AAPA

American Association of Port Authorities

ABP

Associated British Ports

AGGIES

Royal Sailors Rests

AGISM

Association pour la Gestion des Institutions Sociales Maritimes (France)

AIMPE

Australian Institute of Marine & Power Engineers

AISCU

Association of International Seamen’s Clubs of the Ukraine

AM

Les Amis des Marins

AMMLA

American Merchant Marine Library Association

AMP

Panama Maritime Authority

AMS

Australian Maritime Services

AMSA

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

AoS

Apostleship of the Sea.  Catholic seafarers’ missionary organisation

APA Argentina

Association de Personal Aeronautico (Argentina)

APHA

Association of Port Health Authorities

APP

Association of Pacific Ports

ASAN

Australian Shipowners’ Association

ATBA

African Seafarers’ Assistance Network

BIMCO

Baltic and International Maritime Council

BTS

Birlesik Tasimacilik Calisanlari Sendikasi (United Transport Workers' Union, Turkey)

BIU

Bermuda Industrial Union

BLG

Bulk liquids (IMO Subcommittee)

CFDT

CISB SWWP 

Commonwealth of Independent States & Baltic States Seafarers’ Welfare Work Programme

CLC 1992

Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969

CMIGWU
Sri Lanka 

Ceylon Mercantile Industrial & General Workers' Union

COLREG 

International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

COMSAR 

Communications and Search and Rescue (IMO Subcommittee)

CONTTMAF

Brazil

CSC

Cambodian Shipping Corporation

CSR

Centre for Seafarers’ Rights part of the SCI

CSWB

Cameroon Seafarers Welfare Board

DMS

Danish Seamen’s Mission

DGSS

Danish Government Seamen’s Service

DPA

Dubai Ports Authority

DSC

Dangerous goods, Solid cargoes & Containers (IMO Subcommittee)

DSM or DES 

Deutsche Seemannsmission (German Seamen’s Mission)

DSUK 

Danske Somandsog Udlandskirker - Danish Seamen’s Church

DUR

Dockers’ Union of Russia

DWT

Deadweight tonnage.  The difference between light and load displacements. It is a measure of the carrying capacity of a vessel and is the weight of cargo, fuel, fresh water and stores that it is able to carry at a specified draught. It is the normal unit for bulk carriers and tankers.

ECSA 

European Shipowners’ Association

EFC 

Ex-Service Fellowship Centres

EMSA 

European Maritime Safety Agency

ESPO 

European Sea Ports Organisation

ETM

Egyptian Transport Ministry

3F

Denmark

FAAM

Federation des Association D’Accueil de Marins

FAL 

Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic

FAL Convention

Convention on the Facilitation of Maritime Traffic, 1965

FEMAPOR Peru 

Federación Nacional de Trabajadores Marítimos y Portuarios, Fluviales y Lacustres del Perú

FETS-FO

France

FGSS

Finnish Government Seamen’s Service

Flag of state

Nation under whose flag a vessel sails

FNSTCMT

Cape Verde

FNTTAA

Brazil

FOC

Flag of convenience

FSH

Fredericia Seamen’s House

FSI

Flag State Implementation

FSM Portugal 

Federaçao dos Sindicatos do Mar (Portugal)

FSTTCA Angola

Federaçao dos Sindicatos dos Trabalhadores dos Transportes e  Comunicacoes de Angola

FWZ Neederlands

Federatioe van Werknemers in de Zeevaart (Netherlands)

GB

Governing Body

GMDSS 

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

GMNOA 

Ghana Merchant Navy Officers’ Association

GRT

Gross registered tonnage.  The registered tonnage (100 cu. ft.) plus the measured tonnage ‘over deck’, such as the spaces for the bridge, accommodation, etc. GRT is a normal unit for passenger ships and cargo liners and is used as a basis for safety requirements and manning.

GSTU

Georgian Seamen’s Trade Union

HKF

Swedish Government Seamen’s Service (Handelsflottans kultur- och fritidsrad)

HFV

Danish Government’s Seamen’s Service

HKSOA

Hong Kong Shipowners’ Association

HNS Convention

International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996

HTWGMLS

High-level Tripartite Working Group on Maritime Labour Standards

IACS

International Association of Classification Societies

IAMU

International Association of Maritime Universities

IAPH

International Association of Ports and Harbours

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organization

ICCL

International Council of Cruise Lines

ICMA

International Christian Maritime Association

ICONS

International Commission on Shipping

ICOSA

International Council of Seamen’s Agencies

ICS

International Chamber of Shipping

ICSR

International Centre for Seafarer’s Rights

ICSW

International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare

ICWTWU

Independent Confederation of Water Transport Workers’ Union

IFSMA

International Federation of Shipmaster’ Association

IHMA

International Harbour Masters’ Association

ILC

International Labour Conference

ILO

International Labour Organisation

IMB

International Maritime Bureau

IMDG

International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code

IMEC

International Maritime Employers Committee

IMHA

International Maritime Health Association

IMO

International Maritime Organisation

IMTC

International Maritime Transport Corps

INMARSAT

International Maritime Satellite Organisation

IOSEA SWWP

Indian Ocean & South East Africa Seafarers’ Welfare Work

IPTA

International Parcel Tankers Association

IRRIDIUM

Satellite communications system in competition with INMARSAT offering cheaper call and equipment charges but with reduced coverage and reliability.

ISAN

International Seafarers’ Assistance Network

ISF

International Shipping Federation

ISFMA

International Federation of Shipmasters’ Associations

ISGOTT

International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals

ISHA

International Seamen’s House Antwerp

ISM Code

International Safety Management Code

ISMA

International Ship Managers’ Association

ISO

International Standards Organization

ISS

International Sports Sub-Committee of the ICSW

ISS

International Sailors’ Society

ISU

International Salvage Union

ITF

International Transport Workers’ Federation

ITF ST

International Transport Workers’ Federation Seafarers’ Trust

ITF ST Form A

ITF ST grant application form for buildings (new facilities, refurbishment, renovations, improvements & extensions).

ITF ST Form B

ITF ST grant application form for non-buildings (vehicles, computer & office equipment, telecommunications, furniture & games, sports, training & education.

ITF ST Form C

ITF ST grant application form for start up projects (pioneer projects)

JDKS
Sri Lanka

Jathika Deevara Kamkaru Sangamaya (National Union of Fishermen Sri Lanka)

JMC

Joint Maritime Commission

JSWA

Japan Seamen’s Welfare Association

JSA

Japanese Shipowners’ Association

KGFS

King George Fund for Sailors (UK Charity)

KISMA

Korea International Seamen’s Mission Association

LEC

Leiv Eiriksson Centre

LEG

Legal Committee of ILO

LIFE

International Seafarers’ Christian Missions

LIMAN-IS

National Port and Land Stevedores Union of Turkey

LLMC

Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976

LR

Lloyds Register

LSM

Latvian Seamen’s Mission

LSU

Lithuanian Seamen’s Union

LSUMF

Latvian Seamen’s Union of Merchant Fleet

MAIB

Marine Accident Investigation Branch

MAREC

Maritime Search and Rescue Recognition Code

MARISEC

Maritime Secretariat providing secretariat services for the ISF, ICS and other organisations.  Based in London

MARPOL

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973

MDU Ghana

Maritime and Dockworkers’ Union Ghana

MEPC

Maritime Environmental Protection Committee

MMtS

Mersey Mission to Seafarers

MNWB(UK)

UK Merchant Navy Welfare Board

MPAS

Maritime & Port Authority Singapore

MSC

Maritime Safety Committee

MtoS

Mission to Seafarers

MTWTU

Marine Transport Workers Trade Union

NAMMA

North American Maritime Mission Association

NAV

Navigation (IMO Subcommittee on safety of)

NAVTEX

Automatic navigation data information distribution system for disseminating navigation warnings, weather information and other maritime safety warnings.  Mandatory on ships above 300 GRT, equipment consists of receiver and hard copy printer.

NCSU

National Chinese Seamen's Union (Taiwan)

Net registered tonnage (NRT)

A measure of the earning capacity of a vessel, expressed in units of 100 cu. ft. It is the GRT less the volumes of spaces not used for the carriage of cargo. NRT is frequently the basis on which harbour dues and pilotage fees are levied. It is a normal unit for passenger ships and cargo liners.

NGSS

Norwegian Government Seamen’s Service

NIS

Norwegian International Ship Register

NMD

Norwegian Maritime Directorate

NSPW

National Section of Port Workers (Poland)

NSWB

National Seafarers’ Welfare Board

NUSI

National Union of Seafarers of India

NUTAW

National Union of Transport and Allied Workers

NYPS

New York Port Society

NZSF

New Zealand Shipping Federation

OISA

Organisation of the Islamic Shipping Federation

P & I Clubs

Protection and Indemnity Associations

Panamax ships

Ships so constructed that the dimensions of the Panama Canal are taken into account in their width and draught

Pay off

When a seafarer leaves a vessel he is said to pay off

PLS

Port of London Society

PMG

Parliamentary Maritime Group

PoSS

Ports of the Seven Seas

PSA

Passenger Shipping Association

PSAP

Philippine Seafarers’ Assistance Programme

PSC

Port-State Control - A state-run body which inspects the condition of a visiting vessel and its safety and insurance documents. A state has a right to carry out inspections to protect its coastline against substandard shipping.

PSU

Philippine Seafarers' Union

PSWS

Polish Seamen’s Welfare Society 

PWC

Port Welfare Committee

PWUP

Port Workers' Union of the Philippines

Reefer ships

Ships designed for carrying refrigerated cargo

RMT

Rail and Maritime Transport Union (UK)

Ro-ro (roll on/roll off ) ships

Ships designed to carry cargo-loaded road vehicles and trailers which drive on and off when embarking and disembarking

RSTU

Romanian Sailors' Trade Union

RWC

Regional Welfare Committee

SAR

Search and Rescue

SAS

Seaman’s Aid Society

SATAWU

South African Transport & Allied Workers' Union

SCFS

Seamen’s Christian Friend Society

SCI

Seamen’s Church Institute

SDOI

Seamen’s Day Organisation Iceland

SEAMARA

Sindicato Encargados Apuntadores Marítimos Y Afines de la Republica Argentina

Second registry (GIS,DIS,NIS)

A registry under a national flag that allows shipowners some reduction in taxation and freedom to choose the nationalities of their crews.

SHMU

Shanghai Maritime University

SHR

Seamen’s House Rotterdam (Stichting Zeemanshuis Rotterdam)

Sign on

When a seafarer joins a vessel, they sign the ship’s articles or a contract

SIMA

Sindicato Independente dos Marítimos de Angola

SINAMAR

Sindicat National des Matelôts (MARINS) Guinea-Bissau

SINAMUMM

Sindicato da Mestrança e Marinhagem da Marinha Mercante e Fogueiros de Terra (Portugal)

SINCOMAR

Sindicato de Capitaes e Oficiais da Marinha Mercante Portugal

SINDMAR

Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha Mercante

SINTRAMARITIMO

SIRC

Seafarers’ International Research Centre (Cardiff University)

SiS

Sjömanskyrkan I Sverige (The Seamen's Church Sweden)

SITEMAQ

Sindicato da Mestrança e Marinhagem da Marinha Mercante e Fogueiros de Terra (Portugal)

SITRAENP

Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Empresa Nacional Portuaria

SITRIEMP

SIU

Seafarers’ International Union of Canada

SLFU

Sierra Leone Fishermen's Union

SM Finland

Suomen Merimieskirkko r.y. (Finnish Seamen’s Mission)

SMOU

Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union

SMT

Seafarers’ Ministry Training (course for new chaplains entering SW run by ICMA)

SNTMM

Syndicat National des Travailleurs de la Marine Marchande

SOEMMM

Sindicato dos Oficiais e Engenheiros Maquinistas da Marinha Mercante (Portugal)

SOLAS

International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974

SOLIDARITE

SOS

Singapore Organisation of Seamen

SoSS

Sports of the Seven Seas

SPWU

Singapore Port Workers’ Union

SSA

Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association (UK)

SSAFA

Soldiers, Sailors & Army Families Association (UK)

STCW95

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995

Stella Maris

See AoS

STMP-FLI

STRANAVITTO

Syndicat des Travailleurs des Compagnies de Navigation Maritimes Aériennes et de Transit du Togo

STWGMLS

Sub-Group of the High-level Tripartite Working Group on Maritime Labour Standards

Suezmax

Ships so constructed that the dimensions of the Suez Canal are taken into account in their width and draught

SuoR

Sjómannafélag Reykjavíkur (Seamen's Union of Reykjavik)

SUR

Seafarers’ Union of Russia

SW

Seafarers’ Welfare

SYMICOM

Syndicat des Marins Ivoiriens au Commerce (Ivory Coast)

SYNATRA

SYNATRAM

Syndicat National des Transitaires Mandataires (Togo)

SYNIMAC

SYNTRAPAL

Syndicat des Travailleurs du Port Autonome de Lomé (Togo)

SYTRACOM

SZN

Netherlands Seamen’s Welfare Organisations (Stichting Zeemanswelzijn Nederland

SZR

Stichting Zeemanshuis Rotterdam (Seamen’s House Rotterdam)

TC

Technical Co-operation Committee (Subcommittee of IMO)

TOSU

Tuvalu Overseas Seamen's Union