Seafarers Deserve Fairer Seas

BIMCO supports and advocates for fair treatment of seafarers in all respects and is committed to raising awareness.

Supporting shipping since 1905

Ship at sunset
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Contracts

We’ve been creating contracts and clauses since 1905. We believe that standardised terms create equality, fairness and support business, and we believe this matters.

BIMCO sign on the desk at the International Maritime Organization in London
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Regulation

We work to promote transparent and non-discriminatory standards and harmonisation within the shipping industry.

Merete L. Greisen of BIMCO using a headset in a phone call
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Expert knowledge

Being the practical voice of shipping means we are more than an industry association. We offer members practical tools and expert knowledge to help them commercially navigate to a sustainable future.

A global shipping community in 120 countries

BIMCO's 2,100 members cover 64% of the world's tonnage and consist of local, global, small, and large companies. 

From our offices in Athens, Brussels, Copenhagen, Houston, London, Shanghai and Singapore we aim to help build a resilient industry in a sustainable future whilst protecting world trade. We do this by finding practical solutions for our members to help them manage risk in a changing world.

Latest news & video

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Digitalisation Is 1212785891

BIMCO updates its open source eBL Standard to support the next stage of digital trade

An index finger pressing a file icon on a transparent screen

Join the sounding board for the revision of BIMCO's Electronic Bills of Lading Clause

BIMCO sign on the desk at the International Maritime Organization in London

The IMO GHG working group – a BIMCO account

Upcoming training

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map showing the Strait of Hormuz; hands typing on laptop in lower left corner
24 Sept

Shipping Through the Strait of Hormuz - War Risks and Charter Party Consequences 180 Seminar

A practical overview of how the BIMCO War Risk Clauses operate when vessels trade in high-risk areas such as the Gulf region.

Online
24 Sept 2026 - 25 Sept 2026 2 days
10:30 - 12:00 UTC
BIMCO Training Contact us
180 Seminar
EUR 240 BIMCO members
EUR 330 Non-members
31 Available seats
Ship Management Academy
28 Sept

Ship Management Academy

The Ship Management Academy, a CBS–BIMCO collaboration, offers a five-day programme for maritime professionals to deepen expertise in ship management. It covers legal frameworks, operations, environmental regulations, and emerging trends, blending academic insight with practical case studies.

Copenhagen Business School Porcelaenshaven 22, Lecture Room 1.20, Frederiksberg, Denmark
28 Sept 2026 - 02 Oct 2026 5 days
BIMCO Training Contact us
Academy
EUR 4300 BIMCO members
EUR 5040 Non-members
6 Available seats
red bulker ship navigating a canal
29 Sept

Time Charters Masterclass

The BIMCO Masterclass is designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the principles of time chartering. The course will use case studies as the primary learning tool to allow you to develop a knowledge of the practical aspects of time chartering and its application in the daily operation of vessels.

Steigenberger Hotel Hamburg Heiligengeistbrücke 4, 20459, Hamburg, Germany
29 Sept 2026 - 30 Sept 2026 2 days
BIMCO Training Contact us
Masterclass
EUR 1450 BIMCO members
EUR 1930 Non-members
6 Available seats

Shipping explained

Discover the interrelationships between the commercial and regulatory sides of shipping, and see where BIMCO fits into the picture.

Shipping Explained infographic

Latest market analysis

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2026 09 SMOO Container

Container Shipping Market Overview & Outlook – September 2026

Supply pressure is mounting

Geological map of centred on Panama Canal, extending to Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean

Caribbean Basin crude oil and heavy product exports jump 45%

SNOW 2026 Wk38 Plain

Bulker Panama Canal transits drop 22% amid higher competition for transit slots

Contract editing made easy

SmartCon is the secure and best way of working with BIMCO contracts

Laptop screen superimposed on an image of the sea