Achievements of the Society of Maritime Industries
The Chairman of SMI, Russell Gould, and the Chief Executive also serve on the Maritime UK governing Council.
The above engagement ensures SMI plays a key role in representing to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department for Transport (DfT), Ministry of Defence and Her Majesty’s Treasury the business interests of members and we maintain a leading position on a variety of fronts. The SMI Chief Executive is also a member of the cross‐Whitehall Maritime Strategy Committee, chaired by the DfT, which overseas many of the recommendations in the Maritime Growth Strategy. Until the 2019 General Election, SMI maintained links with the House of Commons through its Honorary Vice Presidents: Mr Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour), Ms Carol Monaghan (Scottish Nationalist Party) and Mrs Sheryll Murray (Conservative). We are grateful to them for their assistance and interest in our affairs throughout the year. These links enable us to ensure we have access to all levels of government and parliament and we hope to re‐establish them in 2020.
In addition to those mentioned above, SMI maintains influence on an extensive number of bodies that have bearing on the maritime sector. The list includes, but is not restricted to the Defence Industries Council, attended by the SMI President, Archie Bethel CBE, and SMI’s MDSG Council Director; the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee; the All‐Party Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group; the All‐Party Parliamentary Group on Shipbuilding and Ship Repair; the All‐Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions; the Foundation for Science & Technology; and the SME Group of the Defence Suppliers’ Forum.
Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) technology is of major interest to policymakers and industry alike within the UK and the national programme is driven by a joint industry/government Steering Group, chaired by the SMI’s Chief Executive. A large number of SMI members are involved with this programme and James Fanshawe chairs the MAS Regulatory Working Group (MASRWG) which has been taking a leading international role in seeking a sensible regulatory framework for the use of this technology. The MASRWG has authored the much lauded Code of Practice for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), which was published in its third iteration towards the end of 2019 and broadened to include the previously separate Code of Good Conduct for industry. The annual international conference of the MASRWG takes place each January and has gone from strength to strength.
This year will see the first SMI autonomy challenge for university teams, MAChallenge. Organised by the members of the MASG Council and sponsored by the leading industry players in maritime autonomy, universities from across the country are being encouraged to bid for a place in the finals, which will take place at the Calshot Activities Centre on the Solent in June 2020. This event will be an ideal opportunity for budding technologists to demonstrate their skills before an industry keen to employ those skills on their graduation!
Continuing on the theme of nurturing the skills for tomorrow, the SMI marine science and technology Council, has been taking steps
12 Society of Maritime Industries Handbook & Members’ Directory 2020
to develop an apprenticeship qualification aimed at the smaller AUV/SUV platforms and need electronic, electrical, mechanical, telecoms and network skills to build, develop and operate. SMI will be looking at similar developments for emerging skill requirements in the ensuing year.
This considerable activity by SMI ensures all member companies, of whatever size, can access support for their business development and thereby maintain their technology lead in the global market.
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.
The Annual SMI Conference provides an ideal networking environment and the 2019 conference was held in the splendid surroundings of Portsmouth Guildhall in February. The topic which drew a wide range of delegates was “The UK Maritime Enterprise: Implementing a national shipbuilding strategy”. As usual for the SMI conference, speakers came from the highest echelons of industry, government and academia including the then First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Philip Jones, and Harry Theochari, Chairman of Maritime UK. The conference reception and dinner was held on the gun‐deck of HMS Warrior and the guest of honour was Vice Admiral Sir Simon Lister, who entertained us with a most inspiring address.
Last year our annual dinner switched from the historic and iconic House of Commons Members’ Dining Room to the equally iconic House of Lords. A sell out evening once again included guided tours of the Palace of Westminster and guests were welcomed by the SMI President, Archie Bethel CBE, and the SMI Chairman, Russell Gould. The guest of honour was to have been a Member of Parliament but the calling of the General Election precluded his attendance and at the eleventh hour we were fortunate that the Revd Canon Andrew Wright, Secretary‐General to the Mission to Seafarers, agreed to step in with an erudite and entertaining address.
SMI host Annual Dinner at the House of Lords
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