The Association of Marine Surveyors of B.C. was formed in 1969 under the Society Act of British Columbia, Canada, for the purpose of bringing marine surveyors together with the object of enhancing and developing the practice of general marine surveying while providing a representative body in approaching the maritime industry. The association members elect annually a board of 4 or 5 directors, who in tum elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and then delegate the board officers with capacity to represent the Association.
Membership
For membership acceptance into this association, a marine surveyor must have certain maritime qualifications or experience and be acceptable to the membership in general. Members also operate to a prepared Code of Ethics commensurate with the high standard of integrity demanded by the profession. Thus, providing an initial level of standard for the membership which continues to be developed through hulls, machinery, cargo, terminal (port operations) to surveys of special or particular nature embraced in the term “Marine or Related Transport.”
Areas of Operation
While in general the areas of operation extend along the Western Canadian seaboard and High Arctic, surveys applicable to lake, river, road and rail transportation are accomplished in the Western and Arctic Provinces of Canada. Some specialized work is performed in the surrounding North America and in various parts of the world.
Objectives
One of the association’s prime objectives has been to provide marine associated enterprises and the general public with a service by qualified and experienced personnel. In appreciating that the general marine surveying field is both diverse and complex the association has already begun the task of resolving some of the complexities preparatory to the future by developing definitions of the general marine surveyor, marine surveying and the field of practice, an endeavour which we believe has not been accomplished before. Members of our association have many years experience surveying pleasure craft, commercial vessels and the cargoes that they carry both to and from the ports and marine facilities along our coastline. To be accepted as a member there are a number of criteria that the successful applicant must fulfil. These include a combination of past experience as well as qualifications. Once accepted, members must abide by our Code of Ethics which is monitored by our Ethics Committee.