Following the launch of its Navigating the Future strategic plan, RYA Northern Ireland has been looking at governance structures to ensure it is are set up in the best way possible to progress as a sport and organisation.

This process has been started by looking at the recruitment of three new board directors and has followed by the refresh of the board sub committees. As part of this process, the board have also considered the term length for the chair and the adoption of charitable status.

The board have discussed both areas but want members and affiliated clubs to have an opportunity to hear about proposed plans and feedback any views.

To that end, anyone involved in sailing and boating in Northern Ireland is invited to a webinar on Thursday 10 August at 7pm to hear more, as well as meet and hear from members of the board with an opportunity to ask questions about any areas of the business.

This will be the first of quarterly webinars and there will be a chance to check in with board/staff members for an update on key areas or ask any questions/advice.

Chair term length consultation

The current chair term is set for a single three-year term. The board would like to change the chair’s term to include an option of an additional two years, which would result in a three-year term plus the option for an additional two-year term, and are asking affiliated clubs to approve this change.

RYANI suggests the following advantages and rationale of an extended chair term:

• Gives the chair a longer period to build a strong relationship with the CEO and other board members, creating greater consistency momentum for the Board and staff team
• Create better alignment with the Home Countries (RYA Wales: 2 x 4 years term for chair; RYA Scotland: 2 x 2 years; RYA: 3 x 3 years)
• Create a smoother and longer preparation time for finding and handover for a new Chair
• Creates an opportunity to build momentum following the launch of the new five-year strategy, Navigating the Future (or any future strategic plans)

It also acknowledges disadvantages to the change:

• More challenging if there is a poor relationship between the chair and the rest of the board/CEO (although the break option at three years partly negates this)
• More difficult to find a chair that is prepared to take on a longer term length (again negated slightly with potential break at three years)

Charity status consultation

RYANI is currently set up as a Company Limited by Guarantee and works on a not-for-profit basis. The company has been researching whether a move to a charitable organisation would benefit in the long term. Other sporting organisations that have taken up charitable status include Ulster Hockey and Netball NI.

Benefits to a move to charitable status would include additional funding opportunities becoming available that could support the organisation to develop and enhance sailing and boating across Northern Ireland.

The feedback from RYA and other national governing bodies in NI that have charitable status is that there has not been significant additional workload identified and it is no more bureaucratic than being a Company Limited by Guarantee.

The board have approved a motion to pursue charitable status and are asking for affiliated clubs support for a change in articles to enable RYANI to start the process with the NI Charity Commission, which would include a change in articles.

To hear more about the two proposed changes, book your place at the webinar on the Eventbrite page HERE.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is hosting an online webinar this  Thursday evening 15 September as part of the public consultation process for the Great Western Lakes Management Plan.

Since the public consultation was launched in August, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, IFI has organised six in-person open evenings where members of the public had the opportunity to drop in and meet an IGI representative, discuss the draft plan, seek clarification or ask questions.

In particular, IFI has urged the angling community and anyone who uses the lakes or lives near them to make a submission.

Those with an interest in the draft plan, who weren’t able to attend an open evening, are now being invited to register online to attend the webinar from 7pm to 8.30pm on Thursday 15 September, five days before the public consultation closes at 5pm next Tuesday 20 September.

Those planning to attend this webinar are being advised to familiarise themselves with the contents of the draft plan and the associated FAQ.

‘Towards a Harmonised Onshore Power Supply in the European Union’ is the title of the EALING Mid-Term Event webinar for the European ports industry next Friday 29 April.

Emissions reduction at the ship-port interface is one of the key drivers to reach the IMO 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation goals and to face the key challenges of the EU Green Deal.

Regulatory, technical, operational and economic actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are required to move towards a lower-carbon future.

Establishing a suitable framework based on EU and national legislations for a harmonised European approach to the onshore power supply (cold ironing) is at the heart of EALING (the European flagship Action for coLd ironING in ports).

The results from EALING Project activities will be deepened and discussed together with industry players involved in building a more competitive and sustainable Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) during the event.

The webinar takes place Friday 29 April from 10am to 1pm CEST (9am to 12pm IST). The full agenda is available from the EALING Project website, and registration for the Zoom webinar is now open.

In recognition of International Women’s Day on 8 March, the Department of Transport is hosting a webinar to promote the benefits of gender balance, diversity and inclusion on its State Boards.

The department says it fully embraces the objectives identified in the Annex to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016: Gender, Diversity and Inclusion, and aims to attain the Government’s target of 40% gender balance on State Boards.

However, achieving this gender balance and diversity at board level remains challenging, it adds.

This event — hosted by Ken Spratt, Secretary General of the department — will focus on practical steps, demystify the process of applying for a State Board position and will provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities provided by board positions.

“Our aim is to attract a more gender balanced and diverse range of candidates for State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Transport, to equip those boards to deliver on their remit and enjoy the benefits that such diversity can bring,” it says.

Both Minister for Transport Eamonn Ryan and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton will contribute to the webinar “as they are both committed to continuously seeking out opportunities to drive further positive change,” the department adds.

“They recognise there is a significant pool of qualified and experienced female talent as well as candidates from other sectors of society, which would greatly enhance the culture and experience across our Transport Boards.”

This event is aimed at anyone who feels they could actively contribute to boards in the public transport, maritime, aviation and road safety arenas.

The webinar will take place from 10.45am to noon on Thursday 3 March. Also speaking will be Fiona Ross, chair of CIÉ, and Michelle Noone, head of senior and executive recruitment with the Public Appointments Service.

To attend the webinar, register via Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For more information on how to apply for State Board appointments, vsit www.stateboards.ie.

The Nautical Institute invites you to join them for a free webinar: 'Global Supply Chains - How does Shipping Fit? which is to take place this Thursday, 11 November between 08:30 - 09:30 (GMT).

At a time when shipping’s role in global supply chains is making daily news, this NI webinar will be considering how the delicate balance has been upset and why ships are stacking up in ports around the word.

Ships need to integrate with other transport modes (road, rail, air etc) and with other services such as legal, finance and risk management, but how does the entire system fit together?

Vivek Sood (known to many as ‘Mr Supply Chain’), will be presenting this webinar where he will share his considerable knowledge of supply chains, practical business strategies, disruptors and career paths for those in the maritime industry.

Sood is a renowned author and has worked on more than 400 global supply chain projects in some 84 countries, with clients ranging from fortune 500 companies to innovative green technology companies.

His work has added cumulative value in excess of $1 Billion, incorporating major transformations in supply chain infrastructure, investments, profitable growth through global supply chain realignment, and cost reduction.

To register for this webinar click here.

The free webinar will be interactive, inviting feedback and questions from attendees and will provide a certificate of participation to all those who attend.

Don't miss the opportunity to attend; noting a recording of the webinar will be made available to NI members only.

The Nautical Institute is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) located in London and with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which likewise of the N.I is also headquartered in the UK capital.

The NI aims is to promote professionalism, best practice and safety throughout the maritime industry and to represent the interests of our members.

N.I. Nearing 50th Anniversary

Afloat also takes this opportunity to highlight that the Nautical Institute marks a maritime milestone as the organisation will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022. In recognistion of this the N.I. is to host a series of international events looking ahead to the next 50 years.

These include their AGM, conference and dinner to be held in Plymouth, UK in July and more technical seminars, networking and celebratory events across the world.

The theme for the 50th anniversary events is Maritime Leadership in a Changing World and Afloat will have further details in due course for next year's major event.

What is the ‘blue bioeconomy’? Who are the people working on it in Ireland and where do they get support?

Marine scientist and influencer Finn van der Aar will host the first in a series of online events later this month for those who want to learn more about this developing sector and the innovative researchers and businesses operating within it.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will also showcase the relevant supports available and an overview of projects already operating within the blue bioeconomy.

“Bioeconomy-The Blue Perspective” takes place next Friday morning 22 October from 10am to 11.30am. For the agenda and details of how to register, see the event’s Eventbrite page.

This event is organised by the Páirc na Mara Marine Innovation Development Centre, Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Marine Institute as part of Bioeconomy Ireland Week.

An upcoming webinar hosted by the Marine Ireland Industry Network aims to highlight ‘Ireland’s Blue Edge in Innovation’.

The showcase of Irish marine clusters and technology companies will be hosted on the GoToWebinar platform on Thursday 30 September from 11am to 12.30pm. Registration is open HERE.

Three industry clusters will be showcased, namely offshore wind power, the marine bioeconomy and commercial fishing in Killybegs.

There will also be presentations from four Irish companies innovating in the marine sectorL Raceix, Cathx Ocean, Dublin Offshore Consultants and Druid Software.

For more details contact [email protected]

‘Stories from the sea - cultural value of Ireland’s coastal communities’ is the title of a free webinar hosted by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) next Wednesday 14 July.

Ireland has a rich maritime history with coastal communities that have been shaped by the activities of small-scale fisheries.

While an economic value has been put on these activities, their influence on social and cultural life in Ireland is more difficult to measure and as a result, it is an often-overlooked aspect of fisheries management.

Ireland’s seafood development agency is bringing together an expert panel of speakers who will share stories from the sea and promise to change the way we think about the socio-cultural capital values of small-scale fisheries in Ireland.

The webinar takes place from 3pm to 4.30pm on Wednesday 14 July and is free to attend but registration is essential. Visit the Eventbrite page for to book your place.

Agenda

Moderator - Richard Curtin, Senior Economist, BIM

15:00 - Introduction to project, Richard Curtin, BIM

15:05 - Welcome, Jim O'Toole, CEO BIM

15:10 - Oceans of Wisdom – insights the Irish language gives us into the richness of our coastline - Manchán Magan

15.20 - The Seine Fishing Heritage of South Kerry and West Cork, with a particular focus on the role of women - Mary McGillicuddy

15.30 - The heritage of community labour and the realities of economic efficiency - John B Roney

15:40 - Dúchas - Séainín Johnson

15:50 - Panel discussion

16:30 - ENDS

Panel Biographies

Séainín Johnson is a third-generation fisherman who has operated off the west coast of Kerry for 55 years. Séainín first started fishing in traditional currachs in the 1960s before progressing to own a 40ft boat in the late 1970s. Séainín grew up in the fishing and farming community in the Gaeltacht area of Baile na nGall where he lives, is married to Anne and has five children. Having been immersed in the Irish language and his local community all his life, he is going to speak on the topics of culture, language and fishing.

Manchán Magan is a writer and documentary maker. He has written books in Irish and English on his travels in Africa, India and South America and two novels. His most recent book, Thirty-Two Words For Field, explores the insights the Irish language offers into the landscape, psyche and heritage of Ireland. He writes occasionally for The Irish Times, and presents The Almanac of Ireland podcast for RTÉ Radio 1 about the heritage and culture of Ireland. He has presented dozens of documentaries on issues of world culture for TG4, RTÉ and the Travel Channel. Having been brought up in Dublin, with long periods spent in the West Kerry Gaeltacht of Corca Dhuibhne, Manchán now lives in the midlands, in a grass-roofed house near Lough Lene, Co Westmeath, surrounded by his oak trees, and with bees and hens for company. www.manchan.com

Mary McGillicuddy: From childhood, Mary had a basic awareness of South Kerry’s seine boat fishing tradition because of direct family involvement in the early 1900s. However, little written material was readily accessible about the topic. The most visible records were locally displayed reprints of old Lawrence black and white photographs which documented women processing fish on quaysides in Kerry. This visual evidence prompted Mary to focus on this subject for her MA thesis in Local History in UL in 2008. She originally studied Media Studies in New York and later completed a BA in Sociology and History and a Diploma in Rural Develoment in UCC and holds an MSc in Environmental and Development Education from South Bank University, London. Based in Kerry, she worked for over 20 years in a development education centre in Tralee.

Dr John B Roney is Professor of History at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut and co-director of its Dingle campus in Co Kerry. He is also the current president of the New England region of the American Conference for Irish Studies and is on the board of directors of the John Moriarty Institute for Ecology and Spirituality. In addition to research and publication on cultural and intellectual topics in Irish history, Dr Roney has developed an interest in environmental history, with a specific focus on the cultural heritage of coastal communities on the west of Ireland. He regularly teaches a course, ‘Coastal Communities in the North Atlantic from Viking Age to the Present’, as well as Irish, French and Dutch history.

To celebrate European Maritime Day, the Marine Institute will broadcast a special live Oceans of Learning webinar at 4pm next Thursday 20 May.

Hosted by marine scientist, speaker and author Finn van der Aar, the one-hour Zoom webinar will explore our ocean, from supporting diverse marine wildlife and ecosystems to sustaining livelihoods and the impact of a changing ocean climate.

Filmmaker Ken O’Sullivan will share his experiences searching for blue whales, sharks and deep-water coral reefs in the North Atlantic for the documentary Ireland’s Deep Atlantic.

Finn will also speak to Roberta O’Brien, the first woman in the history of the Naval Service to achieve the rank of commander in 2020.

Commander O’Brien has held a wide variety of roles and appointments at sea and ashore, and was also the first female to captain an Irish warship when she assumed command of the LÉ Aisling in 2008.

In addition, the webinar will launch the latest Oceans of Learning series following the success of 2020’s programme.

Over four weeks, the Marine Institute will offer news, videos and resources which celebrate our seas and Ireland’s marine resource. The final week will celebrate World Oceans Day on Tuesday 8 June.

A weekly Oceans of Learning podcast, presented by Finn van der Aar, will share the stories from the people and professionals who have a connection with the sea — through science, careers, industry, art and more.

Register for the free webinar and tune in to hear more on how to subscribe and listen to the podcast — as well as join the conversation with scientists, seafarers and sea enthusiasts.

Cork’s new Brexit-busting Ro-Ro freight link with Zeebrugge will be the focus of discussion at a special webinar on Thursday 26 November.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the Port of Cork facilitated CLdN’s establishing a new direct shipping route from Cork to the Belgian port — bringing Europe closer and bringing SMEs within 550km of 60% of the EU’s purchasing power.

Gaining direct access to mainland Europe is increasingly important for businesses, as concerns grow over potential delays for companies sending products via the UK landbridge as Britain leaves the Single Market.

As Irish businesses re-evaluate their supply chains, finding business partnerships and sourcing products in these new markets may be daunting.

But support agencies such as Flanders Investment and Trade and the Enterprise Europe Network can assist with this process.

Flanders is also an ideal investment location for companies looking to get a foothold in Europe and reach clients in Belgium, its neighbouring countries and the European hinterland.

Book now to join the discussion to learn more about the new direct connections between Cork and Zeebrugge, and how this can be a first step for your business in bringing Europe closer. Speakers include:

• Ambassador Pierre-Emmanuel De Bauw, Belgian Ambassador to Ireland
• Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Cork
• Lieve Duprez, Chief Officer Shortsea, Port of Zeebrugge
• Jacques Vanhoucke, Trade and Investment Commissioner, Flanders Investment and Trade

This event is being hosted by Cork Chamber and the Enterprise Europe Network in association with the Port of Cork, Belgian Embassy, Flanders Investment and Trade & Port of Zeebrugge.