Board that subject to good health I am keen to go on to the age of seventy before retiring. And in case you are wondering when the process of succession planning will start, I am currently sixty-five and threequarters!
THE REPORT | DEC 2023 | ISSUE 106 | 141
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