The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has expanded its range of free resources available to the global maritime community, providing ship owners and operators, managers, seafarers and industry stakeholders with access to practical tools, reports and guidance that support the application of industry best practice.

The expanded collection includes a range of checklists, assessment tools, posters, reports and guidance documents covering key operational, safety, workforce and sustainability topics. Many of the resources complement ICS publications, providing practical materials that can be used alongside the organisation’s comprehensive industry guidance, while others are available as standalone resources addressing important maritime issues.

The free resources have been developed to support the implementation of established industry standards and encourage the sharing of knowledge across the global shipping sector.

Among the latest resources available are practical operational tools linked to several flagship ICS publications, including the Bridge Procedures Guide, Engine Room Procedures Guide, Deck Procedures Guide and Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention. Resources include bridge, pilotage, manoeuvring and emergency checklists, engine room permits and checklists, a deck self-assessment tool, and guidance supporting efforts to prevent violence and harassment in the maritime sector.

The collection also includes standalone resources such as the ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2025-2026, the Flag State Performance Table and guidance on Navigating in Areas of Unreliable Satellite Signals, which will feature in the forthcoming edition of the Bridge Procedures Guide.

In addition, ICS continues to make a range of co-authored and independently commissioned resources freely available, including Promoting Maritime Treaty Ratification, developed with Comité Maritime International, Rescue at Sea, produced in partnership with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and UNHCR, and research reports on ship recycling and onboard carbon capture and storage.

Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, said:

“Sharing knowledge and promoting best practice across our industry is central to ICS’s mission. These free resources have been developed to help seafarers, ship operators and maritime stakeholders access practical guidance on a wide range of topics affecting day-to-day operations and the future of our industry.

“Many of these resources have been created to complement our established publications, providing additional tools that support the implementation of industry guidance and encourage continuous improvement across the sector. We are pleased to make them widely available to help support safe, efficient and sustainable shipping worldwide.”

The expanded range of resources reflects ICS’s ongoing commitment to supporting the global maritime industry through practical guidance, research and thought leadership.

Free resources can be accessed via the ICS website at: www.ics-shipping.org/resources.

Resources related to specific publications, can be download from each respective publication’s page: https://www.ics-shipping.org/publications/

ENDS

Pictured: 

Cover of the ICS Maritime Barometer Report 2025-2026

About ICS

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal international trade association for shipowners and operators, concerned with all technical, legal employment affairs and policy issues that may affect international shipping. ICS membership comprises national shipowners’ associations in Asia, Europe and the Americas whose member shipping companies operate over 80% of the world’s merchant tonnage.

ICS Publications develops and promotes shipping industry best practices and guidance through a wide range of publications and free resources that are used by ship operators globally.

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