The ICS is developing a new Deck Procedures Guide and invites participants from a wide range of different shipping companies to join the review group. The review group will advise ICS on the publication’s content to help raise safety standards across the global fleet. They will ensure the publication represents the latest best practices on board to ensure ship and crew safety, security, environmental performance and welfare. The guide will be suitable for all ship types.

The Deck Procedures Guide is due to be published in 2025. The ICS Deck Procedures Guide provides authoritative and comprehensive guidance on deck procedures to ensure that ships’ decks are operated and managed safely while protecting the environment. Used in tandem with the globally recognised ICS Bridge Procedures Guide and ICS Engine Room Procedures Guide, the ICS Deck Procedures Guide provides shipping companies and crew with a holistic, consistent set of procedures governing safety and environmental protection across all merchant ship types and trades. The three guides align on critical operational procedures such as enclosed space entry and risk assessments and reinforce the importance of inter-departmental communications on board ships.

All nominations are gratefully received. However, the ideal review group would be composed of people:

– Working in a role developing or implementing procedures for the deck;
– With practical experience working on board, either using deck equipment or maintaining it; and/or
– Working in a loss prevention role.

Review group members can be from any shipping company, regardless of fleet size or ship type.

Members of the review group will be requested to review the current draft, provide comments and attend a small number of meetings during Q1 2025. Meetings will be run in a hybrid format, and members of the review group can attend remotely or in person at the ICS offices in London. Each meeting is expected to be no more than 90 minutes. Review group members benefit from engagement with contemporaries at other shipping companies and receive an acknowledgement in the book, an enhanced social media profile and a free copy on publication.

The Terms of Reference for the Review Group are attached at Annex A .

Nominations should be sent to ICS Technical Writer Sarah Lovell at sarah.lovell@ics-shipping.org by 29 November 2024.

Please contact either Lional Sharon, Senior Marine Advisor – Cargo at lional.sharon@ics-shipping.org or sarah.lovell@ics-shipping.org with any queries.

MC(24)120 -Annex A – TERMS OF REFERENCE – REVIEW GROUP – DPG