News from The Nautical Institute

End mariners’ disenfranchisement says new Nautical Institute President

A pledge to provide direct input from seafarers to debates at the International Maritime Organization and to strive to counter mariners’ feelings of disenfranchisement from society was delivered by The Nautical Institute’s new President Captain James Robinson DSM FNI Irish Navy (Retd).

At his election to head up the international professional membership organization for seafarers Captain Robinson said there was “clear evidence” of the feelings of this disenfranchisement in the increasing trend to criminalize seafarers involved in bona fide accidents at sea.

He highlighted the need for the industry to counter ill-informed comment on shipping casualties by politicians, some media and general public, and indicated that the Institute will continue to work with other like-minded international bodies to ensure that abuses of the Fair Treatment Guidelines are highlighted at the IMO and in the media generally.

“The response must highlight the importance of a full and speedy casualty investigation and the need to avoid prejudging the matter until after the investigation and legal process are complete,” he said. “Above all, lessons must be learned to improve safety.”

He added that increasing and expanding the Institute’s membership will amplify the voice of the mariner at the highest decision making forums.

Captain Robinson is the first non-British President and has only recently retired from the Irish Navy. He took up his post after election at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting held in Ringaskiddy, Co. Cork, succeeding Captain Richard Coates FNI, as President for a two year term of office.

Meeting at the National Maritime College of Ireland, members also elected Captain Sivaraman Krishnamurthi FNI, a former tanker Master and now Vice-President (Operations) for Sanmar Shipping in Chennai, India as Senior Vice-President.

In his inaugural address, the new President paid tribute to the successful and hard working Presidency of Captain Coates. Achievements included the Institute’s election as an NGO with consultative status at the IMO, a major revision of membership structure and criteria and a wide range of other work on professional issues. All this was driven by the Strategic Plan derived from the input of the membership via the President’s Questionnaire.

“This is a fine example of how the individual voice of the member can be the final arbiter when difficult decisions are being taken at the highest levels in the Institute,” observed Captain Robinson. He noted that an initial task of his Presidency will be the development of the new Strategic Plan for 2011 – 2015.
Addressing maritime issues in Ireland, the President said he hopes to stimulate debate. He said: “I see the Nautical Institute adding its considerable prestige to the voice of what I like to call the wider maritime community on this island, a community which for various reasons does not carry the political influence which one might expect in an island nation.

“Issues which come to mind are the requirement for an alternative navigation system to complement GPS and the status of the navy within the Defense Forces.”

Turning to the continuing internationalization of the Institute he urged the branches worldwide to increase their membership utilizing the new, inclusive membership criteria to attract maritime professionals from all sectors of the industry in their representative body.

Biography of Captain James Robinson DSM FNI Irish Navy (Retd) new President of The Nautical Institute

Captain Robinson retired as Officer Commanding, Naval Operations Command and Second in Command Naval Service, where his duties included command of the Irish naval fleet in August 2009. He had been a mariner for 42 years, including 36 years in the Irish Navy and six years in Irish Shipping. Service with Irish Shipping included a cadetship and periods as Third and Second Officer. He was commissioned into the navy in 1973.

His naval career comprised many appointments afloat and ashore and included nine years in command at sea. He served for two years in the Lebanon, Sinai Desert and Egypt as a UN Military Observer and as a staff officer. He also served for a year in Vienna as a military planner for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He is a graduate of the Command and Staff School of the Military College.

In 1985 while in command of LE Aisling he was On-Scene Commander for the first 18 hours of the search and recovery operation in the aftermath of the crash of Air India Flight 182, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal together with three members of his ship’s company.

He has been a Vice-President of the Nautical Institute since 2002 and was elected Senior Vice-President at the 2008 AGM, serving on the Institute’s Council and on its Finance and General Purposes Committee. He gained a Harbour Master Certificate and a Management Diploma through the Institute’s Distance Learning Program.
He is a past Chairman of the Ireland Branch and was among a small group of people who re-activated the branch with its core based in Cork around the Nautical College and the navy.

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The Nautical Institute revises membership criteria for the 21st century

One of the world’s leading professional membership organizations has issued a challenge to those working in the maritime world to help be a force for change.

The Nautical Institute has announced a major revision of membership criteria to include all those in control of sea-going ships and those who support them. The initiative was unanimously approved by the Institute’s annual general meeting in Cork.

“This acknowledges that in the 21st century there are more than seafarers working to support those in control of sea-going ships,” said the Institute’s Chief Executive, Philip Wake. “It is necessary to recognize that the safe operation of shipping, whether commercial or naval, is now, or should be, an integration of the command team on board and the management ashore.”

“This will open up membership to those with operational level qualifications or those in sectors such as offshore, coast guard, port operations, and the management team ashore. We call on them to join and help make a difference to the way ships are operated.”

He continued: “Membership of The Nautical Institute will help all qualified seafarers keep up with new technology and regulations, and thanks to our new NGO status at IMO we can give members a direct line to that agency’s decision making.”

There are other benefits too. With membership of 6,500 in over 110 countries and over 40 branches, there are many opportunities for networking and to improve job prospects. “There is also the question of professional recognition,” added Mr Wake. “Increasingly employers are demanding membership of a professional organization and often cite the Institute as an example of this.”

The new criteria are designed to welcome all maritime professionals with qualifications directly into full Membership (MNI) and to recognize professional development beyond paper qualifications. As a result, all qualified sea-going officers will be eligible to join as will pilots, harbourmasters, VTS personnel, Designated Persons and other shore based managers, professional yachtmasters, marine surveyors, maritime lawyers, and maritime health and welfare professionals. A new grade of Associate Fellow (AFNI) has been introduced to recognize professional development to command of sea-going ships; other senior positions at sea, such as Chief Officer and Chief Engineer; and those who have attained senior management positions ashore. Those undertaking initial education and training for a maritime career will be encouraged to join as Associate Members (AMNI) as will ratings, boatmasters and other non-management level personnel.

Full details of the new grades and criteria are available from the Institute’s website: www.nautinst.org where an application form may also be downloaded. An online application process is also being developed.