In civil aviation, such a service is paid for by the authorities, but no such facility exists for international shipping and the Institute has done more than any other Organisation to fulfil this need for information which alerts everybody to potential dangers. Definitive guidance often requires a substantial paper to explain underlying principles and the consequences of bad practices. To meet this need, the Institute publishes occasional briefing papers. They are widely disseminated throughout the industry and are made available to members free of charge. A particular advantage in having a professional Institute is that it can actively link in its membership through a worldwide branch network .
Branches discharge three valuable functions.
Enable talks and lectures to take place to keep local members up to date. Facilitate communication with headquarters and supply material to the journal which informs the profession as a whole about developments around the world. Additionally, some branches hold seminars and conferences of fundamental importance and the proceedings can then be made available through headquarters. Branch committees in UN designated developing countries also discharge another obligation which is to verify the status of local applicants, seeking a reduced subscription related to their income. The Nautical Institute was the first professional Organisation to give formal recognition to the fact that nautical expertise is the foundation for many support services in shipping and that an individual needs to be able to develop a career path with confidence and competence.