The IIMS is a membership lead organisation with an elected President and Vice President who are members of the Institute Management Board.

The Institute Management Board is made up of elected members of the Institute who take responsibility for the various areas of responsibility within the Institute. (These areas are listed under current officials).

The Management Board meet four times a year and in accordance with the Constitution set the policy and direction for the Institute.

The Institute is managed by the Chief Executive Officer and a staff at the IIMS Head office.

Members of the Institute may attend Board Meetings as observers. In accordance with procedures members wishing to attend must apply to the CEO in the first instance. Members may be invited by an elected member of the Management Board to attend a meeting if their experience is considered necessary for a particular subject or item on the Agenda.

The Membership of the Institute will receive a quarterly magazine the ”Report” and a monthly newsletter by email. Other communications may be sent out by the IIMS Head office as required.

The IIMS seeks to act as an umbrella organisation for all marine surveying organisations worldwide.  The IIMS will seek to ally itself to each organisation to provide the following consolidated view of the profession:

That marine surveyors have a voice at the IMO, National Governments and at conferences and seminars
That the marine surveying profession is recognised world-wide as a professional occupation.