The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers has had a presence in Canada since 1962 when Frank Dollman, FICS and Frank Kendrick, MICS established the British Columbia Branch of the ICS in Vancouver, only the second overseas branch after Hong Kong.
Initial expansion was limited by multiple factors, not least that the local maritime scene did not include much ship-owning or operating activity and ICS membership at the time was restricted to British Subjects. These restrictions led to the branch to be put into hiatus during the 1970s.
Subsequently however there was a significant expansion of cargo volumes in several commodities. Large investments were made in the forest industry and new markets were developed for substantial export volumes of lumber, pulp and paper, logs and woodchips. requiring new export handling facilities and increasing the Port of Vancouvers vessel capacity. Simultaneously, grain exports increased substantially, and new export volumes of sulphur, potash, coal and concentrates required further investment and development down British Columbia’s coastline.
Special terminal handling facilities were developed to handle delivery to specialised gantry-craned vessels and service particular industries, such as an aluminum smelter in Kitimat. Vancouver’s increasing prominence as Canada’s “Gateway to the Pacific Rim” , buoyed by the Asia Pacific Initiative in the mid-1980’s, the establishment of an International Maritime Centre (IMC) and alterations to Canada’s Tax Act to encourage ship-owners and operators to relocate to Vancouver and help Vancouver to develop as an International Banking Centre.
With these changes Capt Richard Stevens FICS pushed to revitalise the ICS locally, so that internationally accredited maritime education courses could be offered to assist with the increase and development of the necessary pool of shipping professionals.
In 1992, a delegation from ICS London visited Vancouver, and membership rules had been changed, so March 1993 the Controlling Council approved the re-establishment of the branch with the inaugural meeting in September 1993. Education was given top priority and a working relationship was developed with SFU and PMTI (precursor to BCIT) who could grant exemption from some portions of the ICS Examination. At that time also, an informal coalition of local maritime organisations had developed, chaired by the Chamber of Shipping, with ICS being part of this group. The group’s mandate was to foster regular exchanges of information among the various groups involved in the local maritime industry and to encourage closer liaison on matters of common interest in light of the worldwide need to attract newcomers into the maritime industry, both sea-going and shore-side. This group developed into the Maritime Coalition on Education.
From the mid-1990s, ICS British Columbia Branch established a programme of Luncheon Speakers offered to ICS members and members of other maritime organisations as well as social events. Discussions were commenced in 2004 on the possibility of expanding the Branch to include Canadian members outside of British Columbia who were currently in direct contact with London.
In 2005, the Executive committee recommended the Branch be expanded and re-named ICS Canada Branch, with a presence and board member being establish in Eastern Canada, based in Montreal, but with events being held intermittently in Montreal and Toronto.
Membership has continued to increase over time, with exams being offered bi-annually in Vancouver and Montreal, as well as social events on both coasts which have continued.
At this time the first ICS Dry Bulk and Commodities Conference started in Vancouver, offering an international shipping conference in Western Canada that brought in speakers and guests from around the maritime industry worldwide. Membership continued to grow, expanding over 100members across Canada in 2020.
In 2024 the Canada branch opened their newest chapter in Saskatoon, the Central Canada Chapter to service the growing body of maritime professionals there, as well as hosting their 10th Annual ICS Dry Bulk and Commodities conference, hosting the ICS Chairman and President, the BIMCO Secretary General, launched the ICS Canada Student scholarship to further grow local maritime education, and hosted a fantastic gala evening for long standing members and guests.
The Canada Branch continues to grow, to expand its reach across Canada, providing more students with access to maritime education, and offering more Luncheon events across the country, to stimulate discussion and promote networking in the growing industry here.
The creation of the TransMountain Pipeline terminal in Burnaby, the newly operational Canada LNG terminal in Kitimat, as well as various LNG terminals being developed up and down the coast, the new BHP Potash Terminal at Westshore and an expanded Roberts Bank container terminal, all from 2024 onwards, are bringing an increase in vessel traffic and require increased Shipping expertise along the BC coast. Similarly expansions of the rail lines and upgraded terminals and growth on the East Coast, have meant that ICS Canada and its value to the maritime industry in Canada continue to grow alongside our membership.