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Regional Focus

UK

New member discussions

at BASS AGM

T
he recent 60th ISSA Convention time and effort into trying to make it one He said the BASS Council regularly

and boosting membership were of the big occasions, which failed.”discussed how the Association could
just some of the topics discussed A number of factors were said to increase its membership.

at the British Association of Ship Suppliers’ have contributed towards this including “The subject of associate members
(BASS) Annual General Meeting, held the fact that the successful inaugural comes up quite often, as to whether you

recently on the HQS Wellington in London.London International Shipping Week, invite suppliers to the suppliers to join.
The Council’s view on this is that it’s
Starting proceedings, Chairman due to take place during the same week,
Bob Blake welcomed members and the was moved from May to Septemberboosting membership and getting other

minutes of the last AGM in June 2014 and the numbers of those attending people onboard.”
were approved.Convention were not publicised fully John Davey, Council Member, of

Geoff Marchant, Treasurer, reported until last minute due to ISSA not putting Cavendish Ship Stores, who is also the
on the Association’s inancial situation, people down as attending until they paid.BASS representative on OCEAN, the

saying that membership fees had Douglas Inch, of Cullen MetcalfeEuropean Ship Suppliers Organisation, said
increased on the previous year, due to & Co, who is also Executive Secretary this had worked well elsewhere in Europe,

BASS increasing the actual subscription of SASS, said: “I think if you just look at in particular Germany and Holland.
fees and ISSA Quality fees had also Convention purely alone, inancially it He said: “The German Association

produced slightly more income.does not work – it’s the combinationreally has a very high percentage of
of Convention plus an exhibition in a associate members and they encourage
Members also heard that the 60th
ISSA Convention held in Singapore main supplier hub area. We had a very people who supply engine parts and lube

was a great success and this prompted positive response from the Singapore oil etcetera to join their association.
discussion about the previous Government and there was also the link “We all like to work with our

Convention, held in London in 2013, with the Sea Asia exhibition.”suppliers – it creates a harmonious
which was said to be a disappointment.He said the support of ISSA and situation and sometimes competitive

“We went all out to try and make it a SASS worked well in Singapore and it advantage – and the Council’s and my
great success but it wasn’t particularly was a combined effort.own personal view is the more we can

well-attended,” said Mr Blake.Mr Blake brought up the topic of encourage our suppliers to join us, it can
Mr Marchant added: “The London membership and said the number had make us a bit stronger.”

Convention really was a great dropped by one to 44 since last year’s Mr Davey, who is also the BASS
disappointment despite putting a lot ofAGM, due to one company withdrawing.representative for ISSA, also gave a

10 The SHIP Supplier Issue 65 2015