VHSS

Hamburg Shipbrokers´ Association

On the 8 January 1897, Association was founded by a gathering of 44 Hamburg ship brokers. Their main motivation was the great strike of 1896/97, a conflict which had suddenly broken out after building up over the years beforehand. In the end, the disputes and strikes also began to involve other workers in the port, whose claims were mainly addressed to the shipping lines. The ship brokers quickly recognised that, if they did not wish to get squeezed by these disputes, they had to speak with one voice in order to stand up for their interests and those of their principals.

The constitutive meeting was held at the Hamburg Stock Exchange Hall and elected J.A. Edye from the Rob. M. Sloman jr. company as its first Chairman. He called on members above all to observe the principle of “good faith” at all times. The first official act of the new Hamburg Shipbrokers’ Association was to send a circular to all shipowners in Germany and abroad. That letter not only recommended the member companies as trustworthy business partners, but also informed the shipowners of the practices of certain Hamburg stevedoring companies, which had developed some dubious business practices in the preceding years, leading in some cases to vastly excessive charges. The interest of the Hamburg ship brokers then as now was to make their port as cost-effective and efficient as possible. Today the Hamburg Shipbrokers’ Association (VHSS) is a voluntary organisation promoting the interests of the ship brokers and ship agents located in Hamburg. In particular, it promotes the exchange of information and experience between members in both commercial and technical matters. Alongside powers of individual advice to member companies, the Association publishes general information in the form of circulars, press publications and annual reports.

Currently VHSS membership comprises 150 companies - liner agents, ship brokers, S&P brokers and port agents.

Eisbein - traditional Annual Dinner

In 1948, the member companies of the Hamburg Shipbrokers’ Association had every reason to celebrate. It was a special year for shipping, which had been lying idle since the End of the war – at last, the 110 ship brokers left in Hamburg had a chance to do foreign business again. Gradually, more and more lines were resuming their operations to Hamburg. The evening was a complete successand all members agreed that the meal should become a regular event. That was how the world famous “Eisbeinessen” started; at the time no-one even dreamt of how the event would grow.

Today the Eisbeinessen is a well known event and one of must attend gathering for the global shipping community. This special function takes always place on the first Friday in November in Hamburg and has become an international meeting platform for ship brokers, ship agents, ship owners, bankers, forwarding agents, terminal operators, and all who are directly or indirectly associated with shipping. The gathering is attended by more than 5.000 people from some 50 different countries.