World Shipping Council

What World Shipping Council does

World Shipping Council (WSC) is a non-profit trade association founded in 2000 that represents international liner shipping companies — specifically container and roll-on-roll-off (RoRo) carriers. WSC members operate 90% of global liner shipping capacity and transport approximately 60% of the value of global seaborne trade, worth more than US$4 trillion annually. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Brussels, London, and Singapore, and is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Soren Toft (CEO of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company) since December 2024, with Joe Kramek serving as President & CEO since July 2024.

WSC's core work spans policy advocacy, industry research, and safety programs. Its main products include the Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard (tracking renewable-fuel-capable vessels, currently covering 1,204 ships and $180 billion in private investment), the annual Containers Lost at Sea Report (drawing on member data covering ~90% of global container vessel capacity), the AI-enabled Cargo Safety Program (anomaly detection for misdeclared dangerous goods), and the WSC Whale Chart (voyage planning aid for marine biodiversity). The organization engages directly with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), EU Commission, U.S. Congress and federal agencies, and the World Customs Organization (WCO) on decarbonization, safety, security, and trade facilitation.

WSC is funded by member dues from its liner shipping company members. It does not sell products or services to end customers. Its revenue model is a non-profit association budget rather than commercial revenue. Typical member engagement includes participation in specialized councils, board representation, and access to research outputs and regulatory advocacy. The organization has 11-50 employees and operates with a small, specialized staff focused on regulatory affairs, environmental policy, safety, and communications.

Name

World Shipping Council

Legal name

World Shipping Council

Website

https://worldshipping.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

World Shipping Council is a non-profit trade association representing container and roll-on-roll-off carriers whose members operate 90% of global liner shipping capacity and transport ~60% of the value of global seaborne trade.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Trade Association Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Water Transportation (483), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Transport Safety & Infrastructure Standards Cooperation (BPADANAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL), Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN)

Keywords

• Liner shipping advocacy
• Maritime trade association
• Shipping industry policy
• Container shipping research
• Maritime regulatory affairs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

World Shipping Council is a non-profit trade association that represents international liner shipping companies operating container and roll-on-roll-off vessels. The Council provides policy advocacy at the IMO, EU, and U.S. government, produces industry research and data tools (Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard, Containers Lost at Sea Report, Whale Chart), and operates safety and decarbonization programs such as the AI-enabled Cargo Safety Program and the Green Balance Mechanism policy framework.

Product overview

The World Shipping Council operates as a trade association offering a portfolio of research tools, dashboards, and safety programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard (tracking renewable-fuel capable vessels and $180 billion in industry investment), the Containers Lost at Sea Report (annual safety data), the Cargo Safety Program (AI-enabled screening for dangerous goods), and the WSC Whale Chart (marine conservation voyage planning tool). These products serve the liner shipping industry's needs for data transparency, safety, environmental compliance, and operational planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WSC Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard: A tracking tool that monitors the global liner shipping industry's investment in vessels capable of running on renewable and lower-emission fuels.
• Containers Lost at Sea Report
• Cargo Safety Program
• WSC Whale Chart
• Green Balance Mechanism

Products and services

• Dual-Fuel Fleet Dashboard
• Containers Lost at Sea Report
• Cargo Safety Program Industry-led AI-enabled screening initiative designed to identify high-risk shipments before loading, preventing misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods (such as lithium-ion batteries mislabeled as hand tools) from causing ship fires and endangering crews, vessels, cargo, and the marine environment.
• WSC Whale Chart Global voyage planning aid that maps where slower ship speeds and route changes can help protect whales from ship strikes and reduce underwater noise pollution.
• EU Fuel Report 2025 Comprehensive analysis of shipping's transition to renewable fuels in the EU, examining fuel availability, pricing barriers, and regulatory recommendations for maritime decarbonization.
• Policy Advocacy and Regulatory Representation Member-funded advocacy services engaging the IMO, EU Commission and Parliament, U.S. Congress, USTR, FMC, and the World Customs Organization on decarbonization, maritime safety, supply chain security, customs reform, and trade facilitation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supports 9 million U.S. jobs and contributes over $1.1 trillion to U.S. GDP through liner shipping operations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• IMO (International Maritime Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026WSC actively participates in IMO working groups including ISWG-GHG (Intersessional Working Group on Greenhouse Gases), MEPC (Marine Environment Protection Committee), CCC (Carriage of Cargoes and Containers), and submits regulatory filings on shipping decarbonization, safety, and environmental matters.
• BIMCO, CLIA, ICS, INTERCARGO, INTERFERRY, INTERTANKOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Seven leading maritime associations including WSC issued joint statement ahead of IMO MEPC 84, united in support of IMO as global regulator and successful implementation of IMO GHG Reduction Pathway. Represents broad industry consensus on decarbonization policy.
• CORCA Coalition (90+ Industry Partners)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025WSC joined coalition of over 90 industry partners including major retailers, trucking associations, logistics companies, and trade groups calling for swift passage of Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 to address cargo theft and supply chain security.
• Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)coreOthers · 19 August 2025WSC submitted comprehensive comments to FMC Investigation into Flags of Convenience, providing industry expertise on vessels engaging in fraudulent flagging practices and nations abdicating flag-State responsibilities.
• BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2025WSC joined with BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, Asian Shipowners Association, European Shipowners Association, and other shipping groups in sending a joint open letter to UN Secretary-General and IMO Secretary-General opposing proposed Strait of Hormuz transit fees. This represents ongoing industry coalition work on critical maritime policy issues.
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2025WSC and ICS are founding members of major shipping industry coalitions, including the joint letter to UN and IMO opposing Hormuz transit fees. ICS represents shipowners and operators globally.
• Asian Shipowners Association (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2025WSC partnered with ASA alongside other global shipping groups to send joint letter to UN and IMO regarding Strait of Hormuz transit fee proposals.
• European Shipowners Association (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2025WSC partnered with ESA as part of the eight major shipping associations opposing Iran's proposed transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Emirates Shipping LinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 April 2025Emirates Shipping Line joined WSC as a member. Established in 2006 in Dubai, ESL has expanded to 30 countries with over 70 offices worldwide. CEO Till Ole Barrelet represents ESL on WSC Board.
• Eurogas and 33 Global Renewable Gas OrganisationsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025WSC participated in joint statement with Eurogas and 33 organisations calling on European Commission to address barriers in Union Database (UDB) preventing recognition of third-country renewable gas imports for EU compliance purposes.
• World Customs Organization (WCO)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025WSC convened its first-ever Technology Day at WCO headquarters in Brussels, bringing together ocean carriers, government officials from 9 countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, UK, USA), European Commission and WCO Secretariat to explore security technologies for combating drug trafficking in containers.
• 23 Shipping, Logistics and Trade Organisations (EU Customs Reform)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025WSC joined a coalition of 23 shipping, logistics and trade organisations issuing joint statement calling for EU customs reform ahead of World Customs Day 2025. The statement emphasized digital transformation and public-private partnerships for efficient border management.
• MSC Mediterranean Shipping CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 December 2024MSC CEO Soren Toft elected as Chair of WSC Board of Directors. MSC is one of WSC's member carriers representing global liner shipping capacity.
• Wan Hai LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 December 2024Wan Hai Lines Vice Chairman Randy Chen elected as Vice Chair of WSC Board, representing member carrier interests in industry governance.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA): CLIA is the leading cruise industry trade association, advocating for the cruise sector at IMO and other regulators on environmental, safety, and security issues. CLIA co-signed WSC's MEPC 84 statement and shares the same advocacy model targeting ocean-going commercial vessels.
• INTERCARGO: INTERCARGO represents dry bulk shipowners and operators globally, focused on safety, environmental, and regulatory matters at IMO. INTERCARGO's structure—trade association for a specific shipping segment engaging international regulators—makes it a direct operational peer to WSC.
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH): IAPH is the global trade association for ports and harbors, representing port authorities on regulatory, environmental, and operational issues. IAPH engages IMO and other bodies on the same policy matters as WSC (decarbonization, safety, trade facilitation), and the two organizations regularly coordinate on container shipping and port-related policy.
• INTERFERRY: INTERFERRY is the global trade association representing the ferry and RoRo/passenger shipping industry. INTERFERRY and WSC share the same RoRo carrier membership base and have jointly engaged on IMO regulatory matters, making INTERFERRY a peer in both segment focus and advocacy model.
• BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council): BIMCO is the world's largest international shipping association, providing contracts, standards, and policy advocacy for shipowners, operators, and charterers. Like WSC, it engages IMO and national regulators, and the two routinely partner on joint industry statements (e.g., Strait of Hormuz opposition).
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): ICS is the principal international trade association for the shipping industry, representing shipowners and operators globally across all vessel types. ICS and WSC frequently co-lead industry coalitions on IMO matters, making ICS the closest peer in mission, membership overlap, and regulatory engagement.
• INTERTANKO: INTERTANKO is the international trade association for independent tanker operators, engaging IMO and other regulators on safety, environmental, and technical matters. INTERTANKO and WSC jointly co-signed positions on IMO MEPC 84 and similar regulatory files, reflecting identical advocacy models for adjacent shipping segments.

Others

• World Economic Forum (WEF) - Maritime Industry Agenda: The WEF's maritime initiatives (including the Global Future Council on Logistics and the maritime industry agenda) convene industry leaders and produce influential policy frameworks on shipping decarbonization, trade facilitation, and supply chain transformation. WEF is an adjacent convening/influence body that operates in overlapping policy spaces without direct competitive overlap with WSC's membership advocacy.

Regional players

• European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA): ECSA represents European shipowners at EU institutions, focusing on maritime policy, decarbonization, and trade. As the European counterpart to WSC's US/global focus, ECSA has overlapping membership with WSC and coordinates on EU regulatory matters like FuelEU Maritime and ETS.
• Asian Shipowners' Association (ASA): ASA is a regional shipowner association representing shipowners from Asian countries (China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, etc.) at IMO and other forums. ASA partnered with WSC on joint IMO advocacy (e.g., Strait of Hormuz letter), reflecting a peer relationship grounded in complementary geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WSC_shipping
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShippingWSC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-shipping-council-org
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldshippingcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about World Shipping Council