Professional Associations - The Facts
Marine Surveying in
In order to ensure some measure of legitimate competence amongst those
practicing the profession, tradesmen form associations, to which like-minded individuals
will take out memberships. This process is aimed to protect the integrity of
the profession and to encourage ethical conduct. Many professions have such
organizations coexist in numbers that encourage healthy competition for public
image and exposure, which translates to a more skilled professional and a
better informed client.
Marine Surveying is a rather obscure profession. The best Surveyors come from a
line of skilled craftsmen, who had reached a point in life where practical
experience can be applied in a more sophisticated way. The industry does not
support very many individuals in any given geographical local, especially not
in seasonally effected areas such as the North East.
The
There are times when questions arise in regards to who belongs to
what Professional Association. Tradesmen talk amongst each other about which is
the best, and sometimes organizations can get too political in their
infrastructure. They lose sight of the original goal of providing a platform
for education, or feel that theirs has become a rightful monopoly over the
profession. But, can they offer a concrete warranty in regards to the ability
of their membership? No, they can not, and the insurers, lenders and
knowledgeable buyers have always been able to determine who is going to have a
long career and who is just a fly-by-nighter.
Membership in a professional organization
does not necessarily warrant the member to posses any particular level of
competency. Not in the real world...
Yes, both of the two major entities recognized in the
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CAVEAT! Some groups flare up from time to time
claiming to be legitimate organizations. Some may very well be, but many are
simply a receiver of checks in exchange for indiscriminately bestowing
credentials upon undeserving individuals – Boat Owners, Purchasers, Insurers,
Lenders beware!
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I know fellows who are very good Surveyors and do not belong to any
association, and I know some who do and are blind, incompetent or just simply
don't care. Nevertheless, I do believe that belonging to a well organized,
well established and proven Professional Association does better the chances of
the client ending up with a qualified Surveyor.
(Yours truly was a SAMS member until 2001, after
which I found the association impractical in regards to lending itself to the
unique seasonal nature of the Marine Surveying Profession in the
I am currently involved with a small number of practicing
professionals here in