Code of professional conduct (extract from IMarEST By-laws)

Corporate Members shall at all times so order their conduct as to uphold the dignity and reputation of their profession; and to safeguard the public interest in matters of safety, health and the environment or otherwise. They shall exercise their professional skill and judgement to the best of their ability, and discharge their professional responsibilities with integrity. All members of any category shall order their conduct so as to uphold the dignity and reputation of the Institute and shall observe the provisions on the Charters and these By-laws. By-law 19.

The Board of Trustees may delete from the Roll the name of any member who shall wilfully have acted in contravention of the By-Laws of the Institute or who shall, in the opinion of the Board of Trustees, have been guilty of such conduct as shall have rendered the member unfit to continue to belong to the Institute.
By-law 28

All Members
A member shall be deemed guilty of improper conduct if in the opinion of a disciplinary committee appointed by the Council, such conduct is considered to be in breach of By-Laws 19 and 28 or of these rules of professional conduct.

Any member who is convicted by a competent tribunal of a criminal or civil offence shall be deemed guilty of improper conduct if a disciplinary committee appointed by the Council is of the opinion that the offence merits removal from the Roll.

No member shall maliciously or recklessly injure or attempt to injure the reputation of another person.

A member having been declared bankrupt or having made a composition with creditors may be deemed guilty of improper conduct if in the opinion of a disciplinary committee appointed by the Council the member is prevented from undertaking professional duties consistent with the standards of membership of the Institute.

Except when authorised to do so in the national or public interest by legally constituted government members shall neither do anything nor permit anything under their authority to be done, the probable consequences of which, in their professional judgement, would be to endanger human life or safety or the environment or expose valuable property to the risk of destruction or serious damage.

In respect of their professional relationship with employers or clients, members shall:

1. disclose any profits, benefits or interests they may have in any matter in which they are engaged on their behalf.
2. neither communicate to any person or publish any information or matter communicated to them in confidence by a client or employer without the express authority of that client or employer.

Those members who are resident in a country other than the UK shall order their conduct according to these rules so far a they are applicable, but where there are recognised standards of professional conduct in their country of residence, they shall adhere to them. In connection with work in a country other than their own country of residence, members shall adhere to any recognised standards of professional conduct in the country for or in which the work is being carried out.

Corporate (professional) Members

In discharging their professional duties, Corporate Members:

1. should satisfy themselves as to the extent of those duties and if in doubt obtain such clarification or confirmation as is necessary to satisfy themselves as to their extent before entering upon them and shall not accept professional obligations which they have not sufficient competence to perform.
2. shall accept personal responsibility for all work done by them or under their supervision or direction, and shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that persons working under their authority are competent to carry out the tasks assigned to them and that they accept personal responsibility for work done under the authority delegated to them.
3. shall, when called upon to give an opinion in their professional capacity, give an opinion that is objective and reliable to the best of their ability.
4. shall, when their professional advice is not accepted, take all reasonable steps to ensure that the person over-ruling or neglecting such advice is aware of the danger which they believe may result from such over-ruling or neglect.

Corporate Members shall be prepared reasonably to further the education and training of candidates for Corporate membership of the Institute.

Corporate Members shall not, unreasonably, attempt to supplant another marine professional; nor shall they intervene or attempt to intervene in or in connection with work of any kind which to their knowledge has already been entrusted to another marine professional without first advising that person of their intentions.

Corporate Members shall not improperly solicit work as independent advisers or consultants, either directly or by an agent, nor shall they pay any person, by commission or otherwise, for the introduction of such work.

Corporate Members shall not be the medium of payment made on their employer's behalf unless so requested by their employer; nor shall they in connection with work on which they are employed place contracts or orders except with the authority of and on behalf of their employer.