International Federation Of Shipmasters Associations

The International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations (IFSMA), is the international professional organisation that unites and represents the world's serving Shipmasters.

The IFSMA is primarily concerned with representing the interests of the serving Shipmasters in bodies such as the International Maritime Organization, the International Labour Organization and other relevant, international and national organisations.

The purpose of IFSMA is to bring the Shipmasters' views on matters of marine safety, maritime security and protection of the marine environment to recognition at the required level and, at the same time, to forge a more exclusive and professional status for Shipmasters, one based upon their professional responsibility toward both shipowners and society.

The IFSMA is concerned about both international standards of professional competence for seafarers and international standards on conditions of work for seafarers.

The IFSMA is a federation with a policy to ensure safe operational practices, to prevent human injury, to protect the marine environment and to ensure the safety of life and property at sea.

The IFSMA headquarters are located in London, United Kingdom.

About IFSMA

History

IFSMA was formed by eight National Shipmasters' Associations and formally constituted on 1 January 1974, in Rotterdam with the aim to unite the world's serving Shipmasters into a single non-profit making international professional organisation.

The IFSMA office was moved to London in 1983 for close proximity to the London headquarters of the United Nations (UN) International Maritime Organization (IMO) at which IFSMA had been granted consultative status in 1975, only one year after IFSMAs inauguration. This consultative status as a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) enables IFSMA to represent the views and protect the interests of the serving Shipmasters unfettered and unfiltered either by national governments or by shipping companies.

In February 1993, IFSMA was placed on the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Special List of Non-Governmental International Organisations.

In the beginning of 2011, IFSMA started the ''MasterMarinerBenefitProgram''™ a specialized benefit program for all serving Shipmasters, who are either a member of one of the IFSMA Member Associations or an IFSMA Individual Member.

In 2014, over 16,000 Shipmasters from almost 60 different countries are affiliated to IFSMA, either through their National Associations or as Individual Members.

IFSMA Founding Associations

IFSMA, the International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations was founded in 1974 by the following eight National Shipmasters' Associations:
* Association Nationale des Officiers et Marine du Commerce, Le Maillon, Paris, France
* Collegio Nazionale Patentati Capitani L.C. e D.M., Genova, Italy
* The Irish Institute of Master Mariners, Dublin, Ireland
* Koninklijk Belgisch Zeemannscollege, Antwerp, Belgium
* Nederlandse Vereniging van Kapiteins ter Koopvaardij, Rotterdam, Netherlands
* Norges Skibsforerforbund, Oslo, Norway
* The Society of Master Mariners South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
* Verband Deutscher Kapitäne und Schiffsoffiziere, Hamburg, Germany

Presidents

Secretaries General

''MasterMarinerBenefitProgram''™

''MasterMarinerProtect''

''MasterMarinerProtect'' forms part of the recently introduced IFSMA ''MasterMarinerBenefitProgram''™ and is a special defence and legal cost program tailor-made for masters of ocean-going vessels. Initiated by IFSMA and Zeller Associates Management Services (ZAM) ''MasterMarinerProtect'' is only available for members of one of the IFSMA National Member Associations or for IFSMA Individual Members.

Operated by experienced captains and lawyers understanding the Shipmasters language as well as the business Shipmasters are in, ''MasterMarinerProtect'' will protect with its specialized criminal and maritime lawyers the Shipmasters interests right from the first moment.

''MasterMarinerProtect'' is fully backed by the well known and leading international marine insurance market Lloyd‘s of London.

''MasterMarinerProtect'' provides for:
* Full coverage for defence and legal costs in criminal and civil proceedings up to EUR 1,000,000 or its equivalent
* Bails / Securities
* Wage continuation in the case of detention while awaiting trial for up to 12 months and a maximum of EUR 150,000 a year
* Employment disputes up to costs of EUR 20,000

Membership

Member Associations

Honorary Members

See also

* Seafarer's Professions and Ranks
:* Shipmaster
:* Master Mariner

* International Maritime Organization
:* International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships (MARPOL, 1973/1978)
:* International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS, 1974)
:* International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW, 1978/1995/2010)

* International Labour Organization
:* Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006)

External links

International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations

IFSMA's WebsiteIFSMA's MasterMarinerBenefitProgramIFSMA's SeaMansWeb.net

IFSMA Member Associations

Website of CCUOMM, the IFSMA Member Association from ArgentinaWebsite of CMMA, the IFSMA Member Association from AustraliaWebsite of KBZ, the IFSMA Member Association from BelgiumWebsite of SINDMAR, the IFSMA Member Association from BrazilWebsite of BSMA, the IFSMA Member Association from BulgariaWebsite of CMMC, the IFSMA Member Association from CanadaWebsite of NAUTILUS, the IFSMA Member Association from ChileWebsite of DMO, the IFSMA Member Association from DenmarkWebsite of FSN, the IFSMA Member Association from the Faroe IslandsWebsite of FSOU, the IFSMA Member Association from FinlandWebsite of ACOMM, the IFSMA Member Association from FranceWebsite of AFCAN, the IFSMA Member Association from FranceWebsite of VDKS, the IFSMA Member Association from GermanyWebsite of AESM, the IFSMA Member Association from Hong KongWebsite of CMMI, the IFSMA Member Association from IndiaWebsite of IIMM, the IFSMA Member Association from IrelandWebsite of JCA, the IFSMA Member Association from JapanWebsite of LSMA, the IFSMA Member Association from LatviaWebsite of NAUTILUS NL, the IFSMA Member Association from the NetherlandsWebsite of NVKK, the IFSMA Member Association from the NetherlandsWebsite of NAMM, the IFSMA Member Association from NigeriaWebsite of NMOA, the IFSMA Member Association from NorwayWebsite of MMSP, the IFSMA Member Association from PakistanWebsite of AMOSUP, the IFSMA Member Association from the PhilippinesWebsite of FILSCAPTS, the IFSMA Member Association from the PhilippinesWebsite of FESMA, the IFSMA Member Association from RussiaWebsite of MSMA, the IFSMA Member Association from RussiaWebsite of SMOU, the IFSMA Member Association from SingaporeWebsite of SOMMSA, the IFSMA Member Association from South AfricaWebsite of AVCMM, the IFSMA Member Association from SpainWebsite of MOA, the IFSMA Member Association from SwedenWebsite of TOCA, the IFSMA Member Association from TurkeyWebsite of OSMA, the IFSMA Member Association from UkraineWebsite of NAUTILUS UK, the IFSMA Member Association from the United KingdomWebsite of CAMM, the IFSMA Member Association from the United States of America

Other Relevant Organisations

Website of BIMCO, the Baltic and International Maritime CouncilWebsite of CESMA, the Confederation of European Shipmasters' AssociationsWebsite of EMSA, the European Maritime Safety AgencyWebsite of IACS, the International Association of Classification SocietiesWebsite of IALA, the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse AuthoritiesWebsite of ICS/ISF, the International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping FederationWebsite of ILO, the International Labour OfficeWebsite of IMarEST, the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and TechnologyWebsite of IMO, the International Maritime OrganizationWebsite of IMPA, the International Maritime Pilots' AssociationWebsite of INTERMANAGER, the InterManagerWebsite of ISAN, the International Seafarers Assistance NetworkWebsite of ITLOS, the International Tribunal of the Law of the SeaWebsite of ITF, the International Transport Workers' FederationWebsite of MPHRP, Maritime Piracy - Humanitarian ResponseWebsite of SRI, Seafarers' Rights InternationalWebsite of UN, the United Nations

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations
International organisations based in London
International professional associations
Organisations based in the London Borough of Lambeth
Shipmasters
Shipping trade associations
Transport organisations based in the United Kingdom
1974 establishments in the United Kingdom