FONASBA. The Federation of National Associations of Shipbrokers and Agents. This organisation was established in 1969 and comprises national (usually European) associations of shipbrokers and agents who deal with a wide variety of agency work, such as liner agency, port agency and shipbroking for the chartering of and sale and purchase of ships. In 1989, 22 national associations belonged to FONASBA.
FONASBA performs purposes useful to chartering and shipping in general and this is recognised by its consultative status with UNCTAD, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, a special agency of the UN. At UNCTAD meetings dealing with shipping documentation, FONASBA represents shipbrokers and agents internationally. FONASBA is instrumental in developing a Multipurpose Charterparty, MULTIFORM (1982/1986), for dry cargo, tramping trade, voyage charters. This is very adequate in its coverage of chartering issues but under-used owing to the shipping world’s general familiarity with BIMCO’s GENCON which may possess some deficiencies.
