Press Releases

ICS Welcomes Dramatic IMO Progress on Ballast Water Issues

Governments attending the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) this week have made real progress towards agreeing solutions to major issues that have previously impeded ratification of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, says ICS, the global trade association for ship operators.

ICS Concern about Serious Threat to Maritime Oil Pollution Compensation Regime

The smooth running of the well-established global regime for compensation from oil pollution from ships may be under serious threat, due to a decision by governments to wind up the 1971 International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF), says the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global trade association for shipowners.

Final Shipping Industry Lobbying for Ballast Convention Solution before Next Week’s Crucial IMO Meeting

The global shipping industry is expected to have to invest around $US100 Billion in new ballast water treatment systems once the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention enters into force.

Shipping Industry Releases Updated Anti-Piracy Guidelines on Gulf of Guinea Region

The Round Table of international shipping industry associations has released an updated version of ‘Guidelines for Owners, Operators and Masters for Protection Against Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region’.

Download the Guidelines at ics-shipping.org/docs/GOG-guidelines

ICS Marks IMO World Maritime Day

To mark the occasion of IMO World Maritime Day on 25 September, and its theme this year of ‘IMO Conventions: Effective Implementation’, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has produced a special brochure, which is being circulated throughout the industry by its member national shipowners’ associations.

“Global Shipping’s Emissions 20% Lower”, ICS Explains to United Nations Climate Summit

New York - The total Green House Gas emissions from global maritime transport are estimated to have been over 20% lower in 2012 than in 2007, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global shipping industry’s trade association.

ICS Vice Chairman Repeats Call for Governments to See Sense on Ballast Convention

ICS today reiterated its call for governments to address the serious implementation issues concerning the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention before it is too late.

ICS Plea to IMO Member States on Implementation of New Environmental Rules

ICS has called on IMO Member States to give careful consideration to shipowners’ concerns about the implementation of an avalanche of new environmental regulations.

Global Shipping Bodies Issue Ebola Virus Advice

Three global shipping organisations today issued guidance to their members on the risks posed to ships’ crews calling in countries affected by the Ebola virus.

ICS Calls for Harmonised Port State Control with Respect to Sulphur Emission Control Areas

ICS is encouraging the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control to ensure that a harmonised approach to PSC inspections has been developed in advance of the 1 January 2015 deadline with respect to the implementation of the 0.1% Sulphur Emission Control Areas (ECAs), established in accordance with MARPOL Annex VI.

Shipping Industry Submits Comments to Australian Anti-Trust Review

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has submitted comments on behalf of the global shipping industry to a comprehensive competition policy review being conducted by the Australian Government.

Shipping Industry Proposes Solutions to Ballast Convention Implementation Problems

ICS – in co-operation with a wide coalition of international shipping organisations – has submitted an important paper to the IMO that proposes a means of overcoming the serious implementation problems associated with the Ballast Water Management Convention.

ICS Produces Guidelines on Plans for Recovery of Persons from the Water

Guidelines to help shipowners comply with a new IMO regulation requiring ship-specific plans and procedures for the recovery of persons from the water, have been launched today by ICS.

ICS Welcomes Release of 'Global Spirit' in Antwerp

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global trade association for shipowners, has welcomed the release of the car carrier ‘Global Spirit’ following its detention in the port of Antwerp, for three weeks, by the Belgian environmental authorities.

Shipping Industry Welcomes Bold Ideas on Future Ocean Governance from Global Ocean Commission

Proposals to protect the world’s oceans have been welcomed by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the principal trade association for merchant shipowners.

ICS Explains Shipping Industry Commitment to Reduce CO2 Emissions, at ‘Tyndall Centre’ Event in Liverpool

At a major conference in Liverpool, United Kingdom, hosted by the renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Peter Hinchliffe, Secretary General of ICS, explainied the shipping industry’s commitment to reducing its CO2 emissions.

ICS Meets in Cyprus

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) – the principal global trade association for shipowners representing over 80% of the world merchant fleet – met in Limassol, Cyprus last week for its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

ICS Publishes Annual Review

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published its latest Annual Review of maritime policy and regulatory developments in advance of its Annual General Meeting.

Agreement Reached for Amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 to Address Abandonment of Seafarers and Crew Claims

Governments, maritime employer representatives and their union counterparts met this week at the ILO in Geneva for the first meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee.

Serious Ballast Water Management Convention Problems Still Need to be Resolved by IMO

The global shipping industry has voiced continuing concern about serious implementation problems associated with the IMO Ballast Water Management (BWM) Convention.