Professional paper

Unification of rules on maritime agents

Vojislav Borčić ; Pomorski fakultet, Rijeka, Hrvatska

Abstract

The idea of the need of unification of rules on maritime agents is a new one. In order to avoid maritime frauds UNCTAD brought in 1988 the UNCTAD Minimum Standards for Maritime Agents. These standards are non-mandatory rules for the states and maritime agents' professional organizations to create their own standards. The UNCTAD Standards contain descriptions on rights and duties of maritime agents, the need for professional education, financial security and for a code on conduct with sanctions in case of breach. Unfortunately the Standards are just a recommendation rarely implemented by the states.
The Comite Maritime International (CMI) in line with the Standards started with a questionnaire related to this matter with the intent to prepare uniform rules on maritime agents if the majority of national law associations agrees with it.
The Federation of National Association of Shipbrokers and Agents (FONASBA) is dealing with the statutory recognition of the profession and in the same time is engaged in preparing a general code of conduct as a guideline for national associations in prescribing their own codes of conduct. A special group of experts of FONASBA has prepared a draft of such a code.
The future will show that uniform rules for maritime agents are necessary. Than an evidence of maritime agents in special registers will be installed, like in Italy, France and in Croatia, from this year.

Keywords

maritime agents; unification of rules; UNCTAD Minimum Standards for Maritime Agents (1988); Federation of National Association of Shipbrokers and Agents (FONASBA); register of maritime agents

Hrčak ID:

202723

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/202723

Publication date:

20.12.1995.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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