IFSMA

IFSMA was formed in 1974 by eight national shipmasters' associations to unite the world's serving shipmasters into a single professional coordinated body. It is a non-profit, apolitical organisation dedicated solely to the interest of the serving shipmaster. Thousands of shipmasters from all continents are affiliated to IFSMA, either through their national associations or as individual members. IFSMA is a federation established to uphold international standards of professional competence for seafarers commensurate with the need to ensure safe operational practices, preservation from human injury, protection of the marine environment and safety of life and property at sea. In 1975 IFSMA was granted status as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized United Nations (UN) agency. This consultative status enables the Federation to represent the views and protect the interests of the serving shipmasters unfettered and unfiltered either by national governments or by shipping companies.