Ics News

In this moment of heightened trade tensions, the International Chamber of Shipping co-hosted a second Global Maritime Trade Summit in Hong Kong to explore geopolitics and trade realignment, building resilient supply chains, and financing a dynamic and robust maritime economy. The summit was co-hosted by the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong, SAR and the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.The theme of this year’s summit was Building Resilience, Driving Growth and Investment.“The maritime industry is at a pivotal moment.

Witherby Publishing Group has announced a new licensing agreement with The Stationery Office (TSO), enabling the release of authorized digital editions of respected MCA and ILO maritime titles through Witherby Connect. This partnership further strengthens Witherbys’ position as the preferred digital content provider in the global maritime industry.The suite includes two cornerstone statutory publications—the ‘Ship Captain’s Medical Guide, 24th Edition’ and the ‘Code of Safe Working Practices (COSWP) for Merchant Seafarers, 2025’.

The U.S. and China agreed on Thursday to pause tit-for-tat fees on each other's ships that became a major irritant in the broader trade war between the world's two largest economies and pushed up ocean freight costs.The move provides a 12-month reprieve on an estimated $3.2 billion annually in fees for large Chinese-built vessels sailing to U.S. ports and was among the trade deals reached in South Korea by U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.Early this year…

Maritime publishing and digital training group Witherbys has unveiled plans to introduce a new oceanographic research vessel, the MV Sea Ranger, from 2026 to support its technical development, real-world navigational studies and maritime training programs.The MV Sea Ranger will support Witherbys’ mission to enhance maritime knowledge and safety through research directly linked to shipboard operations.It will strengthen the delivery of computer-based training programs, both via Witherbys’ eBook Reader Witherby Connect…

The Chemical Distribution Institute (CDI), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO) have released the second edition of ‘Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases’.Originally published by OCIMF in 1975, the STS Transfer Guide was consolidated in 2013 through the combined expertise of CDI, ICS, OCIMF and SIGTTO. Recognized globally by the tanker industry and IMO Member States as the definitive reference for safe and effective STS operations…

Bloomberg reports that, ahead of Friday’s vote at the IMO, Andrew Forrest, the billionaire founder and chair of Fortescue Metals Group, decried what he said were “intimidatory tactics” impacting delegates’ ability to vote their conscience.“As a global industrialist and philanthropist, I stand ready to support any country or individual being blackmailed or threatened,” Forrest said in a message to negotiators at the UN. “I am committed to working with others to ensure that justice prevails and bullying tactics do not win out.”Still…

Heads of seven shipping associations have called for the IMO to adopt its Net-Zero Framework (NZF) at the crucial vote in October. Anything else would be a major setback for the green transition and risk leaving the industry with a complicated patchwork of regional climate regulations.Next week the 176 members of the IMO will convene in London to formally adopt the historic agreement on binding climate regulation of the shipping industry agreed upon in April.Danish Shipping along with six other shipping associations calls for the adoption of the IMO Net-Zero Framework.

In April, the IMO member states took a historic step by agreeing to the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) – the world’s first global emissions price for an entire industry.The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) fully supports the framework but says that shipowners are concerned about how complicated the new rules could become, especially smaller to medium sized companies, who may struggle with compliance costs.So far, the focus has been on the penalties for emissions (‘the sticks’), but clear incentives (‘the carrots’) for cleaner fuels will be just as important, says the ICS.

In recent days, two ships have now been attacked in the Red Sea. One has sunk and the other has suffered extensive damage. These vessels have been attacked with callous disregard for the lives of innocent civilian seafarers and as an inevitable but terrible consequence, seafarers have been killed.We join with the IMO Secretary General in his denunciation of the attacks and we call on all stakeholders to uphold the safety and security of innocent civilian seafarers as they pass through this vital waterway, carrying the food, goods and energy the world’s economy relies upon.

Global maritime leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to fair treatment, due process and coordinated action to protect seafarers’ rights.Seafarers detained in connection with their professional duties must be treated fairly and with dignity, with full respect for their human rights, high level participants from the IMO, International Labour Organization (ILO), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have urged, following…

At the “Shaping the Future of Shipping” summit held this week in Athens, Greece, Emanuele Grimaldi, Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), delivered a sobering yet forward-looking address that underscored the profound challenges facing the global shipping industry—while urging greater collaboration and global thinking to ensure resilience and sustainability.Speaking to an audience of maritime leaders, ministers, and port authorities, Grimaldi framed the current moment as one of “phenomenal upheaval…

Following the conclusion of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Annual General Meeting and Board Meeting in Athens, which was opened by The Honorable Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Hellenic Republic of Greece, the organization announced several major developments, marking a pivotal moment for global maritime leadership.The board of ICS unanimously recommended John Denholm CBE as the successor to current Chairman, Emanuele Grimaldi. Mr. Denholm will take up the role following the conclusion of Mr. Grimaldi’s term at the ICS AGM in June 2026. Mr.

The ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2024-2025, launched by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), reveals a steady decline in confidence among global maritime leaders to manage the risks posed by increasing political instability, alongside a growing hesitance to adopt new fuels.Now in its fourth year, the ICS Maritime Barometer draws on comprehensive survey data to identify the key risk areas shaping the strategic priorities of C-suite level leaders, shipowners and operators worldwide.

The maritime landscape has transformed dramatically over the past decade. With the global fleet expanding from approximately 1.7 billion deadweight tonnage in 2014 to roughly 2.4 billion today, a remarkable 40 per cent increase, helicopter-ship operations have similarly escalated in both frequency and complexity.This growth, coupled with evolving operational procedures and safety protocols, has necessitated fresh guidance for maritime professionals. It's why we recently updated the International Chamber of Shipping’s Guide to Helicopter/Ship Operations…

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) welcomes the series of landmark updates to ILO’s Maritime Labor Convention (MLC), following an intense week of negotiations at the International Labor Organization (ILO) headquarters in Geneva. Under ILO’s Special Tripartite Committee on the MLC, governments, shipowners, and unions met from April 7-11, 2025, to review and adopt crucial updates that reflect the evolving needs of seafarers and the maritime industry.Among the suite of amendments…

Countries at the U.N. shipping agency struck a deal on Friday on a global fuel emissions standard for the maritime sector, which will impose an emissions fee on ships that breach it and reward vessels burning cleaner fuels.The U.S. pulled out of the climate talks at the International Maritime Organization in London this week, urging other countries to do the same and threatening to impose "reciprocal measures" against any fees charged to U.S.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted crucial new guidelines to protect seafarers from unfair treatment when detained in foreign jurisdictions in connection with alleged crimes committed at sea. The guidelines, adopted by the Legal Committee during its meeting in London from 24 to 28 March, aim to protect seafarers’ rights and ensure they are treated with fairness and dignity, no matter where they are in the world. Key aspects of the guidelines relate to due process…

The Industry Associations of BIMCO, ICS, IMCA, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO & OCIMF, supported by over forty maritime stakeholders, have today released a consolidated publication, Best Management Practices (BMP) for Maritime Security (MS).As an interactive online publication, BMP Maritime Security consolidates previously published regional publications into a single, comprehensive publication with actionable insights and advice. It focuses on providing a threat and risk management process and…

Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Guy Platten, testified before the U.S. Trade Representative Section 301 Committee in Washington, D.C., regarding concerns around potential unintended consequences that could result from the proposed remedies following the Committee’s investigation into China’s maritime logistics and shipbuilding. The public hearing took place over two days, Monday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 26, 2025, with over 60 witnesses delivering testimonies in person.The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) supports the goal of strengthening U.S.

The IMO will reconvene in London on March 31 and April 1, for a crucial two-day Intersessional Working Group on Greenhouse Gas (ISWG-GHG 19) meeting. The meeting sets the stage for a decision on a GHG pricing mechanism by the Marine Environment Protection Committee 83 (MEPC 83) on April 7-11 on the future of shipping’s climate responsibility.The 6PAC+ alliance, a group of Pacific, African and Caribbean States, backed by major allies, emphasizes that this meeting is a make-or-break moment for securing a universal GHG levy of $150 per tonne of CO2-equivalent.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Comité Maritime International (CMI) have launched an updated campaign for promoting maritime treaty ratification as there is a long-standing concern that many governments are not ratifying important international conventions despite their adoption at IMO and other regulatory fora.The campaign highlights the international maritime Conventions which ICS and CMI believe are significantly important for governments to ratify as a matter of urgency.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) Academy provides a platform to harness the collective experience of more than 80% of the world's shipping fleet. Developed by seafarers for seafarers, the Academy provides on-the-go access to practical e-learning that helps shipping companies ensure best practices and regulatory compliance on board.The Academy complements ICS Publications, giving crew access to onboard procedures and training that work together cohesively. The platform is designed to be globally applicable to all ship types and regularly updated to meet the industry's evolving needs…

There were no major breakthroughs in the on-going discussions about a universal levy at the IMO's Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 18) last week. Any GHG emissions pricing mechanism is going to mean big change for the industry, and a lot of different sectors within shipping will be impacted.InterManager has pointed out, in a paper submitted to the next meeting of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC83 in April)…