International Chamber of Shipping

The International Chamber of Shipping is one of the world's principal shipping organisations, representing around 80%^[2] of the world's merchant tonnage through membership by national shipowners' associations.^[1] It is concerned with maritime regulatory, operational and legal issues.^[1] Its membership includes over 40 national shipowner organisations.^[1]

A major ICS activity is acting as a consultative body at the United Nations agency with responsibility for the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment, the International Maritime Organization. ICS represents the global interests of all the different shipping trades in the industry, these include bulk carrier operators, tanker operators, passenger ship operators and container liner trades, including shipowners and third party ship managers.

ICS has consultative status with a number of other intergovernmental bodies which affect shipping, these include: the World Customs Organization, the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organization.^[1] The ICS also has close relationships with industry organisations representing different maritime interests such as shipping, ports, pilotage, the oil industry, insurance and classification societies responsible for the surveying of ships.