The Isle of Man IMarEST Branch was formed in 1990 and operated a joint programme of Technical events with the Nautical Institute. In 2003 the IMarEST Branch formed a Joint Branch with RINA. We have a combined membership of approximately 50 persons. We organise a technical programme of presentations during the Winter months and covering engineering and scientific topics from the Marine Industry.

Over the past ten years we have organised Annual dinners and from the proceeds we have raised over £25,000, including £4000 for the Titanic Memorial Appeal for the IMarEST Guild of Benevolence. A list of sponsors for this event were:

• Eurasia Travel *
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
• Manx2.com
• Britannia International
• Isle of Man Steam Packet *
• EMCS and Sesmarine International Ltd *
• Coval Consultancy Limited
• Palace Hotel and Casino
• IOM Trike Tours
• Celtic Gold
• Mostly Manx
• Essential Health
• Quine and Cubbon
• Intermanager *
• IOM Ship Registry *
• Manx Ocean Crewing
• Sea Breezes *
• West Ship Management *
• Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement *
• MHG Ocean Benefits Ltd

(* Deserve further honourable mention as regular supporters of our past charity rising).

In conjunction with the Isle of Man College we donate an Annual prize to the Best Engineering Apprentice on the Island.

We hold our presentations at 18:00hrs at the Empress Hotel, Central Promenade, Douglas and we make both Branch Members and the Public equally welcome.

About The Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is located in the middle of the Irish Sea, 83 miles from Liverpool and 90 miles from Belfast and is approximately 32.5 miles (50 kilometres) long, north to south and 13.5 miles (20 kilometres) wide, east to west.

The population is approximately 80,000. The centre of population is the Capital Douglas with a population of approximately 25,000.

The Isle of Man is not part of Great Britain or the United Kingdom. It has its own Parliament – the Tynwald founded over 1000 years ago. The Queen is the Island's constitutional head of state - the Lord of Mann - and she is represented on the Island by a resident Lieutenant Governor. The IOM is not a full member of the European Union but has associate status. This allows Island-traders free trade with the rest of the community but means they are neither liable for financial contributions nor eligible for EU grants.

The Island is an international offshore financial centre, with a low, two-tier tax rate, financial incentives for manufacturing and light industry and an absence of death, wealth or capital gains duties. The Island has its own internationally renowned Ship Registry and Ship Management Industry.

The Island has good air and sea connections to and from the UK. London is one hour away both from London Gatwick and London City. A ferry Service operates from Heysham and Liverpool taking 4½ hours by conventional ferry and 2½ by fast craft.

For further details about the Isle of Man see www.isleofman.com

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