ASBA CODE OF ETHICS PURPOSE   The Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (U.S.A.), Inc. purpose is to advance and foster ideals and standards of personal and professional conduct and practices, to inculcate just and equitable principles  among those engaged in the trade, to define customs of the business, to establish and maintain uniformity in commercial usages, to adjust controversies and misunderstandings, and to promote the common interests of those business establishments which are engaged in business as ship brokers and agents. CODE OF ETHICS  The officers, partners and associates of each member firm of this Association are firmly pledged to the following principles in the conduct of their brokerage and agency business. 1.  In the conduct of his profession, a member shall exercise great care to avoid misrepresentation and shall be guided by the principles of honesty and fair- dealing. 2 A member shall be diligent at acquainting himself with market conditions and shall keep his principal accurately informed thereof 3.    A member shall always assist, never hinder, principals in reaching and performing an agreement, always rendering his best efforts and using his best judgement on their behalf. 4.    A member shall handle all proposals accurately and expeditiously. 5.    When acting as a broker, he shall not make decisions for the principals unless so authorized by them; and when negotiating on a standard or well-known form of charter party, a member shall advise the principals of any deviation from the usual form. 6.    Members shall always render their steamship agency services to their principals as economically and efficiently as circumstances permit. 7.    Each member agrees to inculcate his organization with the principles set forth herein, for it is recognized that only by their observance will the standards of personal and professional conduct be as adopted December 16, 1949 advanced, and the practice of ship brokerage and and as amended June 23, 1981 agency continue to inspire confidence as an essential and effective part of the shipping industry. ________________ Click here to learn about ASBA and advantages of membership