The Australasian Steamship Owners Federation was established in September 1899 after its predecessor, the Victorian Steamship Owners' Association, was formally wound up. The federation modelled itself on the Shipping Federation, London, and its founding members were Huddart Parker & Co, McIlwraith McEachern & Co, the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, and the Adelaide Steamship Company. By 1922 branches were established in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle. The Newcastle branch was established in 1928. In 1986 the Australian National Maritime Association was formed out of the ASOF.

Maritime Industry Australia Ltd has existed in various guises, with its genesis as the Australasian Steamship Owners Federation (ASOF) formed in 1899, closely followed in 1905 by industrial body, the Commonwealth Steamship Owners Association (CSOA). In 1986 ASOF became the Australian National Maritime Association (ANMA) which merged with CSOA in 1994 to become the Australian Shipowners Industrial Association (ASIA). ASIA underwent a name change in 1996 to become the Australian Shipowners Association (ASA). In early 2015 ASA became Maritime Industry Australia Limited (MIAL).