Australasian Institute of Marine Surveyors

From The Bridge

07 Jul 2016 9:13 AM | Anonymous

A successful marine surveyor needs to be competent in a broad range of surveys to make it in the business these days. From the specialist survey to the more mundane, our members are providing services to a broad range of clients both here and overseas.

In the past, members basically learnt the ropes on the run or from an older mentor. In today’s world this is no longer an acceptable way. Expectations are much higher and, as the shipping industry changes, older mentors are getting harder to find.

As the peak surveying organisation AIMS must set the standards for our industry. AIMS must provide the platform to enable members to improve and grow their professional skills.

We are now approaching our 30th birthday. The aim of our founding fathers was to provide marine surveyors with a truly professional body that would represent and promote their interests.

The marine surveying industry has changed dramatically since 1986 when AIMS first came into existence. This change is also reflected in kindred industries such as shipping and stevedoring.

Historically most marine surveyors were master mariners from the ranks of seagoing officers. They had a broad range of shipping knowledge which was a solid basis upon which to build a marine surveying career. These days’ seafarer training is more shore-based and seafarers may only be exposed to a limited variety of vessels.
Some years ago the AIMS executive took the decision that if the industry was to be sustained it must provide specialist training. This has been achieved with the development of the RTO and the delivery of Australia’s first ever Diploma of Marine Surveying. Whilst traditional skills are necessary, the use of latest technology cannot be ignored.

It is recognised that not all skills can be learnt from books or videos. Some surveying skills are best learnt ‘on the job’. In the future this need for practical training could represent new business revenue for suitably qualified members wanting to become involved in student training.

As an industry we must continually ask ourselves what will the surveyor of the future require – not only in knowledge but in equipment. In my day it was a sturdy Dolphin torch, a pen, a note pad, a cheap calculator and a portable typewriter.

Today, 30 years on, clearly this is not enough. The typewriter is a museum piece kept for old time’s sake in the back shed. I remember the time and effort put into searching for just the right one.

AIMS can – and must – be out there developing and bringing in new technologies and courses. AIMS must be working toward assisting members to develop ground breaking ideas and take them to industry users.

One proven way we can become a much stronger organisation is through sharing experiences and disseminating the ‘knowledge’ that only we have.

We must actively try to retain our existing knowledge base. How much has been lost over the years as members simply retire and sail off into the sunset - a working lifetime of knowledge simply gone.

While some of the old survey work may not seem relevant it is our history and it is important that it is not forgotten.

For this reason, meetings and social events are important. Your very presence provides input at these meetings and can help influence change and bring about improvements.

AIMS cannot build to be a peak body for surveyors in Australia without the support and input from our members. We cannot truly represent unless we know those we represent.

AIMS is actively making more use of technology to obtain information from the membership and this shall continue to grow in importance for our future decision making. If you have issues we want you to raise them.

You can show your support by attending our 30th Birthday on Friday 19th August in Melbourne at the Langham Hotel. All members should have received their invitation by now and if not there is an online registration facility on our website under the events section.

AIMS has survived thirty years due to the hard work, dedication and vision of past Presidents and executives – members who gave freely of their valuable time to advance AIMS and its membership.

This will be a night for us to celebrate those who have gone before us and those who are coming along behind.

Long term members will be able to get together and reminisce about the past, newer members will have an ideal opportunity to meet others, network and discuss ideas and there will be a ‘special’ presentation that will look to the future and provide something for everyone.

Gary Prosser Deputy CEO of AMSA will give AMSA’s view on the future of the industry, shippers, charterers, insurers and lawyers are attending along with members from each state.

The AIMS council is attending as is our Executive Officer and new Office Manager. The inimitable AFL great, Kevin Sheedy, is giving a presentation on leadership and how we can all become leaders in our industry. If you have never heard Kevin speak then you are missing out!!

This dinner will be a terrific forum for inviting along friends and clients and having a good and productive time.

I look forward to meeting you there!

Peter Murday
President

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The largest industry body in the Australasian region for professional marine surveyors. Established 1986.

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