International Chamber of Shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal global trade association for merchant shipowners and operators, founded in 1921 and based in London. Its membership is national shipowner associations, and it represents owners controlling the large majority of the world fleet. ICS speaks for the industry at the IMO, the ILO, and other bodies on safety, environmental, legal, and crewing matters, and it publishes widely used guidance such as the Bridge Procedures Guide and tanker and dry-cargo handbooks. It is an industry body, not a regulator, and holds consultative status at the IMO.