A group of nearly 20 surveyors met in Athens on 9/10 January for the first IIMS Large Yacht & Small Craft training event of the New Year since the formation of the expanded group. Despite unusually cold, at times sub-zero temperatures coupled with some unwelcome snow, the group braved the elements on the second day taking to a local marina to practice the art of tonnage measuring.
The training day was hosted by Yannis Stratis and IIMS is most grateful to him and his colleagues for their support and hospitality. The venue was the well-appointed Lloyd’s Register offices opposite Piraeus port.
The first day was entirely classroom based training with a couple of IIMS members joining the training event by Zoom video conferencing. After opening speeches and introductions from John Excell, IIMS Chairman of Large Yacht & Small Craft, and Yannis, Mike Schwarz presented the very latest news about the IIMS and its activities.
Yannis presented on mini ISM (International Safety Management) schemes for large yachts, explaining how it works and what is required. He followed up with some information on classification and flag surveys.
Expert insurance broker, Paul Winter, whose company Winter & Co insures a number of members for Professional Indemnity gave two presentations either side of lunch. The main theme was obtaining PI insurance and reducing the risk of claims.
Jon Sharland from Tritex NDT, manufacturers and distributors of ultrasonic gauges, joined the meeting by video conferencing and presented information about how the gauges work and what they do, including a session on GRP thickness gauges.
John Excell presented a refresher on report writing, the surveyor’s intellectual property and gave some useful tips and reminders on how to make sure this most of vital of documents is well presented with relevant content.
It fell to Mike Schwarz to close the day with three whistle stop presentations on business management skills, including cashflow management, how to give good customer service and simple marketing tips.
Day two in Athens dawned with snowy, slippery pavements and a concern over whether or not it would be possible to conduct the practical training planned for later in the day. But a bright sun melted the worst of the snow. John Excell talked at length about tonnage measurements, the theory behind how to do them and how to complete the IIMS tonnage form. He followed this presentation with a short one on the IIMS Certifying Authority and the work that is undertaken by coding surveyors.
After lunch the group headed for a local marina and spent a couple of hours engaged in performing tonnage measurements on two yachts and one motorboat, putting into practice all they had learnt from he morning session.
Feedback from those who attended has been very positive and the group looks forward to the next event.
