This article is in three parts. The first covers the historical development of qualifying associations. The second covers the particular role of maritime institutions that include The Royal Institution of Naval Architects, The Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology and The Nautical Institute. The third and final section considers the future for maritime professional associations in the context of international shipping. 1 The historical development of qualifying associations Professional associations exist to promote the occupational knowledge and skills of practitioners. They have a variety of constitutional purposes. Millerson 1 places qualifying associations into four main categories: the Prestige Association, like The Royal Society, for example; the Study Association like The Royal Institute of Navigation; the Qualifying Association like The Law Society; and the Occupational Association like Shipmaster Associations which in turn can be sub-divided into those which coordinate professional support and those which are protective and discharge the function of a trade union.To understand the development of these organisations it is helpful to see them in the context of individuals and historical influence. The need to pass on knowledge and skills is an essential element of survival. As local societies became larger they became more dependent upon builders, traders, farmers, administrators and so on. By the time of the Roman civilisation there were categories of artisan, masters and of course military specialists too. All these craftsmen and strategists had to be trained and to achieve a skilled workforce in large numbers the training had to be organised.As technology advanced so did the number of craftsmen's guilds increase. These organisations selected candidates for entry, undertook to train them and codified the practice of indentured apprentices. Recognised guilds were granted royal charters and this protocol still exists today through the granting, by The Privy Council, of chartered status.The church, in the Middle Ages, had a major influence because it developed the discipline of abstract learning, reading, writing and scholarship. These skills formed
