ICC-INTERNATIONAL MARITIME BUREAU

ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) is a specialized division of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) established in 1981. The IMB functions as a focal point in the fight against maritime crime and malpractice, aiming to protect the integrity of global trade. It operates with support from agreements and collaborations, including a memorandum of understanding with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and observer status with Interpol, to enhance information sharing and coordinated action against threats to shipping and trading activities.

The IMB leverages industry knowledge, extensive networks, and access to a broad range of contacts worldwide to identify and investigate fraud, recognize emerging criminal techniques, and highlight evolving risks to trade. Through its various information channels, the IMB disseminates timely guidance to its members about current threats, practical measures to reduce vulnerability, and alerts on notable incidents. This proactive approach has historically helped avert frauds and mitigate losses for the shipping and trading sectors.

In addition to its fraud prevention and awareness role, the IMB provides services related to trade finance documentation and undertakes investigations and reporting on topics such as documentary credit fraud, charter party fraud, cargo theft, ship deviation, and ship finance fraud. While the IMB does not itself provide commercial freight forwarding services, its work supports safer and more transparent international trade operations by offering expertise, risk assessments, and information that help stakeholders manage and mitigate maritime risks.