Objectives and Services

The ZVDS (Zentralverband Deutscher Schiffsmakler e.V. = German Shipbrokers’ Association) is the confederation at national level of all twelve local shipbrokers’ associations in Germany. Thus the ZVDS has a total membership of some 450 companies.

The main purpose of the ZVDS is to promote the joint professional interests of German ship brokers and agents, without imposing any restrictions or supervision on the economic freedom of the individual companies. The ZVDS handles all concerns of the shipbroking business that are of a general nature, representing the interests of all its member companies. This work includes relations with the authorities, and with other national associations and institutions. The main focal points of its work are as follows:

1. At national level

The ZVDS provides advisory services and represents the interests of ship brokers and agents vis-à-vis the Federal German authorities, institutions and professional associations, e.g.

• Ministry of Transport
• Ministry of Finance
• Ministry of Justice
• Federal Cartel Office
• Waterways and Shipping Directorate
• Federal Pilotage Organisation
• Federal Association of Maritime and Port Pilots
• German Shipowners’ Association
• German Seaport Operators’ Association
• German Forwarding Agents’ Association
  

It also provides advice and support to the local ship brokers’ organisations. It holds discussions aimed at coordination of viewpoints on certain problem areas. It provides information to its member companies through circular letters, press publications and annual reports. The major forum for this process of opinion forming is the Meetings of Members, held twice a year. It has a working group on matters of clearing, which meets once or twice a year to deal with general port issues.

The ZVDS publishes the General Business Conditions for ship brokers and agents in Germany. It is also co-publisher of the textbook "Güterverkehr über See" (Maritime Goods Transport), which is the standard work for everyone learning the business of shipping.

The ZVDS is a member of the Maritime Transport Council, which is the advisory body to the Federal Ministry of Transport. The ZVDS is also a member of the German Association for International Maritime Law, which is the national department of the CMI (Comité Maritime International). It is a member of the GMAA (German Maritime Arbitration Association), which is concerned with arbitration in maritime trading law.

2. At international level

The ZVDS is the founding member of the London-based international organisation FONASBA (Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers and Agents). Membership of FONASBA now comprises more than 30 national associations of ship brokers and agents. FONASBA has a number of regional sub-committees dealing with local issues.

The ZVDS is also involved in the activities of the European interest group ECASBA (European Community of Agents and Shipbroker Associations) of FONASBA. The ECASBA is gaining more and more importance as a discussion partner and advisory body for all EU bodies in Brussels concerned with shipping.