International Chamber of Shipping 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.
You can download most publications from the list below for free and purchase the paid-for publications from our ICS bookshop.
From July 2014, all ships are required by new IMO regulations (SOLAS Regulation III/I7-1) to have ship-specific plans and procedures for the recovery of persons from the water. These ICS Guidelines have been developed to assist companies when preparing to comply with the new regulations and should be used together with the IMO Guidelines for the Development of Plans and Procedures for the Recovery of Persons from the Water (MSC.1/Circ.1447), the Guide to Recovery Techniques (MSC.1/Circ.1182) and the Guide for Cold Water Survival (MSC.1/Circ.1185/Rev.1).
The international shipping industry is firmly committed to playing its part in reducing emissions of CO2 and other Green House Gases. This brochure, produced by ICS to coincide with the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference in Lima (COP 20), explains the issues involved and the progress being made by the industry and its global regulator - the IMO - to reduce ships’ CO2 emissions.
The ICS paper explains the significant challenges the shipping industry has faced in responding to the crisis in the Indian Ocean during the period 2007-2013.
This industry Guide provides recommendations on safety, minimum equipment levels and good operating practices. If more stringent international, national or local regulations apply then they should take precedence. This Guide is a required publication on the SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaires for Oil Tankers, Combination Carriers, Shuttle Tankers, Chemical Tankers and Gas Tankers.
This version was withdrawn in January 2022 and replaced by version three. This brochure, published by the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) and ICS/ISF, aims to remind shipping companies and seafarers of the vital need to ensure that ladders used for pilot transfers are always rigged correctly. The brochure is also supported by the International Group of P&I Clubs, BIMCO, CLIA, Intercargo, IPTA, Intertanko, OCIMF, SIGTTO, ITF, IFSMA and the Nautical Institute.
The international shipping industry (represented by BIMCO, Intercargo, ICS, ISF, Intertanko and OCIMF produced this basic guidance for management and crews, concerning the use of oily water separators, which emphasises the vital importance of strict adherence to International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements.
This guidance has been prepared by ICS and ISF as a template for the review of company compliance programmes adopted in accordance with existing regulatory requirements, such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Safety Management (ISM) Code. This framework is also supported by BIMCO, Intercargo, Intertanko, OCIMF and SIGTTO.
ICS led shipowner representation in the negotiations for the text of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). This brochure explains the measures which port state control officers are entitled to take following the entry into force of the MLC on 20 August 2013, and offers advice to shipowners to help them pre-empt port state control problems.
This brochure, published by ICS to coincide with the IMO Symposium on the Future of Ship Safety, provides basic advice to companies on the successful implementation of an effective ‘safety culture’ as well as guidance on risk assessment and risk management.