International Chamber of Shipping

International Chamber of ShippingFormation| 1921

|

Type| International Trade Association
Purpose| To represent national shipowner associations, and advise on international policy
Headquarters| London, United Kingdom[1]

Region served

| Global

Membership

| 80% world merchant tonnage

Chairman

| Mr Emmanuel Grimaldi

Main organ

| Marine Committee
Affiliations| International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization, National Governments, Other Inter-Governmental Organizations
Staff| 30
Website| http://www.ics-shipping.org

The International Chamber of Shipping is one of the world's principal shipping organisations, representing around 80%[2] of the world's merchant tonnage through membership by national shipowners' associations.[1] It is concerned with maritime regulatory, operational and legal issues.[1] Its membership includes over 40 national shipowner organisations.[1]

A major ICS activity is acting as a consultative body at the United Nations agency with responsibility for the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment, the International Maritime Organization. ICS represents the global interests of all the different shipping trades in the industry, these include bulk carrier operators, tanker operators, passenger ship operators and container liner trades, including shipowners and third party ship managers.

ICS has consultative status with a number of other intergovernmental bodies which affect shipping, these include: the World Customs Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organization.[1] The ICS also has close relationships with industry organisations representing different maritime interests such as shipping, ports, pilotage, the oil industry, insurance and classification societies responsible for the surveying of ships.

## History

[edit]

ICS was established in 1921.[1]

## Location

[edit]

In September 2021, the International Chamber of Shipping left office space near the Baltic Exchange in St Mary Axe and moved to Walsingham House near to Tower Hill.[3]

## Publications

[edit]

The ICS is also responsible for several publications in use in the marine industry, in conjunction with Witherbys.[4] In June 2020, ICS made its maritime publications available as e-books for the first time.[5]

In response to IMO efforts to require cyber security to be addressed under the International Safety Management Code, in November 2019, together with BIMCO and the Witherby Publishing Group, ICS published the Cyber Security Workbook for Onboard Ship Use.[6][7] The second edition of the nautical workbook was published in 2021.[8][9]

In May 2020, ICS issued updated health guidance for the global shipping industry to ensure ship operators and crew can safely deal with seafarers struggling with medical conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

In 2021, ICS produced guidance on Maritime security with a publication entitled Maritime Security - A comprehensive Guide for Shipowners, Seafarers and Administrations.[11][12]

In August 2022, in partnership with Witherbys and BIMCO, ICS issued a guidance title for the shipping industry on biofouling entitled Biofouling, Biosecurity and Hull Cleaning.[13][14]

In 2023, together with the Witherby Publishing Group, the organisation released an updated version of the industry publication Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse On Board Ship.[15]

## See also

[edit]

* European Community Shipowners' Associations (Brussels)
* International Maritime Organization (London; a UN organization)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Proshanto, K (2013). Farthing on International Shipping. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 28\. ISBN 9783642345982.
2. ^ "International Chamber of Shipping = About". Retrieved 1 June 2020.
3. ^ "The Baltic Quarterly Journal - Summer 2011". Baltic Exchange. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
4. ^ "International Chamber of Shipping and Witherby". Retrieved 1 July 2016.
5. ^ "ICS makes maritime publications available as ebooks". Digital Ship Magazine. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
6. ^ "Book Review: Cyber Security Workbook for On Board Ship Use". Maritime Executive. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
7. ^ "How to ensure VSAT modems cannot be hacked". Riviera Maritime. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
8. ^ "ICS unveils new initiatives in shipping's digitalisation". Ship Insight. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
9. ^ "Cyber Security Workbook". BIMCO. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
10. ^ "Global shipping body addresses the health concerns of seafarers during the Covid 19 pandemic". Hellenic Shipping News. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
11. ^ "ICS issues security guidance in new publication". ShipInsight. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
12. ^ "ICS: New guidance on maritime security". Marine Log. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
13. ^ "Biofouling, Biosecurity and Hull Cleaning, First Edition". Tanker Operator. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
14. ^ "Biofouling: A multi-layered ESG problem". Lloyd's List. Retrieved 22 August 2022.(subscription required)
15. ^ "Latest edition of Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse On Board Ship published". Ship Management International. April 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* ICS Home page

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Israel