The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME) is a professional organization formed to advance the practice of naval architecture, marine engineering, ocean engineering and other marine-related professions through the global exchange of knowledge and ideas relative to the marine industry, education in engineering as it relates to the marine industry, encouraging research and development in naval architecture, marine engineering, ocean engineering and other marine fields and to provide opportunities for professionals to enhance their technical and professional competence.
In carrying out these objectives, it is SNAME's firm and resolute policy, to which no exception is made, that all SNAME activities shall be conducted in strict conformity with applicable antitrust laws. SNAME will not condone any violation of its policy in this regard, and any member or employee who violates such policy will be subject to expulsion or discharge from SNAME.
The above stated purposes of SNAME also serve the goal of promoting competition. To this end, and to the end of avoiding violation of the antitrust laws, SNAME has adopted an Antitrust Compliance Policy that specifically requires observance of the following principles.
Matters Involving Prices and Terms of Competition
- (a) No SNAME activity shall be used as a means for effecting or discussing any understanding or agreement, written or oral, formal or informal, expressed or implied, among competitors or potential competitors with regard to such competitors' prices, terms and conditions of sale or purchase, marketing, distribution, production, consumption, market territories, or customers.
- (b) No effort will be made by any SNAME body or member on behalf of SNAME to collect information from or disseminate information to SNAME members concerning prices, terms and conditions of sale or purchase, marketing, distribution, production, consumption, market territories, or customers, without prior clearance from the SNAME Executive Committee. In any event, no such effort will be made in regard to future or planned prices, terms and conditions of sale or purchase, marketing, distribution, production, consumption, market territories, or customers of members' services or products.
Matters Affecting Participation
- (a) No SNAME activity shall be used as a means for effecting or discussing any understanding or agreement, written or oral, formal or informal, expressed or implied, to boycott or to exclude from competition any person, company, or other legal entity.
- (b) No person shall be unreasonably excluded from participating in SNAME activities. Efforts will be made to ensure that interested persons will have access to SNAME activities.
Suggestion of Standards
- (a) No effort will be made by any SNAME body or members on behalf of SNAME to formulate any recommended industry standards without prior clearance from the SNAME Executive Committee.
- (b) All industry standards recommended by SNAME will be nonbinding suggestions of SNAME only, and no sanctions will be imposed by SNAME for noncompliance with or failure to adopt such standards. Each member of SNAME is expected to exercise independent judgment in using or not using the standards suggested by SNAME.
- (c) All industry standards recommended by SNAME will be fair and equitable, will be in the public interest rather than any narrow or partisan interests of any SNAME member(s), and will be adopted only after a full opportunity to comment on the proposed standards has been afforded to all interested persons.
Fairness of SNAME Activities
All activities of SNAME are to be conducted fairly, responsibly, and in good faith, and with the intent, purpose, and effect of furthering the above stated purposes and goals of SNAME. To ensure compliance with this Antitrust Compliance Policy, the member in charge (usually the chairperson) of any meeting of a SNAME body should normally endeavor to prepare and distribute, in advance, an agenda for the meeting and to prepare summary minutes of the meeting, copies of which should be sent to the SNAME Executive Director. For any matters to be considered which are outside the scope of that body's normal activity, a written agenda for the meeting of that body must be prepared and provided in advance to the members of the body and to the members of the SNAME Executive Committee.
Any SNAME body or member having any questions or concerns regarding the propriety of any activity being conducted by or on behalf of SNAME in light of this Antitrust Compliance Policy is encouraged to contact the SNAME Executive Director. It is the intent and policy of SNAME to encourage such inquiries so that compliance with this policy may be ensured.
Public/Political Interface
The SNAME Executive Committee has endorsed participation by SNAME members, sections and committees in programs that seek to advance the practice of naval architecture, marine engineering, ocean engineering and other marine-related professions. However, caution should be exercised by SNAME members participating in these programs that no impression of attempting to influence legislation exists. Laws in countries where SNAME sections operate govern section activities in such countries.
As a practice, no section or committee of SNAME should undertake programs of a public or national policy nature without first advising the SNAME Executive Committee. Laws and regulations governing public information programs change frequently, and the SNAME Executive Committee is the SNAME body authorized to approve programs in the public policy area.