Secretary’s  Report for the year 2002

Two thousand and two was the year to celebrate ten years of EMH in Enkhuizen, the adoption of the Barcelona Charter, the installation of the EMH Policy Group and the official Registration of EMH in Sweden.

Members of the Executive Committee participated at the triennial ICMM congress in Grado (Italy) and Piran (Slovenia) where our President’s  paper was received with enthusiasm. Maritime museums throughout the world are now well- informed about our work in Europe and a direct result was the recruitment of  some new advisory members and of course good contacts.

The Working Group came together twice; in the early spring in Southampton and in September in Enkhuizen.

For the last corrections and definitive text of the Barcelona Charter the Cultural Council met in Helsingør and Enkhuizen.

The Safety Council met in Enkhuizen, Southampton, Helsingør, Enkhuizen and Amsterdam. In August the annual MoU commission meeting , organised by Spain, took place in Palma  (Mallorca). The Safety Council attended it, but the results were rather poor.

In Antwerp the first Sail Training International (STI) congress took place. Three members of EMH were invited and papers were presented.

The new founded Policy Group met in Southampton and Enkhuizen.

Ole Vistrup published three issues of the EMH Newsletter, each of about 1100 copies.

The EMH Contact List grew to 1100 addresses of organisations, ship-lovers, politicians, maritime museums and magazines.

Another well- visited window is our website with many links to relevant organisations, our organisation structure, all the newsletters and an up-to-date European Event Calendar.

In 2002 we had seven full Members: Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and United Kingdom.

There were eleven Advisory Members: the maritime museums of Amsterdam, Antwerp,  Barcelona, Bremerhaven, Greenwich, Helsinki, Karslkrona, Liverpool, San Sebastian, Stockholm, and the Skibsbevaringsfond of Denmark.

The four Associate Members were:  the European Steamboat Federation, the International Sail Training Association the Sammenslutningen af Mindre Erhvervsfartøjern of Denmark and Scheepszaken from Holland.

The meetings were possible thanks to sponsors and organisations who hosted and supported the aims of the EMH.

On the 28^th of September the mayor of Enkhuizen entertained the ten years old EMH members. In the sixteenth century town hall EMH members from the early beginning and current situation reflected the start and the dreams of our maritime heritage. Press and friends shook hands and established contacts. Thanks to three sponsors EMH was able to celebrate the European Movement of the traditional fleet. 

A report is too short to name all the members of EMH who have helped to keep the traditional fleet in operation.

The Secretary.

Andijk, 27^th of March 2003