The 2025 Guidelines are intended to ensure proper legal process, reinforce and protect existing human rights, and ensure that seafarers are treated fairly and with dignity when detained in connection with alleged crimes. While not binding, the guidelines compile in one document relevant standards already found in international law and provide important guidance for states, shipowners and seafarers in cases of criminalisation involving seafarers. In addition they are based on, and are to be read in line with, the principles, rights and obligations already found in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, as amended (MLC 2006).
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Following the 2021 outbreak of war in Ukraine and the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, world shipping has again faced disruption and unacceptable threats to the lives of seafarers.
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The report includes thoughts from ICS trade and business representatives, through a series of op-eds, providing unique insights into the key topics and trends impacting the world economy, which will have an impact on the global maritime trade outlook over the next few years.
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The Shipping Industry Flag State Performance Table brings together data regarding the performance of flag States against specific criteria, including Port State Control (PSC) records, ratification of international conventions and IMO meeting attendance. The 2021/2022 edition is based on the most up-to-date data available as of January 2022.
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ICS has commissioned this major Study to provide an assessment of protectionist or restrictive trade policies and measures that are being implemented by governments worldwide, which may be preventing national economies from reaping the full benefits of having access to efficient maritime transport services.
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To achieve the development of viable zero-carbon emission ships, ICS and its industry partners are proposing the establishment of a groundbreaking $5 billion Research & Development (R&D) fund.
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The ability of flag state authorities to conduct statutory surveys, and for ships (and seafarers) to be issued with required certification to allow them to continue to trade, emerged as a serious issue at the very start of the pandemic.
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Maintaining the health of seafarers and protecting them from infection remains a critical priority.
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The continuing inability of ship operators to conduct crew changes has been the single greatest operational challenge confronting the global shipping industry since the Second World War.
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The arrival of COVID-19 has presented truly enormous challenges for the entire maritime transport sector, an industry responsible for moving about 90% of global trade.
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