From watching ships through binoculars as a child to becoming Harbourmaster of Dunmore East, Deirdre Lane’s FNI maritime journey has come full circle. In this episode of On Course, Deirdre shares how her career at sea progressed alongside her involvement with The Nautical Institute. From junior officer studying for her Certificate of Competency (CoC) to serving on the Executive Board of the Institute. She explains: • How membership supported her professional development • The value of branch involvement at grassroots level • Feeding real operational experience back to The Nautical Institute • Why seafarers need representation at the IMO • How professionals can influence maritime regulation • The importance of discussing autonomous shipping safely • Why practical expertise must shape future legislation Deirdre highlights a major advantage: seafarers often discuss how things could be improved. Through The Nautical Institute, that expertise can be formally represented at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). With strong branch networks in Cork and Dublin, executive-level involvement and global representation, The Nautical Institute connects maritime professionals working at sea directly to policy discussions ashore. If you want your voice heard in the future of shipping, from shipboard operations to international regulation, The Nautical Institute is your professional community. Learn more about The Nautical Institute: https://www.nautinst.org/about-us.html