PRESIDENT’S COLUMN


Dear Colleagues and Fellow Maritime Professionals


The IIMS one-day London Conference for commercial ship marine surveyors on 13th May was a resounding success. It was heartening to see such a strong turnout, with many attendees expressing interest in becoming members of our Institute. The quality of discussion was high, and the overall energy in the conference reflected the growing recognition of the vital role surveyors play in shaping the maritime industry. Our collective thanks to Stuart Edmonston and the UK P&I Club for graciously hosting us at their offices.


In my address, I highlighted how surveyors are presently appointed, and how there may be an opportunity to


leverage the IIMS’ collective proficiency with insurers and P&I Clubs. Such collaboration would not only serve the industry but ultimately benefit the seafarer, who can be assured that his or her safety is being safeguarded by the most competent person available for appointment. This, I believe, is an important direction for us to consider as we strengthen the profession’s credibility and relevance.


Mike, in his editorial introduction, has rightly reminded us that technology is evolving at a dizzying pace, whether in the form of electric propulsion, 3D printing, or the challenges posed by lithium-ion batteries. To this, I would add that artificial intelligence and large language models are beginning to disrupt many industries - and ours will


be no exception. As marine surveyors, we must explore how to use these tools responsibly and effectively, ensuring we keep pace with the industries we serve.


On that note, I recently had the opportunity to moderate a session on AI at the Maritime Trainers Guild in Delhi on 2nd August. The audience included regulators from the Directorate General of Shipping and, notably, representatives of all the major training institutions in India. The discussions confirmed that AI is no longer a distant concept, but an imminent reality in maritime training and operations.


Looking ahead, I am particularly excited about the IIMS India Conference in just


THE REPORT | SEP 2025 | ISSUE 113 | 5


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