HRH The Princess Royal will be the principal guest and speaker at The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) 104th and Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) joint Annual Dinner on Friday 9 March 2007.
“We are delighted that Her Royal Highness, one of our most recent Honorary Fellows, will be speaking at the first joint Annual Dinner of IMarEST and SUT that brings together over 700 engineers, scientists and technologists from 20 countries involved in all aspects of the maritime profession,” says Keith Read CBE, IMarEST’s Chief Executive. “This was already destined to be something of a milestone event for our two organisations and their members; having HRH The Princess Royal with us, and speaking at the dinner, will make it a highly memorable evening for us all.
“During the course of the evening Her Royal Highness; the Government’s Chief Scientist, Sir David King; and Efthimios Mitropoulos the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization will be receiving their certification of Honorary Fellowship .”
The Presidents of both IMarEST and SUT will speak at the Dinner, which is being held at the Grosvenor House in London’s Park Lane. Dr David (‘Wyn’) Wynford Williams CB, PhD, CMarEng, CPhys, FIMarEST, FInstP, The National Hydrographer 2001-2006 will take over the Presidency of IMarEST from David Cobb at the Institute’s AGM on 8 March, becoming IMarEST’s 105 th President. Mike Leece OBE, CEng, CMarEng, FSUT, FIMarEST, Chief Executive of the National Marine Aquarium is SUT’s President.
A healthy and growing institute
As well as presenting all three new Honorary Fellows of the Institute with their certificates, Wyn Williams, the first scientist to be President of IMarEST, will explain that: “I am certainly taking over as President of an extremely healthy Institute. Our membership numbers are growing, and I am glad to say that our increasing numbers include both marine engineers and scientists and it is encouraging that our growth is at the young end of the spectrum, and internationally too, with well over half our members based outside the UK. To continue that demographic change and global reach, we have a membership drive underway that we confidently expect will boost membership over the coming years.
“It is not only with members and soon-to-be members that we are increasing our reach and influence, but through our increasing input to Government Bills and consultations and involvement with IMO, IOC and other key organisations. This emphasis will continue throughout the coming year. I can see I am going to have a busy, but thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding time in office. I am looking forward to every minute of it!
MOU signing with Nautical Institute
He will also announce a major step forward in the alliances that IMarEST continues to seek with the many institutions and societies that represent marine engineers, scientists, technologists and designers: “In addition to our very productive links with RINA (including Joint Branches) we are in the process of signing an MOU with the Nautical Institute, which seeks to bind our organisations closer together; and which includes moves towards joint branches, common seminars and events, and commonality of administrative functions. We have made significant progress towards an MOU with the Challenger Society, and we are exploring closer ties with many other marine organisations.
“We believe close liaison between these many organisations is necessary to build a unified, clear maritime voice and forum and standards all around the world on behalf of our members – and nowhere is that more necessary than in the UK. WE may not build too many ships here right now, but we are still a maritime nation, into and out of which 95% of all our goods are transported by sea. We are a medium-sized island, struggling to afford a Navy, struggling with energy provision, and vulnerable to flooding and climate change effects. We need the highest level of visibility and public understanding for maritime affairs.”
“The SUT is delighted to take part for the first time in this dinner, marking a further advance in bringing the marine engineering, science and technology sector together for the benefit of all,” says Ian Gallett, the Society’s Executive Secretary. “We are particularly delighted that HRH The Princess Royal will be the guest of honour as HRH The Duke of Edinburgh was also a President of the Society from 1975 to 1976."
Further information on the Dinner is available from www.imarest.org or Sarah Alexander, Events Department, IMarEST, 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2636; Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2667; Email: sarah.alexander@imarest.org.
About IMarEST
The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology has as its principal objective, the promotion of marine engineering, marine science and marine technology. An international organisation with over 14,500 members in 102 countries (53% overseas), the Institute has as its Patron Her Majesty The Queen and the senior Honorary Fellow and Past President of the Institute is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
“HRH The Duke of Edinburgh has had a long association with the Institute,” explains Keith Read. “He accepted the invitation to become an Hon Fellow in 1949, and was IMarEST’s President in 1962, and earlier last year was the opening speaker at, and Patron of, the World Maritime Technology Conference hosted and organised by the Institute and held in London.”
Other Hon Fellows of IMarEST are Rt. Hon The Lord Sterling of Plaistow CBE (1992), Dr Jim Cowley CBE FREng (1992), Brian Hildrew CBE FREng (1992), Jolyon E Sloggett OBE CEng (1998), David R Cusdin CEng (2002), Vice Admiral Sir Robert Hill KBE FREng (2002), Lord Greenway (2004), Sir John Parker KB, FREng (2004), Alan H Taylor OMA CEng (2004) and Michael Grey MBE (2005).
About SUT
The Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) is a multi-disciplinary learned society that brings together organisations and individuals with a common interest in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering.
SUT was founded in 1966 and has members from more than 40 countries, including engineers, scientists, other professionals and students working in these areas. It has branches in Aberdeen, Houston, Rio de Janeiro and Perth (WA).
It was founded to promote the further understanding of the underwater environment and to encourage:
- Cross-fertilisation and dissemination of ideas, experience and information between workers in academic research, applied research and technology, industry and government
- Development of techniques and tools to explore, study and exploit the oceans
- Proper economic and sociological usage of resources in and beneath the oceans
- Further education of scientists and technologists to maintain high standards in marine science and technology
Like IMarEST it is based at 80 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BJ. Further information is available at www.sut.org or from Tel: +44 (0)20 7382 2601; Fax: +44 (0)20 7382 2684; Email: info@sut.org.
