ASBA gets tough on 'bad apple' agents.

(From Lloyds List)

Byline: Supporting ships' agents is all very well, but what about 'bad apples' who leave principals in the lurch? The Association of Ship Brokers and Agents has decided to play policeman, imposing tough new guidelines for its agent members. But ASBA wields much m

A SHIP'S agent, by definition, has a conspicuous profile when the ship enters port. The agent brings in supplies, takes the master's wife shopping while dealing with authorities on the side. For the rest of the crew, the agent plays postman, travel agent and, in some cases, therapist.

But it is a common lament that 'being an agent today is not the same as it used to be 50 years ago'.

Fifty years ago, for instance, there was no International Safety Management Code. Governments did not require armed guards to keep seafarers from stretching their legs. There were no 'automated manifests'. Why, 50 years ago, owners even had some money.

So, naturally, today's agents provide prime fodder for wisecracks. They get it both coming and going. They pay up-front, then revert to the back of the queue with cap in hand. They are left holding the baby or the can.

But recent high-profile agent bankruptcies in the US have left several principals holding the can instead. In some cases, agents are said to have absconded with cash.