International Maritime Organisation

About International Maritime Organisation:

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping and to prevent pollution from ships.
• It is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.
• Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.
• Formation: It was established as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) in 1948, became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1959 and was renamed International Maritime Organization in 1982.
• Structure of the organisation:
  • Assembly:  It is the highest Governing Body of the IMO. It consists of all Member States, and it meets once every two years in regular sessions. The Assembly is responsible for approving the work program, voting the budget and electing the Council.
  • Council: It is the Executive Organ of the IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.
  • Committees: The five policy-making committees are responsible for the development, review, updating, and approval of the organization’s guidelines and regulations.
• Funding: Funding for the organization comes from contributions by Member States, as well as voluntary donations and commercial activities.
• Members: It currently has 175 Member States.
• Headquarters: London.