ICHCA International

What ICHCA International does

ICHCA International (International Cargo Handling Coordination Association) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization founded in 1952 and headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom. It operates as a membership-based industry association dedicated to improving the safety, security, sustainability, productivity, and efficiency of cargo handling and movement worldwide. Its core activities center on three pillars: (1) a publications library of more than 90 specialist documents across eight series covering health and safety, technical and operational guidance, regulatory requirements, and environmental issues; (2) a Technical Advisory Service and Technical Panel of practitioners, legislators, and consultants who provide confidential expert advice and develop best practice through working groups (Dangerous Goods, Digital & Innovation, Straddle Carrier Safety, Dry Bulk Cargoes); and (3) privileged NGO observer access to IMO, ILO, and UNECE regulatory meetings, which ICHCA extends to its members.

The organization generates revenue primarily through tiered annual membership subscriptions (Premium at £11,658, Corporate at £1,684, Licensed at £1,684 plus per-seat fees, Library at £872, Individual/Student at £161), supplemented by publications sales, discounted training courses (IMDG Code compliance, CTUpack e-learning on CTU Code and VGM), event fees, and a 10% IMO publications discount arranged through a partnership with Exis Technologies. Its GTM motion is community-led, relying on industry networking, events, working group participation, and direct enterprise sales via the secretariat. Customers include global port and terminal operators (APM Terminals, DP World, PSA International, Hutchison Ports ECT, Associated British Ports, SSA Marine), shipping lines (MSC, CMA CGM), insurers (TT Club), and government regulators (Transport Canada), with regional chapters in Australia and Japan extending its reach across key Asia-Pacific cargo handling markets.

Name

ICHCA International

Legal name

ICHCA International Limited

Website

https://ichca.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICHCA International is a UK-based not-for-profit NGO, founded in 1952, that convenes global cargo handling stakeholders through tiered memberships, a 90+ document publications library, technical advisory services, and privileged observer access to IMO, ILO, and UNECE regulatory bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Cargo Handling Industry Association Services

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Hazardous Materials (IMDG) & Dangerous Goods Compliance Services (TLAHANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory & Sanctions Compliance Screening for Maritime Operations (Trade Controls, AML) (TLAHANAL), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Labor, Social Protection & Occupational Safety Standards Cooperation (BPADANAM)

Keywords

• Cargo handling safety
• Maritime industry association
• Port operations advocacy
• Freight regulatory compliance
• Supply chain publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Tunbridge Wells

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers: Corporate (£1,684/year), Premium (£11,658/year), Individual/Student (£161/year), Licensed (£1,684 + £168.40/additional license), Library (£872/year). Revenue supports NGO operations, publications development, and industry advocacy.
2. Publications Sales: Sales of specialist publications including briefing pamphlets, research papers, technical series, and safety guides. Members receive free access; non-members can purchase individually.
3. IMO Publications Discounts: 10% discount on IMO publications offered to members through partnership with Exis Technologies
4. Event Fees: Discounted rates at ICHCA seminars, conferences, roadshows and networking events for members; premium members receive free places as standard benefit
5. Training Courses: Discounted training courses including IMDG Code compliance and CTU packing training

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ICHCA International is a non-governmental industry association that delivers cargo handling safety, productivity, and efficiency services through a 90+ publication library, a confidential Technical Advisory Service, expert Technical Panel working groups, IMO/ILO/UN meeting observer access, and e-learning courses on IMDG Code and CTU Code compliance. It supplements these core offerings with tiered membership packages, industry events, and advocacy representation before international regulatory bodies.

Product overview

ICHCA International operates as a membership-based non-governmental organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of cargo handling industry services. The core offerings include an extensive publications library with over 90 documents across eight series covering safety, technical, operational, regulatory, and environmental topics; a Technical Advisory Service providing confidential expert guidance; and access to IMO/ILO/UN regulatory meetings. The organization supplements these with e-learning products (CTUpack courses on CTU Code and container VGM) and IMDG Code compliance training. ICHCA serves members through tiered membership packages (Premium, Corporate, Individual/Student, Licensed, Library) that provide varying levels of access to publications, events, technical advice, and working group participation. The Technical Panel coordinates expert working groups focused on dangerous goods, digital innovation, straddle carrier safety, and dry bulk cargoes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ICHCA Publications Library An extensive library of 90+ specialist publications covering health and safety guidance, technical and operational practicalities, regulatory requirements, security, and environmental issues for cargo handling operations. Publications are organized into eight series and are available free to members or for purchase by non-members.
• Technical Advisory Service Confidential expert advice service providing responses to member queries on any aspect of cargo handling practice, policy, and regulations, drawing on an extensive library of past queries and the Technical Panel's first-hand industry knowledge. Available to members via online enquiry form.
• IMO/ILO/UN Meeting Observer Access Privileged observer access to IMO, ILO, UNECE, and other UN agency meetings for ICHCA members, enabled by the organization's NGO Consultative Status and providing direct engagement with international regulatory developments in cargo handling.
• Technical Panel Working Groups Expert working groups including the Dangerous Goods Working Group, Digital & Innovation Working Group, Straddle Carrier Safety Working Group, and Dry Bulk Cargoes Working Group, bringing together experienced practitioners, legislators, and consultants to develop good practice guidelines and publications on cargo handling worldwide.
• CTUpack E-Learning Courses Online e-learning courses covering CTU Code compliance and proper CTU packing, including Introduction to the CTU Code and Introduction to freight container VGM courses, offered to members at discounted rates for online self-paced learning.
• IMDG Code E-Learning Course Online training course on the IMDG Code covering requirements for documentation and markings for dangerous goods transport by sea, offered at discounted rates to ICHCA members.
• IMO/ILO/UN Publications Resale Resale of IMO, ILO, and UN publications to ICHCA members at a 10% discount via the Exis Technologies partnership, covering the IMDG Code and related international regulatory materials.

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FEPORTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEPORT represents stevedoring companies and terminal operators at European level. Members employ 220,000 port workers and include top 15 global terminal operators representing 50% of world throughput. Federation addresses port policy, transport, maritime, security, safety, environment, logistics, customs, social policy and R&D.
• TT ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading provider of insurance and related risk management services to international transport and logistics industry. Established 1968, mutual insurer managed by Thomas Miller. Works with largest operators to smaller companies facing similar risks. One-third of membership has insured with Club for over 20 years.
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly international organization representing voice of world port industry with Consultative Status as NGO from five UN specialized agencies. Vision: Global Ports' Forum for Industry Collaboration and Excellence. Mission: Promoting port interests worldwide through collaboration and information-sharing.
• World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder coalition of associations with interests in waterborne transport infrastructure. Guided by 17 UN SDGs, enhances and coordinates sustainability efforts of ports worldwide. Strategic partners include AAPA, ESPO, AIVP, and PIANC.
• Exis TechnologiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIMO reseller and ICHCA member providing IMDG Code publications. ICHCA members receive 10% discount on IMDG Code publications through this partnership.
• NavClimateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by PIANC on behalf of Think Climate coalition - multi-stakeholder group of ten associations supporting waterborne transport infrastructure response to climate change. Committed to reducing GHG emissions and strengthening resilience.
• Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal business network working towards vision of maritime industry free of corruption. Established 2011, grown to over 100 members globally. Works to eliminate maritime corruption through awareness, best practices, and government collaboration.
• Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVoluntary partnership of companies, industry associations and green freight programs developing GLEC Framework for logistics emissions accounting and reporting.
• Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading representative body for lifting industry worldwide. Joint publication partner on GS4: Organisation of Gear Stores and BP42: Container Lifting Lugs guidance documents.
• Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for port equipment manufacturers. Joint publication partner on GS7: Quay Container Crane Safety Specifications and GS9: Container Yard Equipment Safety.
• Japan Association of Cargo-handling Machinery Systems (JACMS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ICHCA Japan under its auspices. Supports best practice, knowledge sharing and relationship building for cargo handling community in Japan. Tel: +81 3 5472 4791
• Portcare InternationalminorOthersMedia contact for ICHCA. Contact: Peter Owen, Portcare International. Email: [email protected]

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• INTERCARGO: International association representing the dry bulk shipping sector at IMO. Comparable NGO advocacy and technical committee structure, but focused on dry bulk carriers rather than container/cargo handling operations more broadly.
• TT Club: Leading mutual insurer and risk management provider for international transport and logistics; an existing ICHCA partner. Comparable in member base and loss-prevention publications, but operates as an insurer rather than a pure industry association.

Direct peers

• Port Equipment Manufacturers Association (PEMA): Industry association for port equipment manufacturers, joint publication partner with ICHCA on quay crane and container yard equipment safety. Directly comparable in terms of standards-setting mission within the cargo handling equipment niche.
• World Shipping Council (WSC): Trade association representing the global liner shipping industry on regulatory, safety, and environmental issues. Directly comparable industry-association model serving major container carriers like MSC, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd — overlapping with several ICHCA premium members.
• Bureau International des Containers (BIC): Neutral non-profit promoting safe, secure and sustainable containerization since 1933; ISO-appointed global container prefix registry with IMO/WCO observer status. Closely comparable standards-setting NGO with similar regulatory access and container-focused mandate.
• BIMCO: The world's largest international shipping association, providing standards, contracts, and regulatory representation to shipowners and operators. Closely comparable to ICHCA's NGO advocacy and standards-development role, though more focused on commercial shipping contracts.
• Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA): Global representative body for the lifting industry and ICHCA's joint publication partner on gear stores and container lifting lugs. Directly comparable in standards-development focus and in adjacent cargo-handling equipment safety.
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): Principal international trade association for the merchant shipping industry, representing shipowners and operators at IMO. Comparable NGO advocacy model with similar regulatory access and shipping-line member base.
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH): Global NGO representing the world port industry with consultative status at UN agencies. Most directly comparable to ICHCA in mission, member base, and IMO/ILO engagement; ICHCA already partners with IAPH.
• FEPORT: European federation representing stevedoring companies and terminal operators, including the top 15 global terminal operators. Directly comparable membership-driven NGO model serving the same cargo handling community as ICHCA and an existing ICHCA partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ICHCAInternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ichca-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ICHCA International