IMO: The Competent International Organisation
This page introduces the main features and sub-organs of the International Maritime Organisation.
What is IMO?
The International Maritime Organisation is the specialised body of the United Nations regulating the maritime sphere. IMO handles shipping by adopting instruments that cover the following:
- safety
- security
- pollution
- liability arising from maritime disasters and crises
- facilitating efficient international shipping.
IMO's slogan sums these up:
Safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans.
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How was IMO formed?
IMO was established during a convention of the United Nations, the text of which was adopted in Geneva on the 17th of March, 1948.
The IMO Convention came into force in 1958, and the organisation met for the first time in January 1959.
The organisation was initially named the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation or IMCO.
The name was changed to the International Maritime Organisation in 1982.
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Which primary instrument allows the IMO to perform its functions?
The 1948 IMO Convention brought the IMO into formal existence and established the scope of its purpose and responsibilities.
The express purpose of the organisation was set out by Article 1(a) of the Convention:
'...to provide machinery for cooperation among governments in the field of governmental regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in international trade; to encourage and facilitate the general adoption of the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety, the efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships.'
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Outline the structure of the IMO
IMO consists of the following bodies:
- Assembly
- Council
- five central working Committees
- numerous sub-committees who undertake the technical work of the organisation
- Secretariat.
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What is the purpose of the Assembly?
As its name suggests, the Assembly is the main venue for IMO members to assemble every two years to deliberate and set the organisation's priorities and adopt resolutions on matters within IMO's remit.
As representatives of all member states, the Assembly is the highest governing body.
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What is the purpose of the Council?
The Council contains a smaller subset of representatives of 40 member states who meet to execute the priorities the Assembly determines.
The Council is elected every two years by the Assembly.
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What are the main Committees of IMO?
The five IMO Committees are:
- Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)
- Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
- Facilitation Committee (FAL)
- Technical Committee (Tech)
- Legal Committee (Leg).
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The IMO Committee holds critical discussions on GHG reduction measures: https://t.co/j4xT3nrsHf #GHG #ClimateChange #MEPC75 #energyefficiency #HFO pic.twitter.com/8K5MdiHIrq
— IMO (@IMOHQ) November 16, 2020
What is the function of the MSC?
The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) is mainly concerned with negotiating and adopting regulations concerning the safety of international ships and crews. It is principally responsible for the SOLAS convention. For example,
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What is the function of the MEPC?
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) is concerned with negotiating and adopting regulations concerning preventing pollution from ships. It is chiefly responsible for MARPOL, for example.
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The IMO Environment Committee approves amendments to cut ship emissions: https://t.co/4HwUfhT2vS #GHG #energyefficiency pic.twitter.com/0a8fEsRWLO
— IMO (@IMOHQ) November 18, 2020
What is the function of the Facilitation Committee?
By implementing the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic 1965, the Facilitation Committee works to reduce the burden of excessive bureaucratic formalities in international shipping.
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What is the function of the Technical Committee?
The Technical Committee is concerned with implementing the various technical cooperation projects for which the organisation is responsible.
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What is the function of the Legal Committee?
The Legal Committee deals with all legal matters within the organisation.
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How are the IMO conventions drafted?
As the major organs of the IMO, the Assembly and Council are concerned with formally adopting it.
However, it is the job of the various committees to undertake the bulk of the research and drafting.
The permanent Secretariat prepares the final text of the convention.
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Ratification by member states
Although IMO is a place for its members and interested parties to consider and adopt new regulations, it does not have the power to create laws.
Instead, individual governments implement the plans agreed upon at IMO by enacting them into the domestic laws of their own countries.
Ratification by signatory IMO member states ensures that a uniform regulatory framework is in place globally.
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