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FONASBA Publishes Lima Declaration

FONASBA officially launched its “Lima Declaration” at the 2013 Annual Meeting held in
Lima, Peru. This document is an appeal to governments, regulators and the maritime
industry to recognise the value of education, professional standards and quality service in
the fields of ship agency and shipbroking across the globe.

Presenting the Declaration to the members, FONASBA President Marygrace Collins noted
that the shipping industry as a whole is under pressure to enhance training and education
as a result of increased regulation, both international and national. Ships and the cargoes
they carry are becoming more complex and FONASBA is taking the opportunity to issue a
reminder that the ship agency and ship broking professions are equally complex,
demanding adequate and relevant training and education.

The Declaration is a call to the global ship agency and shipbroking profession to recognise
the need to ensure that all employees, from front line agents and brokers to back-office
support staff and at every level from trainee to senior management, are properly trained.
With new legislation and regulations being introduced on a regular basis, and penalties for
non-compliance often severe, being fully up to date is fundamental to providing the
highest level of service to principals as well as ensuring full compliance with the law.
FONASBA acknowledges that there are various educational offerings available and hopes
to promote broader recognition of same, which would in turn lead to increased
participation. Last year, the Federation augmented its Board of Directors with the
appointment of a Vice President for Education, Captain Jakov Karmelic, and the “Lima
Declaration” has been spearheaded by him as part of the Federation’s drive to increase
awareness of the wide range of high-quality education available within its own member
associations.

The Lima Declaration is a further step in FONASBA’s campaign to promote the adoption of
professional standards within the industry. It sits alongside and compliments both the
FONASBA Quality Standard and our new initiative seeking official recognition by national
governments of the profession of ship agent.
FONASBA LIMA DECLARATION
Acknowledging that:
• shipping plays a vital role in the international economy and contributes to international trade and the world economy as the most efficient, safe and environmentally friendly mode of transporting goods
• ship agents and brokers are at the heart of the shipping industry, by both bringing vessels and cargoes together and coordinating the actions of statutory authorities, port and terminal operators, service providers, the Master, Owners and all other parties to ensure the efficient movement of the vessel through the port
• education of shipping professionals is of fundamental value to shipping Knowing that:
• ship agency and ship broking are complex and demanding professions
• ship agents are required at all times to be fully conversant with the navigation, safety, commercial and statutory requirements and regulations applicable to the port
• ships are high value assets
• procedures and standards for safety and environmental protection are increasing
• ships, ports, information and communication technologies are developing rapidly
Understanding that
• there are no global education standards for ship agents and shipbrokers
• professional qualifications of ship agents and shipbrokers are not universally recognised
• different education standards and requirements exist within individual countries, without reference to practices in other countries
• in many countries there are no formal entry qualifications for entry to the ship agency and shipbroking professions
Recognizing that
• traditional shipping knowledge and experience have a great value but need to be complimented by ongoing professional and training development to ensure that future developments and challenges can be met
• it is important to give to present and future generations of ship agents and ship brokers vision and a commitment to improve their professional capacity qualifications
We, the delegates to the FONASBA Annual General Meeting held in Lima, Peru, declare that:
• the best way of improving safety and security in the ports, at sea and elsewhere in the maritime sector, and avoiding the proliferation of inconsistent and often contradictory national and regional regulation is through the development of harmonised, streamlined and above all internationally applicable regulations that are implemented consistently by all maritime nations
• a consistent international set of baseline standards for education, training and certification of shipping agents and brokers should be established and implemented
• internationally recognised professional standards and accreditation for ship agents and shipbrokers should also be established
• professional qualifications for ship agents and shipbrokers should be mutually recognised on a global basis
• in order to raise standards of professionalism in the ship agency and shipbroking sectors, companies providing such services
should aspire to become members of a national association and implement appropriate and relevant standards of conduct
• individuals working in the ship agency and shipbroking professions should aspire to achieve high standards of personal
qualification and training from a recognised education provider
• the FONASBA Quality Standard should be recognised by all parties in international maritime transport as a globally accepted quality label
Source: FONASBA