During Queen Mary 2’s call into Boston on 4 July, Captain Hashmi was admitted as an Honorary Member of the Boston Marine Society. Formed in 1742, the society is the oldest association of sea Captains in the world and remains true to its original charter of advocating safety of navigation industry-wide, and also as a benevolent charity to mariners and their families.
Honorary members are referred to the Board of Trustees and then elected by virtue of their professional and/or civic attainments. Captain Hashmi has been recognised as a most accomplished mariner of his profession, in particular for his work on human factors in emergencies, having addressed students on the subject on both sides of the Atlantic.
Captain Hashmi is one of a very few select non-US citizens to be elected as an Honorary Member and joins the ranks of the legendary French Naval Officer and conservationist/filmmaker, Captain Jacques Cousteau. Other notable Honorary Members include previous US Presidents John Adams, Franklin D Roosevelt and John F Kennedy, and more recently Captain Phillips, the master of the Maersk Alabama whose piracy ordeal was later chronicled in a book and film.
Captain Hashmi remarked,
“The 4th July also marks the 184th anniversary of the maiden voyage of Cunard’s first ship Britannia which departed Liverpool bound for Boston via Halifax. The “high society” of Boston at the time presented Samuel Cunard with the Boston Cup on the ship’s arrival into Boston on 21st July 1840 in their gracious appreciation of his vision and courage to open up a reliable and most importantly a safe regular trans-Atlantic service. The Boston Cup today is proudly carried aboard the Flagship Queen Mary 2 and symbolises the enduring historical link between the Cunard Line and the City of Boston.
“I am most grateful and deeply honoured to be elected as an Honorary Member of the Boston Marine Society and hope my involvement with this most esteemed and historic association will help continue to bridge the cooperation and collaboration on marine safety between the maritime fraternities on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond”.