International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations


The International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations, 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 International Maritime Organization at which IFSMA had been granted consultative status in 1975, only one year after IFSMAs inauguration. This consultative status as a Non-Government Organisation 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 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:

Secretaries General

''MasterMariner'''BenefitProgram'''''™

''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 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:

Member Associations

CountryAssociationAcronymJoint
Centro de Capitanes de Ultramar y Oficiales de la Marina MercanteCCUMM1980
Company of Master Mariners of AustraliaCMMA2009
Koninklijk Belgisch ZeemanscollegeKBZ1974
Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha MercanteSINDMAR2008
Bulgarian Shipmasters' AssociationBSMA1994
Company of Master Mariners of CanadaCMMC2007
Capitanes de Alta Mar de la Marina Mercante NacionalNAUTILUS2006
Danish Maritime OfficersDMO1984
Føroya Skipara- og NavigatørfelagFSN2008
Finish Ships Officers UnionFSOU1996
Association des Capitaines et Officiers de la Marine MarchandeACOMM1975
Association Francaise des Capitaines de NaviresAFCAN1979
Verband Deutscher Kapitäne und SchiffsoffiziereVDKS1974
Anglo Eastern Ship ManagementAESM1999
Company of MasterMariners of IndiaCMMI2008
Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia PerjuanganKPIP2016
Irish Institute of Master MarinersIIMM1974
Japan Captains AssociationJCA2008
Latvian Shipmasters' AssociationLSMA2004
Nautilus InternationalNAUTILUS NL2006
Nederlandse Vereniging van Kapiteins ter KoopvaardijNVKK1974
Nigerian Association of Master MarinersNAMM2009
Norwegian Maritime Officers AssociationNMOA1974
Master Mariners Society of PakistanMMSP2010
Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the PhilippinesAMOSUP2006
Society of Filipino Ship CaptainsFILSCAPTS2010
Far Eastern Shipmasters' AssociationFESMA1990
Murmansk Shipmasters' AssociationMSMA1989
Singapore Maritime Officers' UnionSMOU2012
Society of Master Mariners South AfricaSOMMSA1974
Asociacion Vizcaina de Capitanes de la Marina MercanteAVCMM1976
Maritime Officers`AssociationMOA1985
Turkish Overseas Captains' AssociationTOCA2013
Odessa Shipmasters' AssociationOSMA1989
Nautilus InternationalNAUTILUS UK2006
Council of American Master MarinersCAMM1992

Honorary Members

International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations

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