Nautical Institute - US Gulf Branch

Events

PAST EVENTS

The Houston Command Seminar.

After many months of preparation by the volunteer planning team I can report to the branch that the Command Seminar in Houston at the Doubletree Hotel on 11 and 12 April, 2006,.. was, by and large, most successful.,

Any technical responses will hopefully be forthcoming and reported in Seaways in the coming months.

Many of the participants have contacted me to thank the branch for the event, all having indicated their knowledge of the industry had been widened, that the event was a learning experience and their appreciation and understanding of The Nautical Institute has been enhanced. One cannot expect better than that.

The generosity of the sponsors, the intellect of the speakers and the enthusiasm of the delegates brought it all together very satisfactorily.

Seminar Attendance .

With no knowledge of the number of participants to be expected, planning was arranged for about 150 maximum. The final count was just short of 100. A good turn out. There were 86 seats set out in the conference room.

Members attended when they were able. The industry being such that many members are uncertain where they will be in the next 24 hours, subsequently planning to attend ‘for sure’ was a challenge for some, but those that could, did. Some were forced to cancel at the last moment, but in many cases a substitute was able to replace them. Replacing speakers at the last moment was very demanding for those planners involved, but their reorganizing skills rose to the occasion.

Captain Carlos Lozano,MNI., with Teekay Shipping, arranged the delegate sponsorship of ten cadets from Texas A&M in Galveston. Magnificent ! Dr.Phil Anderson made a presentation to the cadets on behalf of the NI, and Dr. Michael Economides presented them with copies of his book ‘The Color of Oil’.

(Explanations of non-attendance at the seminar by local branch members were inevitable, and fully understood. However, Captain Bill Duncan, FNI, advised he was unable to attend as he was going round Cape Horn in the Queen Mary 2…..…..and he was!) ( Pull the other one, Bill)

Seminar Speakers.

4/11/06 (Day 1.)

Welcome address by

Captain Bob Sheen, MSc. FNI. * Honorary Branch Chairman.

Dr. Phil Anderson,BA (hons) D.Prof, FNI. President of The Nautical Institute.

Wade Battles Managing Director, Port of Houston Authority.

Stewart H. Wade Vice President, ABS.

Captain Iain Chadwick . Clearance Supt., Chevron Shipping.

Captain George McShea,Jr.,Bsc. MNI, Fleet Manager,LNG Mar.Ops. Conoco Phillips,

Captain Anuj Chopra,FNI. * USA Representative, Anglo Eastern Group.

Craig E. Philip, President & CEO, Ingram Barge & Towing.

Dr. Michael J. Economides , Dept. of Chem. Eng., Cullen Ctr., U of H.

Michael Sells USArmy Corps of Engineers, Galveston.

Douglas B. Stevenson. Esq., Center for Seafarers Rights, SCI.

Glen Paine, P.E., Director. MITAGS

Captain John Dudley, VP, Koch Shipping, Inc.,

John Joeger, Head Tanker Ops., Military Sealift Command.

Brad Berman, Esq. President, Liberian Flag Registry.

Gala Dinner, ‘ Welcome Speech’ by

Phillip Wake. MSc.,FNI., The Nautical Institute Chief Executive,

4/12/06 (Day 2.)

Frank Gonynor, Esq., Eastham, Watson, Dale & Forney. LLP

Malinda Lawrence, Esq., US Dept. of Justice, Washington.

Captain Rodger MacDonald,FNI., President IFSMA

Jonathon Waldron, Esq., Blank Rome, LLP

Captain Richard Kaser,USCG. Commander, USCG Sector Houston-Galveston.

Captain Keith Gill, Vetting Manager, SeaRiver Maritime,

Captain James J. McNamara, FNI., President, National Cargo Bureau, Inc.

Timothy Strickland, Esq., Fowler,Rodriguez & Chalos. LLP.

Captain John MacDonald. Marine & DP Training, Transocean Offshore,

Captain Carl Smith, C-MAR Group.

Captain Alistair MacNab, MNI., * Greater Houston Port Bureau,

Richard Speight, Asst.Pricipal, Glasgow Coll. Nautical Studies.

Gordon Rodgers, Scottish Qualifications Authority,

Captain Michael Morris, MNI., Houston Pilots.

Vote of thanks by

Captain Richard Dixon, FNI. * Honorary Branch Secretary.

Appreciation.

The Seminar Planning Committee, (including speakers above indicated by an asterisk) were the following branch members: Bob Hanraads, Mike Martin, Derek McCann, Mike Russell, Bob Sadler, Ian Walker.

Tom Hudson and Richard Simpson, after invaluable help, had to apply more time to their professions.

Members wives (Ms. Sheen, Martin and Roberts ) graciously assisted Mike Russell with registration.

The Following Companies or Organizations were Represented at the Nautical Institutes Command Seminar, Houston, 2006