Britain: An official handbook > 1956

210
BRITAIN: AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
SHIPPING ORGANIZATIONS
Excluding Government-owned tankers, cable ships, passenger ships used as
troopers and emigrant ships, and ships owned by the British Transport Commission
(see p. 222), the business of merchant shipping in peace time is in the hands of
private enterprise. The main organizations concerned with the activities, interests
and common problems of the industry are as follows:
The Corporation of Lloyd's
This body, which was founded in the seventeenth century, is a society of under¬
writers whose main business is marine insurance (see also p. 294).
Lloyd's Register of Shipping
Lloyd’s Register is an organization, distinct from the Corporation, which surveys
and classifies ships with particular regard to their safety and operational efficiency.
It will accept responsibility for surveying and giving technical advice on vessels of
all flags from the initial stages of building, at regular intervals during their service,
and after casualties. A satisfactory Lloyd’s classification is a guarantee to an under¬
writer that he may accept the risk of a vessel, and this forms a strong link between
the Register and the Corporation of Lloyd’s.
Shipowners' Organizations
The representative bodies speaking for shipowners generally (excluding, for the
most part, owners of fishing vessels) are the Chamber of Shipping and the Liverpool
Steamship Ozvners' Association. The General Council of British Shipping co-ordinates
the views of the shipping industry as a whole on all matters of major policy.
There are a number of local associations of shipowners centred around the main
port areas. There are, for example, the Bristol Steamship Owners' Association, the
London General Shipowners' Society, and the North of England Shipowners' Associa¬
tion. Others represent companies specializing in a particular trade or type of cargo.
Employers' Organizations
The Shipping Federation and the Employers' Association of the Port of Liverpool
are the employers’ organizations concerned with labour relations and the regula¬
tion of employment throughout the Merchant Navy. They are responsible for the
administration of the Merchant Navy Established Service Scheme, under which
shipowners engaging crews for ships of 200 tons and above engage them through
the Merchant Navy Establishment Administration unless they are prepared to offer
two-year Company Service contracts. The Shipping Federation is also responsible
for the day-to-day operation of the National Sea Training Schools set up for the
purpose of training ratings for the deck and catering departments and as firemen.
Seafarers' Organizations
Shipmasters are represented by the Mercantile Marine Service Association; navi¬
gating officers, engineer officers, apprentices, cadets, pursers and ships’ surgeons by
the Navigators and Engineer Officers' Union; and radio officers by the Radio Officers'
Union. Some engineer officers are represented by the Marine Engineers' Association,
and uncertificated engineer officers by the Amalgamated Engineering Union. The
interests of the deck, engine-room and catering ratings are represented by the
National Union of Seamen.
The National Maritime Board
The National Maritime Board is composed of equal numbers of representatives
of the shipowners and seafarers and is responsible for all negotiations of wages and