The Role of a Professional Society in Promoting the Success in the Maritime Industry

The historic role of engineering professional societies such as the Royal Institution of Naval Architects has been to promote and facilitate the exchange of technical and scientific information and discussion, and through this to influence and contribute towards furthering the knowledge and standards within their particular discipline of engineering. Professional societies today have a wider and more proactive part to play in helping to provide the engineers with the knowledge, understanding and professional skills who are essential to the future success of the maritime industry. This paper examines the pivotal role a modern professional society plays in the education, professional development and employment of engineers.