All posts by Jonathan

NEW HORIZON ISSUE 48

This special edition of the Newsletter reports on FONASBA’s 50th Annual Meeting held in Miami on 1st – 3rd October. A copy is available to download here.

The contents include:

  • Thanks and Acknowledgements
  • The Keynote Address by Rear Admiral Richard Timme, US Coastguard
  • Participant Feedback
  • Report on the ECASBA plenary meeting
  • Chartering & Documentary plenary meeting
  • Liner & Port Agency plenary meeting
  • Host Association Seminar
  • The inaugural Association Best Practices plenary meeting
  • 2019 Council Meeting
  • Social events
  • Photo pages

FONASBA Young Ship Agent or Ship Broker Award 2020

Entries are now open for the 2020 Young Ship Agent or Ship Broker Award. Applicants must be aged under 40 at the time of making their entry and be employed by a company that is a member of FONASBA national association or is itself an Associate or Club Member.

As in previous years, candidates are invited to submit a short (one page) synopsis of the subject and coverage of their proposed entry to the Review Committee, this year by 31st March 2020.

The 2020 Award entry criteria, can be found here.  Synopses and entries should be sent to admin@fonasba.com

FONASBA 50th Anniversary Book Launched

FONASBA marked its 50th anniversary with the launch at the Miami Annual Meeting of a book entitled “FONASBA, the First Fifty”, which reviews the history of the Federation since its foundation in London in 1969, examines its current role and then looks forward to the next 50 years. It includes contributions from all of FONASBA’s current past Presidents,  the Chairs of its Committees and the winners of the Young Ship Agent and Ship Broker award.

Copies of the book are being presented to all FONASBA member associations and to all the contributors. An electronic copy of the book can be downloaded from Dropbox using this link. Please note that this is an 86mB file so may take a significant time to download.

FONASBA Young Agent & Broker Award 2019

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2019 FONASBA Young Ship Agent or Ship Broker of the Year Award is Stefan Gielen of MSC Belgium, based in Antwerp.

Stefan’s paper, entitled “Crusade towards correct Dangerous Goods declarations – A comprehensive overview of the current document flow” was described by the Award Review Committee Chairman, FONASBA Past President and Honorary Member Gunnar J. Heinonen as being “an excellent, intelligent, informative and forward-looking analysis, spotting and analysing the problems of Dangerous Goods declarations. It was well set out, well referenced and provided much food for thought for the challenges of future development”.

A copy of his paper can be found here.

As is customary, Stefan received his prizes, once again very generously sponsored by BIMCO and ITIC, during the Gala Dinner held at the close of FONASBA’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting in Miami. Pictured below Stefan Gielen, centre left, receives his prizes from, left to right, Education Vice President Capt. Jakov Karmelić, Award Winner and BIMCO Documentary Committee Chair Francis Sarre.

ANNUAL MEETING 2019 – PRESENTATIONS AND PAPERS

Copies of the papers presented at the 2019 plenary meetings and the minutes can be found below.

Delegate Attendance List

A list of the counties represented, and delegates attending, the 2019 Annual Meeting.

Welcome Address

Coverage of the welcome address to the 2019 Annual Meeting by Rear Admiral Richard Timme, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy at the US Coast Guard, can be found here. This link opens in a  separate website.

ECASBA Plenary Meeting

ECASBA Plenary Meeting Minutes 2019

European Update – a summary of recent actions in European maritime sector legislation. Presented by General Manager Jonathan C. Williams FICS, Customs Working Group Coordinator Hilde Bruggeman (Belgium) and Dr. Alexander Geisler (Germany)

2020 European Shipping Week and ECASBA European Seminar – an update on the current arrangements for both events. Presented by General Manager Jonathan C. Williams FICS

ECASBA Position Papers 2019/20 – an introductory presentation on the subject-specific papers developed by ECASBA. Presented by Marco Tak, ECASBA Chair.

Chartering & Documentary Committee Plenary Meeting (henceforth the Ship Brokers’ Committee)

Chartering & Documentary Committee Plenary Minutes 2019

2019 Ship Broker Survey – a presentation on the representation of ship brokers in member associations and the issues being addressed on their behalf. Presented by Mohamed El Mezouar, Committee Vice Chair

BIMCO Documentary Committee Report – an update on work currently being undertaken by the Documentary Committee of BIMCO. Presented by Søren Larsen, Deputy Secretary General.

INTERTANKO Documentary Committee Report – an update on work currently being undertaken by the Documentary Committee of INTERTANKO. Presented by Michele White, INTERTANKO General Counsel.

ITIC Claims Review  2019 – a summary of recent claims against ship brokers and ship agents. Presented by Andrew Jamieson MICS, ITIC Claims Director.

The 2020 Sulphur Cap, the Impact on Freight Rates – a presentation by Sam Eckett, Associate Editor, Freight Markets at S&P Global Platts

Liner & Port Agency Committee Plenary Meeting (henceforth the Ship Agents’ Committee)

The FONASBA/BIMCO Agency Appointment and General Agency Agreements – a summary of the current status of use of the two new documents. Presented by Committee Vice Chair Simone Carlini MICS

The FONASBA Quality Standard 2019 – a report on the associations and companies currently covered by the FONASBA Quality Standard. Presented by General Manager Jonathan C. Williams FICS

The Ship Agent’s Role in Preventing the Trade in Illicit Goods – an introduction to the work of United For Wildlife and Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) and FONASBA’s participation in both. Presented by FONASBA Past President John A. Foord FICS

Crusade towards Dangerous Goods Declarations – a presentation on the findings of his study by Young Agent & Broker Award Winner Stefan Gielen of MSC (Belgium).

The meeting also included a discussion panel entitled “Disruptive Technologies: Challenges and Opportunities for
FONASBA Members”. This opened with an introductory presentation by FONASBA Regional Vice President for Europe Antonio Belmar da Costa, following which Jason Kelly, Executive Vice President of Moran Shipping Agencies moderated a panel comprising Capt. John Konrad, CEO of gCaptain, Capt. Bryan Bender, CEO of Portcall.com, Evangelos Efstathiou, CEO of Skysail Advisors and Adrian Challinor, Founder of Osiris Consultants Ltd.

Host Association Seminar

The host nation seminar for 2019 featured a presentation by the Florida Ports Council that provided an overview of trade and developments at Port Manatee,  Pensacola and Tampa Bay.

Association Best Practices Committee Meeting

Association Best Practices Committee Plenary Meeting Minutes 2019

This newly created committee is dedicated to the exchange of views and best practice in the operation and financing of FONASBA member associations. At its inaugural meeting, FONASBA President Aziz Mantrach set the scene and then introduced the following speakers to present the experiences of their own associations in enhancing income generation:
Cristian Bennet Lira, AMANAC MEXICO
Rui D’Orey, AGEPOR Portugal
Gian-Enzo Duci, FEDERAGENTI Italy
Julio Delfino, Centro de Navegación Argentina

Council Meeting

Council Meeting Minutes 2019

President’s Introduction – a summary of developments across the Federation over the last year. Presented by FONASBA President Aziz Mantrach.

Finance Report – summary extracts from FONASBA’s formal annual accounts. Presented by Executive Vice President and Honorary Treasurer Botond Szalma.

Regional Reports – reports on the current status of membership, the FONASBA Quality Standard, Port Procedures Survey and other membership matters. Presented by the Regional Vice Presidents:
Mohamed Mouselhy – Africa
Javier Dulce – Americas
Takazo Iigaki – Asia
Antonio Belmar da Costa – Europe

Development Issues:
Education – a presentation on FONASBA’s current education and training initiatives. Presented by Education Vice President Capt. Jakov Karmelić.

FONASBA/WCO Customs Training – A short video by Dimitris Politopoulos of the World Customs Organisation to introduce the WCO Academy customs training programme. To view the video on YouTube, click on the thumbnail below.

Revision of the Annual Meeting format – a summary of the results of the survey carried out amongst FONASBA members, May 2019. Presented by General Manager Jonathan C. Williams FICS.

External Relationships: a report on the activities undertaken by FONASBA in conjunction with other international maritime bodies. Presented by General Manager Jonathan C. Williams FICS.

FONASBA Annual Meeting Genoa 2020 – a preview of FONASBA’s 51st Annual Meeting to be held in Genoa in 2020. Presented by Gian Enzo Duci, President of FEDERAGENTI. Please note this link opens a Prezi file. Executable files may therefore require to be downloaded for this link to function correctly.

FONASBA Annual Meeting 2021 – a video introduction to Antwerp, the host city for the 2021 Annual Meeting. To view the video on YouTube, click on the thumbnail below.

NEW HORIZON ISSUE 47

The latest FONASBA Newsletter was published in June 2019 and is available for download here

The contents include:

  • President’s message
  • 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting Update
  • New Members: Curaçao and Costa Rica
  • Education, Young Agent or Broker Award
  • Education, FONASBA Agent Diploma
  • Quality Standard Update
  • Port Procedures Survey
  • Membership Surveys
  • Standard Document Update
  • Visits to Members
  • FONASBA² Registration
  • Website Advertising
  • International Relations
  • European update
  • Photo Pages

NEW HORIZON ISSUE 46

The latest FONASBA Annual Update was published in January 2019 and is available for download here

The contents include:

  • 50th Anniversary
  • New President’s message
  • Executive Committee 2018 – 2021
  • New Members, Ukraine, Cameroon, Senegal
  • Education, Young Agent or Broker Award
  • Education, FONASBA Agent Diploma
  • Quality Standards
  • Port Procedures Survey
  • Membership Surveys
  • Standard Document Update
  • Member Association Visits: Morocco, IMO MSC, France, Uruguay
  • Website and Social Media: FONASBA²
  • Cancún Annual Meeting summary
  • ECASBA Seminar
  • Relations with International Organisations, IMO FAL, CMI, IMO Ports Group, United for Wildlife
  • European Developments, ECASBA Advisory Panel 2018 – 2021, Reporting Formalities, Port Reception Facilities, Customs Declarations, Cargoes of Animal Origin, Position Papers
  • Photo pages

NEW HORIZON ISSUE 45

The latest FONASBA Annual Update was published at the end of June 2018 and is available for download here

The contents include:

  • New Members
  • Secretariat News
  • Education, Young Agent or Broker Award
  • Education, FONASBA Agent Diploma
  • Quality Standards
  • Port Procedures Survey
  • Membership Surveys
  • Standard Document Update
  • Member Association Visits: Far East, CIANAM, Spain, UAE
  • Social media
  • Dubai Annual Meeting summary
  • ECASBA Seminar, Barcelona
  • Relations with International Organisations, IMO, WCO PSCG, MACN, CMI
  • European Developments, Brussels Representation, Reporting Formalities, Port Reception Facilities, Customs Declarations, Cargoes of Animal Origin
  • Education, SAILNET Programme
  • Young Members’ Group
  • Photo pages

ANNUAL MEETING 2018 – PRESENTATIONS AND MINUTES

Opening Presentation

Mexican Ports Today – A presentation by Fernando Gamboa, General Director of Promotion and Port Management, General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine, the Secretariat of Communications and Transport

ECASBA Plenary Meeting

2018 European Customs Update – A summary of recent developments in EU customs legislation – Hilde Bruggeman, ECASBA Customs Coordinator

ECASBA Position Papers – An introduction to the launch of ECASBA position papers on specific topics – Marco Tak. ECASBA Vice Chairman

The European Maritime Single Window Environment 2018 – A review of recent developments in electronic ship reporting – Jonathan C. Williams FICS, General Manager

ECASBA Plenary Minutes 2018

Chartering & Documentary Committee Plenary Meeting

BIMCO Documentary Committee Update – An overview of the work of the Committee in 2018, presented by Søren Larsen, BIMCO Deputy Secretary General

INTERTANKO Documentary Committee Update – A summary of recent documentary issues under consideration by the INTERTANKO Committee, presented by Michele White,  General Counsel

ITIC Claims Review 2018 – A summary of issues giving rise to claims against shipbrokers and agents by Andrew Jamieson, ITIC Claims Director

Chartering & Documentary Committee Plenary Minutes 2018

Liner & Port Agency Committee Plenary Meeting

Technologies and Impacts on Shipping Agents – a presentation on the anticipated impacts of blockchain and other new technologies on the ship agency profession – Andre Zanin, Executive Director of FENAMAR

Reviewing the UNCTAD Minimum Standards – an introduction by General Manager Jonathan C. Williams FICS to FONASBA’s project to review and update the UNCTAD Minimum Standards for Ship Agents

FONASBA Quality Standard 2018 – a summary of the current status of the Quality Standard and its coverage of associations and companies

Developments in E-Maritime – an update on the current status of the IMO and European Maritime Single Window projects – Jonathan C. Williams FICS, General Manager

Liner & Port Agency Committee Plenary Minutes 2018

Member Association Seminar – “The International Scene”

The presentations made during the member association seminar organised by AMANAC:

Considerations on Port Development and Global Tendencies – Jorge Duran, Secretary, the Inter-american Committee on Ports

Actual Legal Concerns in the International Maritime Industry (Unmanned Vessels) – Juan Carlos Merodio López, Senior Partner M&L Estudio Legal

Council Meeting

Reports from FONASBA Regional Vice Presidents on membership, Quality Standard and other activities in their regions over the past year :

  • Africa and the Middle East – presented by Aziz Mantrach, Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East
  • The Americas – presented by Javier Dulce, Regional Vice President for the Americas
  • Asia – presented by Takazo Iigaki, Regional Vice President for Asia
  • Europe – presented by Antonio Belmar da Costa, Regional Vice President for Europe

FONASBA Education 2018 – an update on the status of FONASBA’s education programmes and initiatives – Capt. Jakov Karmelić, Education Vice President

FONASBA² – details of the new members-only website for companies in membership of FONASBA associations – Jonathan C. Williams FICS, General Manager

External Relations – a summary of FONASBA’s relations with international organisations, other industry bodies and other relevant entities – Jonathan Williams FICS, General Manager

Annual Meeting Miami 2019 – a presentation by Jeanne Cardona of ASBA (USA) Inc. on the location and programme for the 2019 Annual Meeting.

Council Meeting Plenary Minutes 2018

Group Photos

Photographs of the delegates and new executive committee members present at the Cancún Annual Meeting

2018 Delegate Photo

2018 – 2021 Executive Committee