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.

The HMC is exclusively authorized by the ICS to provide professional training and education on the ICS Professional Qualifying Examinations in Greece

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE:

The first semester introduces candidates to a wide range of core shipping issues giving a comprehensive overview of the shipping business. During the second semester candidates are asked to choose one out of the four different specializations offered by the programme.

FIRST SEMESTER
(October till December): includes lectures, case studies, workshops and courseworks at the following subjects
Introduction to Shipping	Economics of Sea Transport & Trade
Shipping Business	Legal Principles in Shipping Business

SECOND SEMESTER
(January till May): includes the accomplishment of a research on a specific topic the candidates may be able to do so through independent study
1st Specialization: Shipbroking & Chartering Practice	2nd Specialization: Ship Operation & Management
Negotiation Procedure	Ship Operation & Management
Dry Cargo Chartering	Crew and Bunker Management
Tanker Chartering	Marine Insurance
Charter Parties & Bills of Lading	Charter Parties & Bills of Lading
Voyage Estimation	Voyage Estimation
Ship Sale and Purchase	Ship Sale and Purchase
3rd Specialization: Maritime Economics	4th Specialization: Maritime Law
Financial and Management Accounting	Shipping Law
Liner Trades	Admiralty Law
Tramp Shipping	Marine Insurance
Shipping Finance	Carriage of Goods by Sea
Voyage Estimation	Charter Parties & Bills of Lading
Ship Sale and Purchase	Ship Sale & Purchase

Affiliate Membership
Candidates have to sit the Introduction to Shipping paper from 1st quarter and one subject of their choosing from the specialization of 2nd quarter (Dry Cargo or Tanker Chartering from 1st specialization, Ship Operation and Management from 2nd Specialization, Liner Trades from 3nd Specialization, Ship Sale and Purchase from 2nd Specialization). Candidates have to take the two papers in one examination year. Please note that there are no exemptions for the Foundation diploma.

Candidates may select the following options in respect of Specializations:

1st Specialization	Dry Cargo Chartering OR Tanker Chartering
2nd Specialization	Ship Operation and Management
3rd Specialization	Liner Trades
4th Specialization	Ship Sale and Purchase

Full Membership
ICS Membership is achieved by passing the relevant Professional Qualifying Examinations at the end of the course. Candidates are required to pass all subjects of 1st Quarter or be awarded an exemption. Candidates with related working experience and academic background can be exempted up to four subjects. However please note that there is no exemption available from Shipping Business and that this is compulsory in a candidate's first year.

Candidates may select the following options in respect of Specializations:

1st Specialization	Dry Cargo & Tanker Chartering & Ship Sale
2nd Specialization	Ship Operation & Marine Insurance & Ship Sale
3rd Specialization	Liner Trades & Ship Sale & Financial Accounting
4th Specialization	Shipping Law & Marine Insurance & Ship Sale

Full Membership through the Completion of a Research
Candidates who want to become members of ICS through the completion of a research should be above 35 years old and should follow the instructions of ICS.



Advantages for the Candidate

	Advancement of his career through academic and professional qualifications.
	Immediate implementation of his knowledge into his work.
	Combination of full time employment with study without having to put off existing commitments to work and family. The courses are held at a time convenient to candidates.
	Opportunity of becoming a member of ICS. 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.

Training Place
The lectures are given at the HMC Campus in the center of Piraeus, the Greek shipping center. In order to encourage interactions and workshops as much as possible, lectures are held in seminar rooms rather than in large lecture halls. HMC provides extensive lecture notes and other course material so that time may be devoted to listening and understanding rather than to taking notes.

Subsidy System and Fees
The HMC's maritime training programmes are fully (100%) subsidized by the Greek Manpower Employment Organization (Ο.Α.Ε.D.) and the Hellenic Management Centre undertakes the whole complex subsidy procedure for Greek shipping companies. The fee includes tuition, examination and all additional costs related to the programme such as workbooks, study packs, textbooks, focus groups coffee breaks e.t.c.

Programme Start and Duration
The courses are scheduled twice a week from 19:00 till 21:30 am. They start at the beginning of October and run till April of the following year.

Programme Outline
The programme commences with a full introductory week providing candidates with an overview of the content and the mission of the professional maritime programme.
The first semester gives candidates considerable knowledge of maritime economics and shipping business. The first semester includes lectures, case studies, workshops, tutorials and coursework. The accomplishment of the first semester leads to the certificate of HMC. The first semester is a prerequisite course that the candidates must pass before proceeding to the second. The second semester includes four specializations and candidates gain important knowledge in the specialized field they choose. The candidates have to select one from the specializations, in order to be specialized in their area of preference. Additionally, the second semester includes the completion of project on a specific topic which allows them to examine a topic or a problem of relevance to their own interests. The accomplishment of the second semester's requirements leads to the Professional Maritime Diploma.