International Maritime Organisation

International Maritime Organisation is a specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety and security of international shipping.

International Maritime Organisation
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International Maritime Organisation Latest News

Recently, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary-General  has announced a plan to evacuate all the ships — and the 11,000 seafarers on them — stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the war in West Asia. 

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.
  • Mandate: Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.
  • Background: 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.
  • Governance 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 and consists of 40 elected members, 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 176 Member States. (India has been a member since 1959) 
  • Headquarters: London.

Source: TH

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International Maritime Organisation FAQs

Q1. How many member states are in IMO?+

Q2. What is the International Maritime Organisation?+

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