How the ICS Greece Branch promotes the ICS principles and raises the professional standards across the Greek maritime community?

The ICS Greek Branch is part of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers’ international net- work and, since its establishment in 2003, we are committed to promote the professional development of shipping practitioners and to maintain the highest level of professional standards within the Greek Shipping community based on the Institute’s ethics and values.
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, founded in 1911 in UK and awarded with two Royal Charters, is a major educational provider, represents all members of the commercial shipping industry worldwide, and promotes professionalism among them, based on the business ethic “Our Word, Our Bond”.
Our commitment to promote the ICS values and ethics is demonstrated through our education- al programmes and our pinnacle course, the ICS Professional Maritime Programme. Participants have an unrivalled opportunity to upgrade their theoretical and practical back- ground and certify their expertise on various commercial maritime aspects i.e., chartering, ship operations, maritime law, marine insurance, S&P, shipping finance etc. Also, they can sit for the Institute’s Professional Qualifying Examinations and get the ICS Membership, an internationally recognized professional qualification and a mark of competence for shipping professionals worldwide.
At the same time, we aim to raise the professional standards by providing participants and our members with appropriate tools to develop their skills, to be up-to date, to show competency, honesty and integrity, respect as well as accountability.
To conclude, as I often state, professionally qualified individuals are better placed to make better decisions on behalf of themselves, their companies and their clients. Therefore, we, at the ICS Greek Branch, will always work hard to encourage continuous professional development through cutting-edge professional training programmes and to provide the shipping industry with highly qualified shipping practitioners who will demonstrate professionalism and knowl- edge gained through study, proven through examination.

* Managing Director, HMC/ICS Greek Branch

The answer was provided for NAFS magazine issue 143 in its special report “WOMEN in SHEPPING”