Set Sail for Success: Master the 2026 Chartering & Brokerage Exam!

BIMCO is the world's largest international shipping association, formed to represent the interests of shipowners and the wider ship-owning community. Its membership is predominantly ship owners who own and operate vessels, and it develops widely used industry-standard documents and contracts to serve that group. While other maritime professionals such as operators, managers, and brokers may also become members, the organization's activities and standard-setting are centered on the needs of ship owners. Seafarers and port authorities operate in different parts of the industry and are not BIMCO’s principal base. So the sector BIMCO draws its members from most strongly is ship owners.