What will be the pandemic’s maritime legacy?

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, 4 December 2020

Three weeks ago the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published its annual maritime report. Entitled Review of Maritime Transport 2020, this valuable document can be downloaded free from the organisation’s website. It contains the usual revealing chapters analysing international seaborne trade, port traffic, the global fleet of ships and the supply of shipping services, as well as legal and regulatory aspects.

Problems ahead for ship operators

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, 23 October 2020

Numerous problems facing ship operators in the years ahead are visible, now overlaid by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. An informative discussion and analysis of the various challenges has just been published.

On 1 October the International Chamber of Shipping published its Annual Review 2020, with a cover sub-title of ‘Heroes at Sea’. The Chamber describes itself as the principal global association for shipowners, focusing on regulatory, operational, legal and employment matters. Members are national shipowners’ associations from 37 countries.

New Video About the Dry Bulk Sector

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, 7 August 2020

At the end of July this year a new short video was released by The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, usually known as Intercargo.

The video is entitled Dry Bulk Shipping: Sustainably Serving the World’s Essential Needs. It aims to provide a broad, up-to-date overview of the dry bulk scene, increasing awareness of this sector’s function and vital contribution to global trade.

In Praise of Networking

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, 20 May 2020

When something is no longer available in the same way as it is normally, its value tends to become more obvious than it was previously. And so it is with networking, the benefits of which are many and varied. This activity can be shown to fulfil very useful purposes, at the same time as being thoroughly enjoyable, with potential for valuable outcomes.

Such thoughts have arisen during the enforced semi-isolated existence most people in the UK have endured, while the pandemic lockdown period unfolded. This restricted lifestyle is extending into the greatly limited ‘opening up’ phase. Networking is not on the agenda for the weeks ahead.

Opportunities for networking at our London & South East Branch events – frequent seminars and social/networking evenings – often have rewarding consequences.

Ore Carrier Newbuildings Still a Feature

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, April 2020

In the first quarter of this year, a number of newbuilding ore carriers were delivered to owners in South Korea and China. These were among a total of 20 in the Guaibamax 325,000 deadweight tonnes class scheduled for delivery during 2020. Some may be delayed if the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted shipbuilders’ construction programmes.

China's Grain and Soya Imports Upsurge

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, 17 November 2020

China is the world's largest importer in the grain and soya segment of the bulk carrier market, with about 20% of the total. Imports are mainly long-haul from the Americas, also from Black Sea and elsewhere, greatly benefiting bulk carrier demand. Over the past decade Chinese buyers' have mostly increased their soyabeans volumes but, currently, signs of large extra tonnages of grain, especially corn and also wheat, barley and sorghum are prominent.

Refocusing on shipping decarbonisation

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, 22 September 2020

Endeavouring to cope with many and varied effects from the coronavirus pandemic remains the shipping industry’s principal challenge. But another difficult task is also obvious: how to decarbonise vessel movements.

Publication of a new report a couple of weeks ago has contributed to refocusing attention on this problem. The International Energy Agency has published Energy Technology Perspectives 2020, a voluminous 400-page analysis looking at decarbonisation across all energy-consuming sectors during the next 50 years. Changes affecting shipping are included in detail.

New Shipping Markets Analysis Published

by Richard Scott FICS, member of London & South East Branch Committee, 16 June 2020

Detailed up-to-date shipping market analyses are not usually available free of charge. One of the few exceptions is the Shipping Market Review published periodically by Danish Ship Finance. The May 2020 edition became available on 9 June. It may prove valuable for Institute members and students.

ICS London Branch Revision Evening postponed but members can assist via email

Our Revision Evening scheduled for Monday 20th April 2020 has been postponed to a later date but London and South East branch members are available to assist branch students with any queries or questions relating to subjects covered in the syllabus. Send your questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Hot off the press by ITIC

International Transport Intermediaries Club, 31 March 2020

Please click the link to view ITIC's Claims Review Newsletter, April 2020 issue.

Below is a Guide to Port Agents on Issues with Receiving Original Bills of Lading by ITIC:

Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers
London & South East Branch