What INTERCARGO does

INTERCARGO (International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners), founded in 1980 and headquartered at 1st floor, 8-9 Northumberland Street, London, is a global non-profit trade association representing the interests of dry cargo shipowners and operators of bulk carriers. The association serves two member categories: Full Members, who are dry cargo shipowners (entities such as Capital Axis Maritime Corp, Wisdom Marine Group, Wilhelmsen Ship Management Singapore, and JG Roussos Shipping), and Associate Members, which include maritime service providers, classification societies, research institutes, and shipping federations (e.g., Shipping Federation of Canada, MARIN, Syroco, and Louis Dreyfus Company Freight Asia). Its primary value lies in advocacy at international regulatory forums including the IMO and EU institutions, particularly on safety standards, decarbonization, crew welfare, port operations, and maritime security in regions such as the Strait of Hormuz.

INTERCARGO operates a portfolio of member-facing services and industry standards. Core offerings include a Decarbonization & Technologies Portal for emerging solutions, a Ports/Terminal Reporting Form, an interactive Ports and Terminals map (forthcoming), and an eLearning portal for digital training. The association also governs industry initiatives developed through partnerships, most notably the Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence (DBCE) and the Dry Bulk Management Standard (DryBMS) jointly launched with RightShip, the first dedicated Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfer Guide for dry bulk operations, exclusive monthly Dry Bulk Trade and Fleet Updates research, and annual Bulk Carrier Casualty Reports. Active partners span RightShip, IBIA, BIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO, IMPA, CIMAC, One Sea, and the Nautical Institute.

The association runs a subscription-recurring revenue model funded through annual membership dues paid by Full and Associate Members; specific fee schedules are not publicly disclosed and are administered through the Secretariat. Distribution is direct-to-member, with events held semi-annually in rotating global locations (Athens for the 45th Anniversary AGM in November 2025; Rome for the November 2026 Semi-Annual Meetings), supplemented by a regular webinar series and an active LinkedIn and YouTube presence. INTERCARGO is governed by an Executive Committee and Chairman elected by its membership, has no parent company, no external investors, and is not listed on any public exchange.

Name

INTERCARGO

Legal name

INTERCARGO

Website

https://intercargo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

INTERCARGO is the global non-profit trade association for dry cargo shipowners, founded in 1980 and headquartered in London, providing regulatory advocacy at the IMO, safety and decarbonization standards, and member-facing digital services to Full and Associate Members worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: INTERCARGO generates revenue through annual membership fees from Full Members (dry cargo shipowners) and Associate Members (service providers and maritime organizations). Membership categories include Full Members and Associate Members with different fee structures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

INTERCARGO is a non-profit trade association that represents dry cargo shipowners and operators at international regulatory bodies (notably the IMO), develops industry standards such as DryBMS, and provides publications, portals, and operational guidance (including STS transfer guides and casualty reporting) to its member shipowners and associate maritime service providers.

Product overview

INTERCARGO operates as a global industry association for dry cargo shipowners rather than a commercial product company. The organization provides a suite of member-facing digital services and industry standards including the Decarbonization & Technologies Portal, Ports/Terminal Reporting Form, an upcoming interactive Ports and Terminals map, and an eLearning Portal for digital training. Additionally, INTERCARGO governs industry initiatives including the Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence (DBCE) in partnership with RightShip, the DryBMS (Dry Bulk Management Standard) quality scheme, and the Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfer Guide for dry bulk operations. Members also receive exclusive research products including Dry Bulk Trade and Fleet Updates and Bulk Carrier Casualty Reports.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DryBMS: Dry Bulk Management Standard - a quality standard for the dry bulk sector launched in partnership with RightShip.
• DBCE
• Decarbonization & Technologies Portal
• eLearning Portal

Products and services

• DryBMS (Dry Bulk Management Standard) Industry-developed standard intended to support the safe operation of dry bulk carriers; offered by INTERCARGO for adoption by shipowners and operators in the dry bulk sector.
• Decarbonization & Technologies Portal Online member portal offering resources, technologies, and guidance on decarbonization for dry bulk shipping; made available to members to support environmental and operational decarbonization initiatives.
• Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfer Guide Operational guidance resource addressing ship-to-ship transfer operations, intended for dry bulk shipowners and operators and their service partners.
• Dry Bulk Trade and Fleet Updates Periodic intelligence and statistical update on dry bulk trade flows and fleet developments; distributed to members and stakeholders for situational awareness of the dry bulk market.
• Bulk Carrier Casualty Reports Annual analysis of bulk carrier casualties, providing aggregated data and safety insights for shipowners, operators, and the broader dry bulk community.
• Ports/Terminal Reporting Form Mechanism for members to report incidents, issues, or operational concerns at ports and terminals, supporting INTERCARGO's advocacy and intelligence-gathering role.

Quantifiable outcome

• Member fleets consistently outperform industry averages on safety and compliance metrics including fewer deficiencies and detentions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RightShipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTERCARGO partnered with RightShip to launch the Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence (DBCE), a quality standard initiative for the dry bulk sector. The partnership also includes the DryBMS (Dry Bulk Management Standard) portal. Michael Phoon was appointed as Managing Director of Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence.
• IBIA (International Bunker Industry Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTERCARGO partnered with IBIA to strengthen collaboration on decarbonisation, safety, and marine fuels. The partnership focuses on joint initiatives to support the dry bulk sector in meeting environmental and safety requirements.
• CIMACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint call with CIMAC, One Sea, and the Nautical Institute to IACS for unified rules on propulsion power control changeover between bridge and engine control room.
• One Sea (Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint call with CIMAC, One Sea, and the Nautical Institute to IACS for unified rules on propulsion power control changeover between bridge and engine control room.
• The Nautical InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint call with CIMAC, One Sea, and the Nautical Institute to IACS for unified rules on propulsion power control changeover between bridge and engine control room.
• BIMCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint statement condemning attacks on seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz. BIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO called on all parties to urgently pay attention to seafarer safety and cease attacks on commercial vessels.
• ICS (International Chamber of Shipping)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint statement condemning attacks on seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz. BIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO called on all parties to urgently pay attention to seafarer safety and cease attacks on commercial vessels.
• INTERTANKOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint statement condemning attacks on seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz. BIMCO, ICS, INTERTANKO and INTERCARGO called on all parties to urgently pay attention to seafarer safety and cease attacks on commercial vessels.
• IMPA (International Maritime Pilots' Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINTERCARGO hosted webinars in collaboration with IMPA, including 'A Step Change: Looking Ahead to 2028'.
• Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence (DBCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA joint initiative with RightShip to create a quality standard for the dry bulk sector, governed by a new NGO. Includes the DryBMS (Dry Bulk Management Standard) portal.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BIMCO: BIMCO is the world's largest international shipping association, representing shipowners, operators, charterers, and brokers across all vessel segments. It is INTERCARGO's closest functional peer: both are London-based trade associations running membership models with similar revenue streams, advocacy at IMO, and joint initiatives (e.g. Strait of Hormuz statements).
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): ICS is the principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators, representing all vessel segments including dry bulk. It is a direct peer given shared advocacy remit at IMO, parallel dues-based revenue, and recurring joint statements with INTERCARGO on issues like seafarer security.
• INTERTANKO: INTERTANKO is the international association of independent tanker owners. It is the direct structural analogue of INTERCARGO, covering tanker shipowners the way INTERCARGO covers dry bulk; the two routinely issue joint statements and have parallel governance, revenue, and advocacy models (membership dues, IMO participation, London base).
• International Association of Classification Societies (IACS): IACS is the umbrella association of the major maritime classification societies (e.g. Lloyd's Register, DNV, BV). It is a peer in the same maritime standards-setting ecosystem that INTERCARGO engages on safety and decarbonization rules (e.g. recent joint call to IACS from INTERCARGO, CIMAC, One Sea, and the Nautical Institute).
• International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA): IBIA is the international trade association for the marine fuels/bunker industry. IBIA is a close strategic partner (and natural peer) given its parallel membership revenue model, London base, and joint initiatives with INTERCARGO on decarbonization, alternative fuels, and FuelEU Maritime compliance.
• International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA): IMCA represents offshore, marine, and underwater engineering contractors. It is an adjacent maritime trade association with a comparable membership/dues model, technical-standards focus, and engagement with classification societies and IMO, though operating in a different shipping sub-sector than INTERCARGO's dry bulk remit.
• Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA): WISTA is a global networking and advocacy organization for women in shipping and trade. It is a peer in the international maritime association ecosystem with a similar membership-based model, IMO engagement, and educational programming that overlaps thematically with INTERCARGO's eLearning and crew welfare work.
• The Nautical Institute: The Nautical Institute is the international professional body for maritime professionals, focused on navigational safety, competence, and crewing standards. It is a peer given its parallel London base, membership-driven model, and recurring joint advocacy with INTERCARGO on safety, training, and propulsion control rules.
• International Maritime Pilots' Association (IMPA): IMPA represents maritime pilots globally and operates as a London-rooted international membership association with policy and safety advocacy. IMPA is a peer in the maritime trade-association ecosystem, having partnered with INTERCARGO on joint webinars and standards initiatives such as 'A Step Change: Looking Ahead to 2028'.

Emerging players

• RightShip: RightShip is a maritime due diligence and ratings organization that, through its partnership with INTERCARGO, co-governs the Dry Bulk Centre of Excellence and DryBMS quality standard. It is a partial peer as a non-association industry player that nonetheless sets safety/quality benchmarks for dry bulk shipowners and overlapping member base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXK2M2uZ8bJ7U3A
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/intercargo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 INTERCARGO