Join our SeaGoing Correspondence Group

09 Jan 2026 Institute News

Help our IMO delegates better represent your interests at the heart of the IMO

Since 2007, The Nautical Institute has harnessed the vast experience of our members through our SeaGoing Correspondence Group, known as the SGCG. We are always seeking new members of this hawser that connects decision makers ashore to those serving in ships.

Members of the SGCG are almost exclusively seagoing in their present roles. They are our Institute members who are truly at the front line of seafaring and who live through both the dangers and the regulatory consequences of shipping on a daily basis.

Advice

Advice and expertise generated by the SGCG has informed a range of Nautical Institute policies and IMO inputs. These have included:

  • E-Navigation
  • Hours of work and rest for seafarers
  • STCW reviews
  • The safe implementation of ECDIS
  • Implementation of environmental regulations
  • ISM Code implementation
  • EEXI Reserve Power Limitations
  • Radar and AIS integration
  • Lifeboat safety
  • Carriage of Automatic External Defibrillators

Commitment

The commitment from SGCG members is small and simple.  We ask that members allow their e-mail address to be added to our SGCG list, such that requests for advice generated by The Nautical Institute’s headquarters can be sent in a single Bcc mailshot.  If SGCG members have sufficient time and knowledge to respond to a request, they can do so.  Should they be too busy (seafaring is a demanding business), or not have a view, then no response is expected.

Advice from the whole group is generally sought 6-12 times per year, so this is not one of those requests that will clog up SGCG member’s inboxes.  And members can withdraw at any time, especially when they finally hang up their seaboots and come ashore.

Confidentiality

The SGCG is a confidential group.  This means that members will receive e-mail queries via blind copy (other members of the group cannot see your details) and all replies are anonymised prior to being used to generate our policy positions and input to the IMO. Whilst Institute staff in our headquarters know who has responded and the details of that response, this information will never be revealed.

Volunteering

If you wish to volunteer and become a member of The Nautical Institute’s SeaGoing Correspondence Group, please e-mail your details to [email protected] confirming your membership grade (MNI, AFNI or FNI), your current role and state if you are seagoing (including on leave between seagoing contracts), or serving ashore.

To all those who already volunteer, thank you for supporting us advocate for your benefit.

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