HMC as the Administrator of ICS Greek Branch
The Branch of Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers in Greece operates under the auspices of the Hellenic Management Centre. HMC undertakes the administration of ICS Greek Branch and it is the education provider of ICS.

Company Profile of ICS
The ICS's function is to set the highest standards of professional service to the shipping industry worldwide through education, example and discipline - and it has been doing that since the first decade of the last century.

Individual Membership
Membership of the Institute (MICS) is achieved by candidates passing the professional Qualifying Examinations and satisfying the Controlling Council of their suitability.
Fellowship (FICS) applications are accepted from Members holding a position of seniority who have been engaged in the business or profession of a shipbroker for 6 years. On promotion Fellows are entitled to call themselves a 'Chartered Shipbroker'. Member of the Institute is internationally recognised as a mark of professionalism in the shipping business. The Institute is the largest network of professionally qualified shipbrokers worldwide. Membership confirms a personal commitment to the provision of service to an internationally recognised standard. Member's interests are represented in Government and Industry fora at the highest levels.

Benefits of Individual Membership

	Through its worldwide network of Members (MICS) and Fellows(FICS) the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers is internationally recognised as a mark of professionalism in the shipping community. Members have access to a world-wide network of shipping professionals who work to the motto "Our Word Our Bond"
	Being a member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers means much more than the initials after your name.The Institute is the largest network of professionally qualified shipbrokers in the world and membership of the Institute is internationally recognised as a mark of professionalism in the shipping business. Membership confirms a personal commitment to the provision of service to an internationally recognised standard. Further to that, the ICS represents member's interests in government and industry fora at the highest levels.
	As a well-established and respected organisation within the shipping industry, the ICS has also secured a number of exciting offers exclusively for its members.
	ICS members can save up to 40% of the fees for a private medical plan with HMCA, which includes free overseas cover, sports cover and a 24-hour health helpline. Call +44 (0) 1423 866985 to find out more information.
	Fairplay has teamed up with the ICS to provide its members with a discounted subscription rate.
	Thistle Advantage offers a range of benefits providing great value and service for ICS members. Offers range from a minimum 30% discount off Thistle Hotels published rates, at least 10% off published Meeting & Events rates, free room upgrades and 40% off Thistle Leisure Breaks among other things.
	ICS members qualify for a 15% discount on a new Lloyd's List subscription. As the only daily maritime newspaper, Lloyd's List has the market covered.
	Corporate Team offers a total hotel booking service for large enterprises and small to medium sized for ICS members. To use the service, members must register online at Corporate Team, using the Corporate ID 10758 and the Registration Authorisation Code 10758. Once members have registered the hotel booking website can be accessed by going to the 'book hotels' link.
	The International Airline Passengers Association has agreed a partnership deal with the ICS to offer a range of exclusive travel services and benefits to members. Visit its website for more details.

Company Membership
Companies that meet the applicable criteria can elect to become Company Members of the Institute, whose interests are represented by Federation Council, which is charged with acting as the link between Company Members and external bodies ranging from the UK Government and its departments through to other trade bodies.

The primary function of Federation Council is to promote and protect the interests of the Company Members, which it discharges by a variety of means including:

	Securing contracts to allow Company Members to provide services to Trinity House and other statutory authorities.
	Providing a single point of contact between the shipbroking and port agency industries and the UK Government and its departments.
	Ensuring that the views and commercial expertise of Company Members are brought to the attention of those charged with developing shipping legislation.

Benefits of Company Membership

	Membership of the largest network of professionally qualified agency and broking organisations worldwide
	International recognition of a Company-wide commitment to professional standards and education
	The support of Institute Federation Council and its committees in the promotion and protection of members' interests
	The opportunity to nominate employees to stand as candidates for Federation Council and its committees
	Opportunities to raise matters of concern with local, regional and national Government and other bodies, such as Customs, Immigration and health through the actions of Federation Council
	Access through Federation Council to FONASBA, the only body representing agents and brokers at an international level and at European Commission level through ECASBA
	Information on national and international developments in trade, procedures regulations etc., through the bi-monthly Bulletin
	Access to agency and broking documents developed by FONASBA
	Use of the revised Institute Standard Trading Conditions. Copies are available from Head Office
	The opportunity for company staff, whether they are professional members or not, to attend branch meetings in their local area and to contribute to the work of that branch
	Increased opportunities for Company Members through Federation Council initiatives such as:
	- Issuing Light Dues certificates on behalf of Trinity House - Authorising EUR-1 movement certificates on behalf of Customs - Direct access to the UK short sea shipping promotion centre, "Sea & Water" through the two ICS members - The opportunity to apply to become an authorised collector of Light Dues. - Company Members also benefit from reductions in fees for Tutorship and other ICS training courses, the latter including the "Understanding Shipping" and one-day "Business of Shipping" courses.

Subject to Federation, and ultimately Controlling, Council approval, any company worldwide that meets the applicable criteria may apply to be a Company Member.


Events of ICS Greek Branch

Hellenic launch: (right to left) institute director general Alan Philips, HMC director Natalia Margioli, Nick Marmatzouris of GUK Shipping and Evi Plomaritou, HMC's shipping director

Brokers' institute kicks off in Greece
SEVERAL hundred people turned out at the Piraeus Port Authority's headquarters last week for the opening of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers' new Greek Branch, which is being run in co-operation with the locally based Hellenic Management Centre.
Despite a brief flurry of concern that it might have overstepped the mark with local brokers - thanks to a mistranslation in the invitation to the inauguration - the new branch has started amid great enthusiasm.

Sponsors for the ceremony included brokers and shipping firms Chartworld, Clarkson Hellas, Cosmos Marine Management, Dynacom, Golden Destiny, Macoil International, Nicholas G. Moundreas Shipping, Target Marine, Tsavliris, Vanos, Thenamaris, Eastern Mediterranean, European Navigation and Top Tankers.
Speakers included Hellenic Chamber of Shipping president George Gratsos and owners Vassilis Constantacopoulos and Costas Comnimos.

'Returning the favour'
ELECTED first chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers' Greek Branch, Nicolas Tsavliris' relationship with the institute goes back a long way.
Leafing through volumes of what was then known as the Lloyd's List & Shipping Gazette, one may happen upon a 1969 entry listing the successful candidates at that year's Chartered Shipbrokers' exams.

One NA Tsavliris, a director of Tsavliris (Shipping) Ltd, "passed with distinction" by virtue of coming first in the Fellowship (part I) exam and was awarded an institute prize. We are reliably informed that the prize, enclosed with Mr Tsavliris' certificates, was at that time a cheque in amount of 7 pounds, 7 shilling, 0 pence.
How times changed!