Representatives from all areas of the shipping industry gathered in London on September 27, to congratulate the highest scoring students in the 2001 Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ISC) examinations. This year, more than 1,100 students sat the examinations in 80 centers around the world. Eighty-two percent of the students were from overseas, illustrating the international appeal of the ICS. "It is very encouraging that so many students, from all corners of the world, have access to maritime related education and training. Also encouraging is the diversity of their backgrounds including accountancy firms, ship agents, oil companies, shipowners, government bodies, ship managers, insurance companies, port authorities and shipbrokers," says Barbara Fletcher, director at the ICS.