International Maritime

Organization
Structure and Functions
 General Information
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is
a specialised agency of the United Nations. Its task is to
regulate shipping. It was established in 1948 in Geneva.
Its headquarters are in London. IMO has 171 Member
States and 3 Associate Members.
 IMO Purpose
Its main purpose is to is to develop and
maintain regulatory framework for shipping,
which comprises:
 Safety
 Environmental concerns
 Legal matters
 Technical cooperation
 Maritime security
 The efficiency of shipping
 IMO Structure

The IMO's structure comprises the

Assembly, the Council, the Maritime Safety
Committee, the Marine Environment
Protection Committee, the Legal Committee,
the Technical Cooperation Committee, and the
secretariat, headed by a Secretary-General.
IMO Organization Structure
 The Assembly
It is the governing body of the IMO.
It consists of all IMO members.
The Assembly determines the work
programme of the organization and votes on
the budget.
It meets once every two years in regular
sessions.
 The Council
It performs the functions of the organization
between sessions of the Assembly.
It has an important policymaking role.
It is made up of 40 members elected by the
Assembly for two-year terms.
The Council normally meets twice a year.
 The Committees
The Maritime Safety Committee is made up of all IMO
member states. It has 9 subcommittees. It works in the
following areas:
 bulk liquids and gases
 carriage of dangerous goods, solid cargoes and containers
 fire protection
 radio communication and search and rescue
 safety of navigation
 ship design and equipment
 stability and load lines and fishing vessels safety
 standards of training and watch-keeping
 flag state implementation
 The Committees
The Marine Environment Protection
Committee is responsible for all matters
relating to the prevention and control of
marine pollution from ships.
The Legal Committee is responsible for
any legal matter within the scope of the IMO.
The Technical Cooperation Committee
coordinates the work of the IMO in providing
technical assistance in the maritime field.
 Secretary General
and Secretariat
The secretariat consists of a Secretary-
General and an international staff of about
300.
 Functions of the IMO
The IMO's general functions are consultative
and advisory. It discusses and makes
recommendations on any maritime question and
advises other international bodies on maritime
matters.
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ATTENTION!