Terms and Conditions

Membership Application 

1. Members shall be defined as freight forwarding companies (directly involved in the movement, transportation, or distribution of freight/cargo) that are qualified to do business in their local jurisdictions in accordance with local laws. 

2. Any freight forwarders are eligible to become a member of The Shipping Club without any exclusion based on market status, company size, specialist operations, and longevity in business or existing agent/partner affiliations.  

3. The total number of members shall be limited up to 2 members per city.  

Application Process 

1. Go to our homepage at www.shippingclub.net to register and submit your membership application online. Your privacy is important to us, and The Shipping Club is committed to ensuring your privacy is protected. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information you submit online. We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information which we think you may find interesting. 

2. The Shipping Club shall check at least two references to confirm the financial background and reputation of the applicant. The applicant will be notified on the status of the application within three business days of submission. The Shipping Club has the final right to accept or reject applicants. No reasons will be provided. 

3. Membership fees are required to be paid within 14 days of receipt of acceptance.  

4. Every new member will receive a Certificate of Membership after acceptance and payment of membership fees. You may choose to frame up the certification display. 

Membership Fees 

1. Membership fees will be billed annually from the date of acceptance. 
2. Membership will automatically be renewed unless it is canceled in writing to your respective sales contact three months prior to expiration. 
3. Renewal Membership fees are payable within 14 days. 
4. If renewal membership fees are not received within 14 days of the due date, it is the right of The Shipping Club to invoke the following: 
   • A final reminder for payment will be sent to the member and payment must be received within seven business days of that alert.
   • If the amounts are not received then the member will be flagged as “payment critical”. 

5. Resignation or revocation of membership during the year will not entitle the member to any refund of the annual fees. 

6. Annual fees are not transferable under any circumstances. 

7. An announcement of new member(s) joining The Shipping Club will be distributed globally when the initial membership fee is received. 

Membership Benefits 

1. Membership benefits are listed on The Shipping Club website and are continuously being updated. Visit www.shippingclub.net for more details. 

2. Some of the member’s benefits shall be assumed voluntary at this time although, upon implementation, could become mandatory at the discretion of The Shipping Club. The benefits shall be covered by an amendment to this membership agreement. 

3. Members are encouraged and urged to promote the name and logo of Shipping Club on all correspondences such as letterhead, stationery, business cards, email signature, etc. and use every opportunity to create exposure for themselves, The Shipping Club and its other members. 

4. The Marketing Communications Department of The Shipping Club will work directly with all members to ensure the right corporate identity in all communication materials are in place.  

Termination and Revocation of Membership 

1. Membership of The Shipping Club shall be terminated in event of any of the following: 

1. • Voluntary resignation of the member.
   • Non-payment of the initial membership fees and setup fees within 14 days after being advised that the applicant has been accepted for membership.
   • Non-payment of annual fees within the time frames indicated.
   • Dissolution of a company based on cessation of trading for 10 or more consecutive days or taking an affirmative step to affect dissolution.
   • Continuous non-responses to accounting, operational or The Shipping Club matters, violation of any provisions of this membership agreement that are deemed by The Shipping Club – at its own absolute power and discretion – to warrant such revocation.
   • The member failing to maintain a high standard of professional conduct as established by The Shipping Club which results in excessive numbers of nonconformities being raised against it by other members.
   • Failure to adhere to accounting and settlement requirements.
   • Failure to maintain necessary local operational licenses or permits.
   • Any principal of a member having or assuming a leadership position or ownership in a network that competes directly with The Shipping Club. 

2. In the event of termination or revocation of membership – for whatever reason(s) – the member agrees to remove The Shipping Club name, logo etc. from its all correspondences, literature, publicity materials, etc. and to refrain from the active solicitation of businesses under the name and good-reputation of The Shipping Club. 

3. Members agree that all actions taken by The Shipping Club in respect of membership shall be final and binding. There shall be no mechanism to appeal such decision. 

4. Members agree that The Shipping Club shall inform all existing members of the termination or revocation of membership stating the reasons for such occurrence (although The Shipping Club shall not be obligated to provide full details of such reasons). 

5. If a member registers or is a known equity holder of another freight/logistics network they will be terminated immediately. 

Referral Policy 

Members are encouraged to promote The Shipping Club to their own existing partners and agents to create a truly world-class global network powered by technology that delivers greater visibility, connectedness, efficiencies and opportunities for professionals in the logistics and supply chain management industry. 

Conferences 

1. All The Shipping Club members are invited to attend the annual global network conference that will be held each year. Members are expected to send at least one representative to attend. There are no limits on the number of representatives each member can send. 

2. Additional regional meetings may be organized as needed. 

3. Conference dates will be shared with members once they are available. The Shipping Club reserves the right to change the date if circumstances require it. Members will be notified of any changes to conference dates as soon as they are available. 

4. Conferences are held primarily to allow members to meet face-to-face to discuss existing and new businesses and relationships. The Shipping Club generates ample opportunities for members to pre-plan, coordinate, network and schedule one on one meetings. 

5. Unless annual fees are paid in full, members will not be allowed to participate in conferences. 

6. Members are expected to cover the cost of the following when attending the conference 

• • Room charges (inclusive of full international breakfasts) during the conference
  • Airfare to and from conference venue
  • All “travel and entertainment” incidentals
  • Conference registration fees per attendee which covers:
    • Conference package (inclusive of coffee/tea breaks) – Min 2 days, Max 3 days
    • Lunches during the conference days
    • One welcome party / cocktail and one/two evening dinner depending on the flow of the program for the conference (inclusive of food and beverages)
    • Any other items clearly defined as part of the program by The Shipping Club

7. Registration/delegate fees must be paid in full prior to the commencement of the conference. 

Sponsorship packages/program for the conference will be available for partners who like to raise their company’s profile or to enhance their brand (Type of sponsorship packages/program will be shared prior to the conference and offered on a first come, first served basis). 

Disputes and Arbitration 

1. The Shipping Club is available to use its independent status to resolve disputes and differences between members. The Shipping Club is committed to be fair and equal in establishing a win –win solution for the disputes and differences between members. 

2. Should this service be required, both parties must agree in advance to accept the majority decision of The Shipping Club without resorting to further litigation  

The fee for this service will be a minimum of US$1,000 payable equally between the two contesting parties. This fee may be higher depending on the specific details of the dispute presented to The Shipping Club. 

The Shipping Club Organization 

1. The Shipping Club is headquartered in Spain 

2. The Shipping Club shall have the power and authority to establish working committees. 

Accounting and Settlement 

It is expected that members of The Shipping Club shall adhere to industry acceptable accounting and settlement standards unless separate agreements are in place between members. 

Nonconformity System 

1. Members are expected to issue sales, operational and financial nonconformities against other members with a copy to be sent to The Shipping Club. Examples of nonconformities are:
   • sales nonconformities: Failure to action routing orders, failure to respond promptly to sales inquiries.
   • operational Nonconformities: Failure to issue pre-advices.
   • misrated HAWBS or OBLS
   • failure to issue or incorrect profit sharing.
   • failure to supply necessary documents.
   • financial Nonconformities: Failure to make prompt monthly settlement.
   • failure to timely pay conference fees or annual fees, etc.  

2. The intent of nonconformities are:
   • To maintain and improve the quality of The Shipping Club
   • To provide advance notice of problems occurring with a member. 

3. The Shipping Club shall monitor nonconformities received and shall take appropriate action – up to and including revocation of membership – against the offending parties. 

Website 

1. The Shipping Club shall maintain a website at www.shippingclub.net which shall:
   • Attempt to solicit business from the shipping public and such information shall be forwarded onto all relevant members in that specific city/country. If there is more than one member in a specific country, The Shipping Club will either distribute the quotes to all members, or alternate sending quotes between members. 
   • Provide the shipping public with information concerning The Shipping Club and its members (their contact information/ corporate web sites, etc…), as well as links to other sites of interest. 

2. Members are responsible for advising The Shipping Club about any updates and changes to their communications profile via email info@shippingclub.net

Miscellaneous 

1. The business language of The Shipping Club shall be in English and/or Spanish.  

2. All rights and interest in the name The Shipping Club and associated logos are owned by The Shipping Club with trademark pending. 

3. Communications shall be primarily by email. Members are expected to maintain an email account and the facility to access attachments in either Microsoft Word or Excel. 

4. The Governing Law of The Shipping Club shall be that of Spain. 

5. The Shipping Club may change its location, telephone, fax and other contact details as may be deemed appropriate by The Shipping Club, at his discretion, with notification to all members. 

Legal Liability 

1. The Shipping Club shall not be responsible for any damages or legal claims beyond the amount of the annual fee paid in the preceding year by the specific party. 

Members shall not, solely because of membership in The Shipping Club, be personally liable for any debts, obligations or liabilities of The Shipping Club.