Textbook of Maritime Medicine

ICS is the international trade association for merchant ship operators, while ISF is the international employers' organisation for ship operators.

The two organizations are so nearly related that they have a common internet site and a common newsletter, and it is appropriate to deal with them together.

4.9.1  International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)

The members of ICS are national shipowners’ associations, representing over half of the world’s merchant fleet.

A major focus of ICS activity is the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The organization is heavily involved in a wide variety of areas including any technical, legal and operational matters affecting merchant ships.

ICS represents the global interests of all the different trades in the industry: bulk carrier operators, tanker operators, passenger ship operators and container liner trades, including shipowners and third party ship managers.

It has consultative status with a number of intergovernmental bodies which have an impact on shipping, like IMO, the World Customs Organisation, the International Telecommunications Union, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the World Meteorological Organization.

The organization is committed to the principle of maritime regulation being formulated at an international level. The objective of ICS is the maintenance of a sound, well considered global regulatory environment in which well-run ships can operate safely and efficiently.

4.9.2   International Shipping Federation (ISF)[1]

ISF is the international employers' organisation dedicated to maritime manpower issues, providing advice and guidance to members either directly or via its extensive range of global contacts by representing them in all relevant fora where issues are regulated.

ISF Activities[2]

The ISF works in close cooperation with other international organisations, such as the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Maritime Employers' Committee (IMEC). While each organisation is quite independent, these links ensure an exchange of information and co-ordination to prevent overlap and duplication of effort.

Externally, ISF has consultative status with the International Labour Organization (ILO), where it co-ordinates the shipowner position at all maritime meetings, and with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). ISF reviews United States developments through links with a Washington office and attends, through ILO, meetings of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control Committee, which develops policy on port state control inspections within the Paris MOU region.

ISF is also an active member of the International Committee on Seafarers' Welfare (ICSW) and regular contacts are maintained with representatives of maritime unions, including the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).

The regulation of labour standards, and of medical or professional standards applying to seafarers, forms a key part of its work. Another important field o finterest is to provide information or guidance on industry manpower developments in areas such as international wage rates, training developments or recruitment trends.

ISF Activity within Seafarer’s Health and Welfare[3]

As already required by existing ILO instruments, the Maritime Labour Convention requires all ships to carry a medical chest and medical equipment, while the IMO  STCW Convention addresses medical competences required for seafarers on board.  The aim is to ensure that, in emergencies, ship based medical care is similar to that found ashore.

In 2007, ISF assisted in the final stages of drafting of the recently completed third edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships, a major task undertaken jointly by the World Health Organization, ILO, IMO, ITF, ISF and IMHA. 

ISF continues to campaign for the ratification of the ILO Convention on Seafarers’ Identity Documents (ILO 185) which requires port states to facilitate provision of shore leave, vital to the welfare of seafarers who may have been engaged on long inter-continental voyages.  In the face of modern concerns amongst governments about illegal immigration and security, it is recognised that port states, contrary to previously accepted principles, may sometimes require seafarers to obtain visas.  However, it should be possible for such visas to be obtained on arrival.  Particularly in tramp trades, it is simply not practical for seafarers to be expected to obtain visas in advance from overseas consulates.

ISF also plays an active part in the International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW) comprising government and voluntary seafarers’ welfare agencies.  

[1] http://www.marisec.org/isf/isfabout.htm

[2] http://www.marisec.org/isf/isfabout.htm

[3] http://www.marisec.org/ics-isfkeyissues/text.htm#seafarershealth&welfare