AINA - Key Persons

Most AINA members are defined as navigation authorities by their own Acts of Parliament (some of them more than 250 years old) which regulate the operation of their waterways. Others, such as some local government authorities, have inherited the status of navigation authority through various statutes. Between them, AINA members have responsibility for over 5,500 km of navigable, inland waterways which include canals, river navigations and lakes. Since its inception AINA has demonstrated that by bringing navigation authorities together to share good practice, expertise and professionalism and to speak with one voice when required to do so, it can deliver significant benefits to all navigation authorities, large and small, and also to their partners across the waterways sector. AINA has: delivered a valuable resource of reports giving good practice guidance across a wide range of waterway management and operational issues determined common, industry-wide standards delivered, in partnership with regulators and stakeholders, industry codes of practice to facilitate pragmatic and effective industry self-regulation with the effect of achieving significant cost savings for Members or staving off mandatory regulation which would have incurred considerably greater costs for the industry AINA has become established in the psyche of all parties with interest in the waterways. It has enjoyed regular contact with senior government officials and Ministers in Whitehall and has hosted well-attended national conferences on key issues affecting the waterways. The foundation for all AINA's achievements is its unique ability to represent all navigable inland waterways across Great Britain.