With April seeing the same uncertainty as March, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has been monitoring the situation carefully and updating members accordingly.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding region continues to be deeply concerning and our seafarers are on the front line of this crisis. Now in week nine of the conflict, we hope for a quick and peaceful resolution to the situation. Our seafarers must never be put at risk. The attacks on commercial shipping are unacceptable and at ICS we express our strongest condemnation of the attacks. It is imperative that full freedom of navigation is respected by all parties in accordance with international law. Any new statements will be uploaded, here.

The end of April marks the beginning of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 84). The final week saw further deliberation between IMO Member States on the future of the draft “IMO Net-Zero Framework” (NZF) to decarbonise international maritime transport. Thomas A. Kazakos commented: “We therefore welcome the decision to convene additional negotiations in September to which ICS intends to contribute ideas on a possible way forward to achieve the necessary support amongst all Member States” in his statement. The full statement can be read on our website here.

On the 14 April, notable progress was made in the implementation of the HNS Convention, with Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden all depositing their instruments of ratification. This fulfils the second of three ratification criteria needed for the entry into force provisions to be triggered – 12 States Parties to the Convention. The HNS Convention will establish a two-tier international regime for damage caused by incidents involving the transport of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS). It applies the concept that the ‘polluter pays,’ meaning cost of damage will be shared between shipowners and HNS cargo receivers, ensuring comprehensive, global liability and compensation for those who suffer damage or loss from an HNS incident. To read more, please visit here.

On the 16 April, ICS Secretary General Thomas Kazakos and ICS Policy Advisor Melissande Cathélaz visited the Suez Canal Authority to discuss key challenges facing the shipping industry and the Canal. During this visit, the parties involved renewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement, which is fundamental to ensure consistent dialogue and collaboration in an ever-evolving landscape. Thomas Kazakos states “When the stress on supply chains is at an all-time high, agreements like the MOU with the Suez Canal Authority are critical for international trade and world economy. Through this key partnership, we have been able to ensure there is a constant dialogue which is vital for shipowners across the world.”

Amongst this exciting news, ICS Secretariat has also been attending many events throughout the month. Most prominently during Singapore Maritime Week where ICS Secretary General Thomas A. Kazakos spoke on three different panels including, the 8^th Annual Capital Link Forum, Tradewinds Shipowners Forum, and the ASA Shipping Dialogue, as well as taking time to meet with our members at the Singapore Shipping Association.

ICS’ Senior Manager – Crewing and Training, Arvind Natrajan, visited Hong Kong to participate in the world’s first Administration-led programme, the “Training-the-Trainer” (TTT) programme, delivered by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force (MJTTF). Over three days, the MJTTF showcased the adaptation and application of its Basic and Advanced Training Frameworks for seafarers into training packages focusing on alternative fuel handling.

The ICS Commercial team have been busy with a couple of brand-new releases. The first of which being the launch of the Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals), Sixth edition, carrying on a trusted lineage for Chemical Tanker guidance since 1971. The publication continues to translate the regulatory requirements of MARPOL Annex II into practical on-board procedures for safe and environmentally responsible operations. Additionally, a new ICS academy module: Helicopter Operation Procedures: Selecting Winching Locations launched. The module, extracted from the original nine module course, aims to examine the different locations that can be used for winching and/or landing operations and their constraints.

Before wrapping up this month’s blog, I would like to draw attention to a couple things that you can do right now. Firstly, we have announced our next ICS webinar on alternative technologies, titled: ‘On Board Carbon Capture and Storage.’ Registration is currently open to join us on the 7 May at 12pm-1pm (BST) as the authors of a new study commissioned by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), offer up-to-date, high-level strategic guidance for shipowners on the evolving OCCS landscape. Secondly, we have opened a short survey to take your feedback on our monthly Leadership Insights Publication. Whether positive or constructive criticism, we want to know where our publication is fulfilling your expectations and where it can be improved upon. By taking 5-minutes to let us know your thoughts, we can shape future editions to better suit your interests. Please click here to have your say.