BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council) has endorsed a new Quality Standard (QS) for ship agents and brokers set up by the Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers and Agents (FONASBA), which will serve to assist ship owners and operators in their selection of who is to represent them in demonstrating a tangible commitment to quality.
Deputy Secretary General Søren Larsen said: “BIMCO fully endorses this initiative as an important step in raising quality standards, generally, as well as specifically for the agents and brokers sector. In a regulatory environment with increasing focus on maritime safety and quality and significant liability risks for ship owners and operators, it is important that the industry strives to self-regulate.”
He added: “The QS provides ship owners and operators with a degree of protection, sets minimum standards and ensures a coherent provision and application of services in this important segment of our industry”.
So far ten FONASBA member associations, representing nearly 200 companies in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Great Britain, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United States now apply the standard, and a number of other associations are currently developing the relevant criteria.
BIMCO underlined how in light of this fact, “it is clear, therefore, that this initiative is gaining in stature and is becoming accepted as the global standard for professionalism and quality performance in the ship brokers and agency sector.”
