Working Groups
Each working group has two officials i.e. a Chair and deputy. Any full member is eligible to put him/her self forward for either of these positions, the criteria being a commitment to the aims of the group and be seconded by another full member.
The concept of the groups is to enable the Institute to focus issues towards members with particular expertise and experience in that area and for groups of members to concentrate on issues that they have a particular interest in..
There is no limit to the numbers involved in a group save to say that the Council did not think that any one member should commit him/herself to more than two groups. Any member at any level can elect to be a group member and will be accepted or not by the officials of the group. The officials report any changes to personnel within the group to the secretary for updating.
Legal/Technical/Research Group
These activities have been grouped together as they will potentially complement each other on many occasions.
The principal objective of the group is to monitor actual and proposed changes to legislation, directives, etc. that may affect the "Marine Surveyor" in pursuit of his/her day to day functional tasks.
It is incumbent on group members to communicate on a regular basis to gather/pass information which may be of interest to the membership as a whole or individually. This information can then be directed either selectively or as a general internal memo through the Institute.
The main aim of the group is to provide the Institute with the necessary information, evidence to allow the Institute to attempt to influence, through consultation, any of the authoritative bodies that are proposing to make any legislative changes.
In this constant changing industry new technology is being introduced to find and define new ways of collecting, collating and disseminating information that is gathered at the time of survey in this way potentially influencing the conclusions drawn up in a report.
The group members will be responsible for briefing the Institute on any research, new equipment, developments that they have knowledge of directly or indirectly. It will also be in the groups remit to instigate research projects that are considered by the steering committee to be beneficial to the membership or to "Marine Surveying " as a whole.
Educational Working Group
The principal aim of the educational working group is to introduce learning courses, set examinations and up-date such courses on subjects relating to "Marine Surveying" in all its disciplines.
In this way individuals through the Institute are able to prove their professional skills within this aspect of the marine industry. The group will be responsible for proposing and promoting standards by way of Codes of Practice/Guidelines. The group will attempt to assist members who have the knowledge and skills but not the writing, publishing ability. The Institute is in a position to assist in all ways to help any member to get into print on any marine topic not just surveying as the Institute is there to support its members.
This group will also monitor the "C.P.D." (continuing professional development) programme.
Small/Leisure Craft Working Group
The principal aim of this group is to promote the specialist needs within this particular field of surveying. It is paramount that the surveyors involved in this field recognise the need for the client to have full confidence in his professional abilities particularly as these surveyors are generally appointed by private individuals with a vested direct interest in the survey being carried out.
To promote improved standards for the survey of small craft within the Institute Codes of Practice
It is incumbent on members within this group to monitor the activities of surveyors to encourage feed-back on practices, good and bad The group must seek to set standards of working practice m this field from first point contact with a client to final report (Institute QA?).
Dry/Bulk/Container Shipping Group
The principal aim of this group is to monitor activities and developments within the dry/bulk/container trades to give feed-back to the Institute office on matters international, national and local that will affect or be of interest to members active within this field. The group will assess the impact that any changes, developments that are happening within this market may have on the marine surveying profession and relay this to the Institute.
The principal aim of this group is to monitor the activities and developments in this constantly changing field of the industry. The tanker trade in particular has been over pressurised of late with rules, regulations, conventions and directives such that the "Surveyor" has to be constantly vigilante. The group will work towards stimulating contact and so feed-back to the Institute between members.
European Advisory Committee
This committee was set up to give the Institute a facility to concentrate on "lobbying " the European Commission Directorates General which have responsibilities for marine matters and affairs.
The basis of the lobbying is to achieve its "missions and goals" as laid out in the proposals document presented to the Commission in December 1997. (Copies available from the secretary)
This committee will work with MEPS and commission officials who show an interest in our aims and who offer support, in this way forging a direct link with the Commission Directorates.
The committee is made up of member state representatives under the guidance of one of the Institutes European vice Presidents working with the Institute President and the secretary.
It will be the groups direct responsibility to:-
i) convene regular strategy meetings with Institute members from member states.
ii) report back to the Institute Steering Council on developments and actions.
iii) set up regular meetings with Commission Directorates to continually put our case forward.
Institute members wishing to have a point raised at any of the meetings must put this in writing to the secretary.