PYROTECHNICS 0 As a reader of THE LIFE-BOAT I have found many of the articles printed therein of great interest, particularly so the 'article in the January issue, 'Safety at Sea with Pyrotechnics', by Pat Winter Thomas.

I am possibly more safety conscious than most amateur sailors by virtue of the fact that most of my dinghy sailing is confined to midweek due to my type of employment. Sailing solo as I do 1 am much more vulnerable as there are so few • Pressure on space once again excludes the equipment feature. Also excluded is the usual 'Some Ways of Raising Money', the annual list of certificates of service for 1971, and further readers' letters.

other craft afloat.

I decided therefore to purchase a Schermuly dinghy pack and a Miniflare pack, the latter being most suitable for my needs as a lone sailor. My experience when applying to my local police station for a certificate to obtain same may be of interest to you. I was politely informed that it would be extremely doubtful if I would be granted a certificate as my sailing was confined to inshore, and that if I was refused I would be unable to apply again at a later date. I would probably get one if I had a larger craft sailing off shore, but they were concerned that flares would be carried back and forth to the craft with the possibility of children getting hold of them. As I am 54 years of age it is most unlikely that I would take the risk of them falling into the hands of children.

This type of thinking is, of course, typically British in outlook: time and money are spent 334 in perfecting appliances, writing and printing articles and advertising to no purpose. Many of our best inventions go overseas as a result of such thinking. A. s. BOOTH, Longmead Drive, Sidcup, Kent, DAM 4NU.

NAUTICAL INSTITUTE • With the support of a large number of members of the nautical profession, an Institute has at last been formed which will be able to represent authoritatively the professional interests of qualified mariners.

Although much work still remains to be done, the Nautical Institute was formed on 1st January, 1972, with a foundation membership of over 1,500. The headquarters will be in London and there will be branches in Liverpool, Plymouth and on the North East Coast.

A special Constitution and By-laws have been drafted by a committee under the chairmanship of Captain Sir George Barnard, Deputy Master of Trinity House. This committee will act as a nominated council until it is possible to hold a general meeting of members, at which the first officers and council will be elected.

The council particularly wish to co-opt additional seagoing members among their number.

Principal object of the Nautical Institute will be to bring together in a single body all qualified members of the nautical vocation who have common professional interests but who up to now have had no common ground on which to meet.

Hitherto, shipmasters and navigating officers in the Merchant Navy, pilots, nautical college lecturers, marine superintendents, nautical surveyors, harbour masters, Naval officers and other qualified mariners have had no opportunity to maintain contact with one another (continued on page 347} and have been unable to keep abreast of modern developments and ideas concerning their particular interests and responsibilities.

As well as providing a means of communication within the nautical profession, the Nautical Institute will in due course be able to offer an authoritative opinion in nautical affairs which should help the promotion of a national maritime policy. Up to now, members of the nautical profession have had no medium through which their views might be made known.

The shipping industry has never been static and today it is perhaps changing more rapidly than ever before. Small numbers of container ships and other highly specialised vessels are able to do the work of a large number of general cargo ships and tankers and bulk carriers of immense size are now in service.

Not only have ships become more complex in their equipment and operation, but the men who man them are also changing, so that their education and training have to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology.

Captain C. W. Malins, honorary secretary of the Nautical Institute, Hanway House, Clark's Place, London, EC2N 4BH (Tel: 01-283 3678), will be pleased to discuss any questions.— C. H. Milsorn, Manor Drive, Upton, Wirral, Cheshire..