Chamber of Shipping publishes guidelines for shipping companies on the Bribery Act 2012

The Chamber of Shipping has today launched guidelines to assist shipping companies in the development of anti-corruption policies, with particular emphasis on the problem of facilitation payments.

The document has been produced by the Chamber’s Legal, Insurance and Documentary Issues Committee as general guidance available for anyone who wishes to access it. The guidelines set out a range of issues which could appropriately be considered including:

corporate responsibility for compliance,

the extra-territorial reach of the legislation and

the importance of ensuring that all shore and sea staff, including overseas agents and sub-contractors, fully understand their obligations not to engage in prohibited practices.

The committee advised that companies would still need to seek specialist legal advice in drafting their own policies as these will vary according to company size, structure, vessel types and trade.

The guidelines are available to download as a PDF.