When I took the role of CEO with the International Institute of Marine Surveying, nothing could have prepared me for the sheer variety of the work. Of course we are engaged in membership services, but then there is the area of our education programme and finally our specialist work as an MCA approved Certifying Authority – each quite different and demanding in their own way.
Last week, the MCA came to our offices for the annual audit, Clearly this was on the back of an indifferent audit in 2013. So it is pleasing to report that we have been given a much improved report and praised for the strides we have made in the past year. Well done to Carol (CA Administrator) and the CA committee for their sterling work.
The new websites (this site) went live a month or so ago. It is great to report a positive feedback from all those who have ‘touched’ the site so far. The number of visitors to the site has been very pleasing – far ahead of my expectations – and already we are well optimised for search engines and, as a result, are popping up all over Google.
Last week the revitalised and re-energised Western Mediterranean Small Craft Working Group held a training day in Palma, which seems to have been enjoyed by all. Next week I am going to join the Small Craft Working Group training day in Scotland under the chairmanship of Tom Elder. Very much looking forward to meeting Tom and some IIMS members north of the border.
My best wishes go to the IIMS Indian branch for their conference later this week in Kolkata.
Quickly putting on my other hat for a moment. The Registered Marine Coatings Inspectors qualification being run by MSA on behalf of the IIMS is doing well. We filled the first course in Amsterdam in early December and the second course, scheduled for Southampton in January 2015, is also nearly full. On the back of our involvement with the superyacht coatings business, I now find myself invited to attend the Superyacht Builders Association working group meeting in Amsterdam soon. The following week I return to that great European city once more to give a short presentation on the RMCI qualification to delegates at the International Superyacht Conference.
No-one could ever say that being CEO of the IIMS was a boring job!
All the best.
Mike Schwarz
