Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO). The Baltic and International Maritime Council, Denmark.
This is one of the foremost international maritime organisations and its membership consists of shipowners, shipbrokers, agents and Protection and Indemnity Associations (“P & I Clubs”.) In connection with this chapter on chartering, BIMCO is important because it has issued standard, “approved” documents such as charterparties (and bills of lading). These are very well recognised, accepted and heavily used throughout the world. BIMCO also provides many other valuable services for its members, including providing advice on defaulting charterers, arrangement of training courses and provision of various useful computer software for the shipping business.
