IMLA is a no-border forum: a round table for discussions on sea-related issues. Teachers and other interested parties from all over the world dedicated to mediating in the process of Maritime Education and Training (MET) are invited to become members and to freely present their achievements, share experiences and exchange ideas.
IMLA first came into being in 1977 when a training course on Maritime English for teachers from different countries was organized in Plymouth, UK. It held its first major conference in June 1980, when the Association’s constitution was adopted. Here its aim is clearly stated: “to promote contact and cooperation between Maritime Lecturers of all disciplines and to develop a body of professional expertise”. This it attempts to fulfill at its regular international conferences and through this portal.
From the outset the Association recognized that special interest groups are a feature of MET and, as a result, has established three Sub-Committees to operate under the IMLA umbrella:
• Sub-Committee on the International Navigation Simulator Lecturers Conference (INSLC), est. 1980
Today’s INSLC was established in 1979 as the International Radar Simulator Teachers Workshop (IRSTW), the first meeting was held in Liverpool in 1980. INSLC has since then played an important role in promoting best practice in the use of navigation simulators in the training of nautical ship officers and masters, and in the use of such simulators in research. Lecturers using navigation simulators at maritime academies and universities worldwide, have benefited from the exchange of knowledge, experiences and views with colleagues at and between INSLC and as members of a steadily evolving expert network.
The tremendous developments in electronic navigation and simulator potential are reflected in the titles of the Conference. The first four meetings were held as the International Radar Simulator Teachers’ Workshops (IRSTW); the following two meetings as the International Radar and Navigation Simulator Lecturers Conferences (IRNSLC), and from 1992 the word 'Radar' was dropped to reflect the change towards a more integrated concept of navigation. This resulted in the acronym of INSLC. INSLC is a conference of IMLA, which has a consultative status at International Maritime Organization (IMO) and can therefore bring INSLC conclusions to the attention of IMO.
INSLC, although is mainly a meeting of users, because of the broad range of subjects covered also of interest for other maritime stakeholders who are concerned with or interested in safety at sea, on waterways and in ports from a training or research aspect, such as nautical officers and ship masters, members of professional nautical associations, VTS personnel, harbour masters, ship owners/operators, maritime safety administrations, maritime casualty investigation boards, maritime research institutes.
• Sub-Committee on the International Conference on Engine Room Simulators (ICERS), est. 1993
ICERS aims to support the activities of IMLA by providing an interactive forum for the international maritime engine room simulator community. ICERS seeks to achieve this aim by promoting international contact and co-operation between engine room simulator operators, researchers, commercial simulator manufacturers and courseware developers, software publishers, relevant government administrations, international and national maritime organisations, marine engineers and shipping companies. At the heart of ICERS are the academic staff and trainers world-wide who seek to support the International Convention on on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), and to further develop the competencies and professionalism of marine engineers, through the use of simulator technology.
•Sub-Committee on the International Maritime English Conference (IMEC), est. 1981
IMEC is a no-border forum: a round table for discussions on sea-related communication problems concerning a universally accepted language, that of Maritime English. Teachers and other parties from all over the world dedicated to mediating in the process of maritime language acquisition are invited to freely present their achievements, share experiences and exchange ideas on the IMEC.
IMEC organizes annual conferences that endeavour to improve and standardize methods of teaching Maritime English. Meetings offer splendid opportunities for lecturers from all over the world to get together, discuss matters and exchange views. Each of these groupings is featured on this portal.
IMLA is managed on behalf of its members by a Committee of between nine and twelve elected volunteers, three of whom act as Honorary Officers, namely the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The honorary non-executive office of President is filled by a person of stature by invitation of the Committee.
Again, welcome all IMLA members and visitors!