International Chamber of Shipping
| Formation | 1921 |
|---|---|
| Type | International Trade Association |
| Purpose | To represent national shipowner associations, and advise on international policy |
| Headquarters | 38 St Mary Axe, London |
Region served | Global |
Membership | 80% world merchant tonnage |
Chairman | Mr Masamichi Morooka |
Main organ | Marine Committee |
| Affiliations | International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization, National Governments, Other Inter-Governmental Organizations |
Staff | 19 |
| Website | http://www.ics-shipping.org |
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.
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 have an impact on 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.
Relocation to the Baltic Exchange
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.
See also
- European Community Shipowners' Associations (Brussels)
- International Maritime Organization (London; a UN organization)