ICS Silver Spirit under way, viewed from the starboard bow

Managing ships, crews and cargo, from Sydney.

Competent people.Robust systems.Effective outcomes.

Our management philosophy is that simple. Our people ashore and at sea combine technical ability with business sense, and we keep reviewing and improving the way we work.

As an owner as well as a manager, we understand the commercial realities of running ships.

Our story

  1. Aerial view of Carrington Slipways at Tomago, 1978
  2. The Sandra Marie alongside, with her cargo crane deployed
  3. The Sandra Marie alongside at the Port of Burnie

    Sandra Marie, a founding member of INCO, gave her name to our first ship. Every ship since has followed her.

  4. In 1996 Howard Smith, an Australian shipping house since 1854, left shipping. Its ship management passed to us.

  5. The Hakula, formerly the Sandra Marie, under way, seen from ahead
  6. Accolade II alongside at the shipyardICS Integrity under way in Sydney HarbourCSL Brisbane, a self-unloading bulk carrier, under wayIron Chieftain loading alongside
  7. ICS Reliance and a sister tanker alongside in Sydney, with the Harbour Bridge behindICS Reliance and ICS Allegiance together at the shipyard

A company formed to build one ship

Intercontinental Shipping was founded in 1985 for a single purpose: to build a ship for a long-term charter to ICI, at Carrington Slipways on the Hunter River.

Carrington Slipways, Tomago, 1978

The Sandra Marie

Delivered from Tomago in 1986, she was a 100-metre multipurpose cargo ship, managed in her early years by Howard Smith.

LOA 100.13 m · Beam 16.51 m · 5,579 dwt

In dedication

Becoming ship managers

We took on Howard Smith’s ship management, starting with one owned and three managed vessels.

She sails on

Sold in 1998 and renamed Hakula, the Sandra Marie stayed under our management, still carrying the INCO fish on her funnel.

Ship management

Up to 15 vessels under management at our peak: self-unloaders, cattle carriers, container ships, tankers and powder cement carriers, from new-building projects to life extension.

Forty years on

Still Australian owned and operated, from our head office in Sydney and our office in Manila.

Photographs: Hakula © jasco; CSL Brisbane © A Mackinnon; Iron Chieftain © Morgan Mara (via MarineTraffic). Other archive images from public maritime collections.

Our culture

Six values guide how we work, ashore and at sea.

Safe for people. Safe for the environment.

  1. Safety

    • We believe safety is a mindset that should be woven into our everyday operations.
    • We are committed to safe practices rather than to a pretend culture of forms and paperwork.
    • We show a duty of care for the well-being and safety of our colleagues.
    • We promote and encourage a just and accountable safety culture.

  2. Customers

    • We believe in building lasting relationships with our customers and business partners.
    • We treat our customers’ business and property as if it were our own.
    • We believe our individual treatment of customers gives us an edge over the competition.

  3. Performance

    • We believe in operational excellence, whilst keeping things simple and streamlined.
    • We are casual and approachable but never slack.
    • We recognise, encourage and celebrate each other’s daily wins – no matter how small.
    • We believe that laughter is vital for a healthy workplace.
    • We enjoy what we do for a job.

  4. Trust and communication

    • We believe everyone has the right to be treated with respect.
    • We do not bad-mouth or embarrass colleagues – intentionally or unintentionally.
    • We each do our best, give our best and expect the best from each other.

  5. Discipline

    • We believe each one of us is accountable for delivering what we say we will — no excuses!
    • We know our business, our ships and our jobs – inside out.
    • We set clear goals, learn from our mistakes and strive to continually improve the way we work.

  6. Teamwork

    • We believe the achievements of the company are the result of the combined effort of each person.
    • We involve others – as equals – in working through our challenges, problems and projects.
    • We work together to find and implement the best solution for each of our problems.
    • We believe we are stronger together.

Standards

The frameworks our ships and our office are measured against.

DNV

Document of Compliance

DNV · Bahamas · Antigua and Barbuda

Our safety management system holds an ISM Code Document of Compliance, issued by DNV for the Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda flags.

  • DNV management system certification mark

    DNV

    ISO 9001 · ISO 14001 · ISO 45001

    Our management system is certified by DNV for quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety.

  • OCIMF

    TMSA

    OCIMF

    Our shore office is assessed under OCIMF’s Tanker Management and Self Assessment framework (TMSA 3), including oil major audits.

  • RightShip

    RightShip

    DryBMS

    Our vessels are maintained and prepared for RightShip inspections.

  • Starboard IT

    Starboard IT

    Managed service provider · ISO/IEC 27001

    Our IT is managed by Starboard IT, a managed service provider certified to ISO/IEC 27001 for information security.

A bulk carrier under way at dusk on open water, sunbeams breaking through cloud over hills on the horizon.

Our offices

Sydney

Head office

Ship management, chartering, crewing and the company’s head office.

Level 9, 65 Berry StreetNorth Sydney NSW 2060Australia

33°50′ S 151°12′ E

Manila

Philippines office

Crewing and recruitment, alongside the Sydney team.

14/F Suite 1402 Ermita Center Building1350 Roxas BoulevardErmita, ManilaPhilippines

14°35′ N 120°59′ E