IHMA Congresses

EHMC Seminars

Congress 2014

Home > Links

Useful Links

Related websites and resources for Harbour Masters

Find useful links to international, European and national maritime organisations below.
Links to national Harbour Masters’ organisations can be found under ’Regional bodies’.

International Maritime Organisations

	International Maritime Organization
	IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

	IALA
	International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities.

	ISM Code
	Enhancing knowledge, understanding and debate about the International Safety Management (ISM) Code - in the hope that ships can become safer and the seas become cleaner.

	IACS
	International Assiciation of Classification Societies Dedicated to safe ships and clean seas, IACS makes a unique contribution to maritime safety and regulation through technical support, compliance verification and research and development.

	Intercargo
	International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners. Our members operate predominantly Bulk Carriers in the international dry bulk trades, such as coal, grain, iron ore and other bulk commodities.

	ICS
	The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) are the principal international trade association and employers’ organisation for merchant ship operators, representing all sectors and trades and about 80% of the world merchant fleet.

	Intertanko
	Membership is open to independent tanker owners and operators of oil and chemical tankers, i.e. non-oil companies and non-state controlled tanker owners, who fulfil the Association’s membership criteria. Independent owners operate some 80% of the world’s tanker fleet and the vast majority are INTERTANKO members.

	FIATA
	International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations. FIATA, a non-governmental organisation, represents today an industry covering approximately 40,000 forwarding and logistics firms, also known as the "Architects of Transport", employing around 8 - 10 million people in 150 countries.

	IAPH
	International Association of Ports and Harbors Over the past five decades, IAPH has developed into a global alliance of ports, representing today some 200 ports in 85 countries. The member ports together handle well over 60% of the world’s sea-borne trade and nearly 80% of the world container traffic. It is a non-profit-making and non-governmental organization (NGO) headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

	IEA
	International Energy Agency The IEA is an autonomous organisation which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond. The IEA’s four main areas of focus are: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness, and engagement worldwide.

	IFSMA
	The International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations. IFSMA was formed in 1974 by Eight European Shipmasters’ Associations to unite the World’s serving Shipmasters into a single professional co-ordinated body. It is a non-profit making apolitical organisation dedicated solely to the interest of the serving Shipmaster. The Federation is formed of nearly 11,000 Shipmasters from sixty Countries either through their National Associations or as Individual Members.

	IMIF
	International Maritime Industries Forum. IMIF is unique in that it is the only body which affords Shipowners, Shipbuilders, Cargo owners, Bankers, Classification Societies, Insurers - indeed all components of the Maritime Industries - the opportunity to meet regularly at the highest level for discussions on the many problems of their separate industries whose prosperity is inextricably linked. It is IMIF’s international and ’cross modal’ membership that sets it apart.

	BIMCO
	Baltic and International Maritime Council. BIMCO is the oldest of the international shipping associations, comprising a membership of a broad range of stakeholders with vested interests in the shipping industry, including ship-owners, managers, brokers and agents.

	Baltic Exchange
	Provides independent daily shipping market information; maintains professional shipbroking standards and resolve disputes.

	IMPA
	IMPA, The International Maritime Pilots’ Association, is a professional, nonprofitmaking body with a truly international outlook. It is primarily concerned with promoting professional standards of pilotage worldwide in the interests ofpilots’ safety.

	ISO
	ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer of voluntary International Standards. International Standards give state of the art specifications for products, services and good practice, helping to make industry more efficient and effective

	InterManager
	InterManager is the international trade association for the shipmanagement industry.

	ISU
	International Salvage Union (ISU) member salvors provide essential services for the world’s maritime and insurance communities.

	ITOPF
	The International Tankers Owners Pollution Federation Limited is a not-for-profit organisation established on behalf of the world’s shipowners to promote an effective response to marine spills of oil, chemicals and other hazardous substances.

	Lloyd’s Register
	The Lloyd’s Register Group is one of the world leaders in assessing business processes and products to internationally recognised standards. The standards are either those of major independent bodies or ones that we have developed ourselves.

	Nautical Institute
	The Nautical Institute is the international representative body for maritime professionals

	OCIMF
	The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is a voluntary association of oil companies with an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas.

	OECD
	The mission of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

	OPEC
	OPEC is a permanent intergovernmental organization of 12 oil-exporting developing nations that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its Member Countries.

	PIANC
	PIANC is the forum where professionals around the world join forces to provide expert advice on cost-effective, reliable and sustainable infrastructures to facilitate the growth of waterborne transport.

	UNCTAD
	United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.

	WSC
	World Shipping Council members operate approximately 90 percent of the global liner ship capacity, providing approximately 400 regularly scheduled services linking the continents of the world.

	WTO
	World Trade Organization. There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization. It is an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.

	PEMA
	PEMA represents the interests of equipment and technology suppliers on a worldwide basis, providing a platform to inform, educate and promote best practice, both within the industries we serve and externally with port and terminal operators and other key stakeholders.

	FONASBA
	FONASBA is the Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents, formed in 1969 to speak with authority on behalf of shipbrokers and agents, to promote fair and equitable practices in these professions, to cooperate with other international maritime bodies, and to consult and advise on any matters of concern to the shipping industry.

	ICS
	Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers ICS is the only internationally recognised professional body in the maritime arena and it represents shipbrokers, ship managers and agents throughout the world.

	SIGTTO
	The Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) was formed as an international organisation through which all industry participants might share experiences, address common problems and derive agreed criteria for best practices and acceptable standards.

European Maritime Organisations

	Cesma
	Confederation of European Shipmasters’ Associations’

	EBA
	The European Boatmen’s Association, E.B.A., was founded in Paris on 26 April 1977 based on the initiative of the national boatmen associations of Belgium, France, German, England, Italy and Holland.

	ESPO
	The European Sea Ports Organisation was founded in 1993. It represents the port authorities, port associations and port administrations of the seaports of the Member States of the European Union and Norway. ESPO has also observer members in several neighbouring countries to the EU.

	EMPA
	European Maritime Pilots’ Association In 2010, EMPA represents about 5.000 maritime pilots from 25 European countries, including Norway, Russia, Croatia, Turkey and Ukraine.

	ETA
	Since its foundation in 1963, the ’EUROPEAN TUGOWNERS ASSOCIATION’ (ETA) has brought together and promoted the interests of the European owners and operators of tugs and tenders.

	European Commission, DG MOVE, Mobility and Transport
	The European Commission is working towards a form of mobility that is sustainable, energy-efficient and respectful of the environment.

	European Commission, DG MARE, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
	The Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries works to develop the potential of the European maritime economy and to secure a safe and stable supply of seafood, sustainable fisheries, healthy seas and prosperous coastal communities - for today’s Europeans and for future generations.

	The Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control
	The organization consists of 27 participating maritime Administrations and covers the waters of the European coastal States and the North Atlantic basin from North America to Europe.

	PORTIUS
	International and EU Port Law Centre Portius is the world’s first institution to specialise in the study of the law of both maritime and inland ports. Port law is essential to the functioning of ports, traditional gateways to global trade. In a fascinating way, port law combines port-related aspects of maritime and transport law, international law of the sea, public law, economic law, labour law, environmental law and various other branches of the law.

	FEPORT
	Federation of European Private Port Operators Feport is made up of a General Assembly which consists of all Feport members. The General Assembly meets twice a year and is responsible for electing a President and the Executive Committee. The President is elected under a 3 year mandate whilst Executive Committee members are elected for 1 year.

	EMLO
	The "European Maritime Law Organisation" (EMLO) was established to provide a neutral and independent forum for debate and research on issues of interest to those concerned with EU maritime affairs.

	ECSA
	European Community Shipowners’ Associations ECSA, formed in 1965 under the name of the Comité des Associations d’Armateurs des Communautés Européennes (CAACE) and taking its present name in 1990, comprises the national shipowner associations of the EU and Norway.

	ESC
	The European Shippers’ Council (ESC) represents the freight transport interests (import and export and intra-continental, by all modes of transport) of business in Europe, whether manufacturers, retailers or wholesalers – collectively referred to as shippers.Members are drawn from national transport user organisations/shippers’ councils, a number of key European commodity trade associations and corporate members.

	EuDA
	Founded in 1993, the European Dredging Association (EuDA) is a non-profit industry organisation for European dredging companies and related organisations, representing approximately 25,000 European employees "on land and on board of the vessels" in direct employment and more than 48,300 in indirect employment (supply and service companies) with approximately 750 seaworthy European flagged vessels.

Australasia Maritime Organisations

	Australasian Marine Pilots Institute
	Aims to be the leading authority on all matters relating to marine pilotage in the Australasian region.

National Maritime Organisations

	FTA
	Freight Transport Association (FTA) is one of the UK’s largest trade associations and represents the transport interests of companies moving goods by road, rail, sea and air.

	NSA
	Norwegian Shipowners` Association. The NSA is working to help put Norwegian shipowners at the forefront of the development of a safe, eco-friendly and socially responsible global maritime industry.

	BIFA
	The British International Freight Association (BIFA) is the trade association for UK-registered companies engaged in international movement of freight by all modes of transport, air, road, rail and sea. BIFA has around 1400 corporate members, known generally as freight forwarders, which offer a wide range of services within these various modes.

	Company of Master Mariners of Australia
	The Company of Master Mariners of Australia is an association established to promote the interests and status of the Merchant Navy generally and of Master Mariners in particular.

	Ports Australia
	Ports Australia is the lead body representing the interests of port and marine authorities in Australia. All Government owned ports, some privatised ports, and most state marine regulatory authorities are members of Ports Australia, as is the Department of Defence through the Royal Australian Navy.

	Australian Shipowners Association
	The Australian Shipowners Association (ASA) represent Australian companies who own or operate international and/or domestic trading ships, cruise ships, domestic towage and salvage tugs, dredges, scientific research vessels and offshore oil and gas support vessels.

	Shipping Australia Limited
	The major focus of Shipping Australia, as a peak industry body, is both to promote and advance the interests of ship owners and shipping agents in all matters of shipping policy and safe environmentally sustainable ship operations.

	Australian Hydrographers Association
	Aims to encourage the development of all aspects of Hydrometric data collection, processing, analysis and presentation throughout Australia.

	Australian Maritime Safety Authority
	The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is a largely self-funded government agency with the charter of enhancing efficiency in the delivery of safety and other services to the Australian maritime industry.

	Irish Institute of Master Mariners
	The Irish Institute of Master Mariners (IIMM) is a non-political organisation of qualified mariners. Its aim is to promote safe, efficient and professional conduct in the public and commercial maritime sectors in Ireland and internationally.