The Nautical Institute took its AGM to South Asia for the first time on May 31 and June 1 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The theme was challenges facing maritime administrations. Speakers and delegates highlighted the need to devise and promote best practice to encourage development of regulation that is realistic, practical and that can be complied with readily. It was concluded that a key to achieving this is the recruitment and retention of capable maritime professionals as marine administrators and this requires competitive salary and career advancement structures to be in place.