Ranulph Fiennes
The maritime world will gather together for the 111th Annual Dinner of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) at Guildhall in the City of London on Friday 28 March 2014.
The prestigious evening will be hosted by IMarEST’s incoming 112th President, Richard Vie BSc (Hons), CEng, CMarEng, FIMarEST, Vice President Newbuilding, Technical Development and Quality Assurance, at Carnival Corporate Shipbuilding, with explorer and author, Sir Ranulph Fiennes Bt, OBE as the after dinner speaker
The evening, sponsored by Lloyd’s Register, will begin with a drinks reception in the Old Library, followed by a three course dinner in the Great Hall, and will be attended by IMarEST members, their guests, and representatives of the global maritime industry in recognition, and celebration, of IMarEST’s 125th anniversary and the fact that London and the UK are home to more international shipowners, operators and managers than any other location in the world.
“We are delighted that Sir Ranulph Fiennes is to be our after dinner speaker, ” says David Loosley, Chief Executive of IMarEST. “Not only is he, quite rightly, recognised as the ‘World’s Greatest Living Explorer’ by the Guinness Book of Records, but his speaking ability is similarly legendary. We know that our guests will have a highly memorable evening as they journey virtually with him during his speech. Those who have heard him speak, talk of being able to hear the proverbial pin drop as his audience listens spellbound by both his words and the enormity of his adventures.”
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Since 1969, when he led the British Expedition on the White Nile, Fiennes has been at the forefront of many ground breaking exploratory expeditions. In 1993 he was awarded an OBE for “human endeavour and charitable services”. He has led 22 major expeditions to remote parts of the world including both Poles, and is the only man alive to have travelled around the Earth’s circumpolar surface (more people have been on the Moon). He was the first explorer to completely cross the Antarctic continent unsupported (with Mike Stroud).
Each of his expeditions is designed to raise money for charitable causes. To date, they have raised over £14.2 million.
Some of the huge challenges he has undertaken include:
- First to reach both Poles (with Charles Burton).
- First to cross Antarctic and Arctic Ocean (with Charles Burton).
- First to circumnavigate the world along its polar axis (with Charles Burton).
- Led the first hovercraft expedition up the longest river in the world (the Nile) in 1968/1969.
- Led the team that discovered the lost city of Ubar on the Yemeni border in 1992 (after seven previous search expeditions over a 26 year period).
- In 2003, only 3½ months after a massive heart attack, three day coma and double bypass, Ranulph Fiennes (with Mike Stroud) achieved the first 7x7x7 (seven marathons in seven consecutive days on all seven continents).
- Successfully climbed to the summit of Everest May 2009 with Thundu Sherpa making a total for Marie Curie of over £6.2m. The oldest Briton ever to reach the summit.
He has written numerous books about his army service and his expeditions, as well as a book defending Robert Falcon Scott from modern revisionists. His most recent title is “Cold: Extreme Adventures at the Lowest Temperatures on Earth” published in November 2013.
An historic and fitting venue
Guildhall is a magnificent medieval Grade I listed building. The present Guildhall was built between 1411 and 1440 and survived both the Great Fire of London and the Blitz.
The pre-dinner reception will be held in the Old Library, which was designed by Sir Horace Jones and built in 1870. To the north of the room is a magnificent stained glass window depicting William Caxton.
The Great Hall, where the dinner will take place, is the third largest civic hall in England, where royalty and state visitors have been entertained down the centuries. The imposing medieval hall has stained glass windows and several monuments to national heroes including Admiral Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill. Each of the Romanesque windows bear the names of previous Lord Mayors of London, interspersed with monograms of reigning monarchs, starting with the first Lord Mayor of London Henry Fitz Ailwyn in 1189 during the reign of King Richard I.
About the IMarEST
The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) is the leading international membership body and learned society for all marine professionals. The IMarEST is the first Institute to bring together marine engineers, scientists and technologists into one international multi-disciplinary professional body. It is the largest marine organisation of its kind with a worldwide membership of 15, 000 based in over 100 countries.
Working with the global marine community, the IMarEST promotes the scientific development of marine engineering, science and technology, providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and practices and upholding the status, standards and expertise of marine professionals worldwide.
The IMarEST is a respected authority in every maritime country. It is a Non-Governmental Organisation with consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), observer status at the International Oceanographic Commission, and it has special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), which facilitates its access to other international intergovernmental meetings where its specialized marine expertise is of particular use, e.g., the United Nations meetings on Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) and the work of the International Seabed Authority on marine mining. It is a nominated and licensed body of the Engineering Council (UK), a member of the Science Council and has significant links with many other maritime organisations worldwide.
IMarEST also runs a series of industry leading events and conferences as well as publishing internationally recognised titles: Marine Engineers Review (MER); Shipping World and Shipbuilder; Maritime IT and Electronics; Marine Scientist; and Offshore Technology.
