International Chamber of Shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping is the world's principal shipping organisation, representing around 80%[1] of the world's merchant tonnage, through membership by national shipowners' associations. It is concerned with all regulatory, operational and legal issues. A major ICS activity is 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.

International Chamber of Shipping
Formation1921
TypeInternational Trade Association
PurposeTo represent national shipowner associations, and advise on international policy
HeadquartersSt Mary Axe
London, EC3
United Kingdom
Region served
Global
Membership
80% world merchant tonnage
Chairman
Mr Esben Poulsson
Main organ
Marine Committee
AffiliationsInternational Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization, National Governments, Other Inter-Governmental Organizations
Staff
22
Websitehttp://www.ics-shipping.org

ICS is unique in that unlike other international shipping trade associations it represents the global interests of all the different trades in the industry: 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 Telecommunications Union, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organization. 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.

The UK Chamber of Shipping is a primary member of the ICS.[2]

Location

In October 2011, the International Chamber of Shipping left office space on Carthusian Street, near the Barbican Estate, then owned by the UK Chamber of Shipping and moved to the Baltic Exchange in St Mary Axe.[3]

Publications

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]

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.[8]

See also

References
  1. "International Chamber of Shipping = About". Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  2. "UK Chamber of Shipping - About". Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  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. "Global shipping body addresses the health concerns of seafarers during the Covid 19 pandemic". Hellenic Shipping News. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
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