Evolution was proceeding rapidly in another area. Our programme of education, examination and eventual qualification was and still is unique so that shipping personnel in countries outside the Commonwealth were asking why they could not take our examinations and become members. This prompted a series of discussions with the Privy Council for whom it posed something of a problem. In the same way as the Institute is obliged to exercise discipline over its members, so the Privy Council exercises its discipline over chartered bodies. It is a noteworthy but not often publicized fact, that the authority of the Privy Council is even higher than that of the elected government, but sadly not higher than that of the European Commission.

The solution to the Institute s problem was for the Privy Council to impose the stricture that the Controlling Council must always have a majority of British subjects. With this clarified, a Supplemental Charter was granted in 1984 which permits membership to be offered to citizens of any country in the world.

The same Supplemental Charter enabled the Institute to offer a new class of membership – Company Membership. Many official bodies, whilst recognizing and respecting individual professional membership, are geared to working only with firms or companies. By creating this new class of membership, various initiatives have become possible, including having representation on official committees such as H.M.Customs and various port authorities. Perhaps the most significant appointment for Company Members has been the collection of Light Dues on behalf of Trinity House.