International Maritime Organisation (IMO): Ensuring Global Shipping Safety

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is a specialised United Nations agency responsible for regulating the safety, security, and environmental issues of international shipping. The IMO sets global standards to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly shipping practices. As most global trade is conducted via maritime routes, the IMO’s role is crucial in maintaining a well-regulated shipping industry that supports global commerce. International conventions like Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and Marine Pollution (MARPOL) mitigate environmental risks, enhance vessel safety, and promote sustainable shipping practices. The IMO’s mission is to safeguard the marine environment and ensure the contribution of international shipping to economic growth without compromising ecological integrity.

Let’s find out how. 

What is the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)?

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is a specialised agency created by the United Nations (UN) to develop mechanisms and global treaties for maritime safety. It regulates international shipping to ensure safety, security, and environmental protection by reducing marine pollution.

It discourages discriminatory, restrictive, and unfair practices in international trade. The IMO is headquartered in London. It was created by a convention adopted at the UN Maritime Conference in 1948. The convention was ratified by 21 countries. However, the convention came into force on March 17, 1958. In 1982, its current name was adopted.

The IMO has also adopted several new conventions related to the marine environment. These include those prohibiting harmful chemicals in antifouling systems (2001) and ballast-water management (2004). It made several amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in 2002, after the September 11, 2001 attack in the US. It is one of the important treaties for international maritime safety. 

Goals and Responsibilities of the IMO

‘Safe, secure, and efficient shipping on clean oceans.’

This is the ideology on which the IMO operates. All its goals and responsibilities are centered around this belief. Let’s look at the goals and responsibilities of the IMO.

• It plans on implementing a structured approach to properly consider human element issues when developing guidelines and regulations to be used by all committees and sub-committees.
• Using human element principles, it wants to communicate and promote a culture of maritime safety, security consciousness, and increased awareness of the marine environment.
• It plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the current guidelines and regulations from the perspective of human factors. It’ll help them ensure they address all issues effectively.
• It wants to create a framework to encourage the development and assessment of non-regulatory solutions. 
• The IMO plans to have a system for identifying and distributing studies, research, and other important information on maritime interests, including findings of marine and non-marine incidents.
• It’ll also provide educational material to seafarers that will be designed to increase their awareness and knowledge of the impact of human factors on safe shipping operations and guide them in making the right decision. 
• The IMO seeks to create a framework to understand the complex interrelatedness of human factors. It’ll incorporate personal endurance concerns, operational objectives, environmental factors, and organisational policies and practices. The goal is to facilitate the identification and management of several risk factors holistically and systematically. 

Member States and Associated Organisations

The IMO currently has 176 member states. It includes a majority of the UN member states. It also has three associate members, which are not considered states:

• Faroes (2002)
• Hong Kong, China (1967)
• Macao, China (1990)

A state must ratify a multilateral treaty of the Convention on the International Maritime Organisation to become a member of the IMO.

It also works with inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on maritime policy. Currently, there are 66 inter-governmental organisations and 89 international NGOs. While the former has an observer status, the latter is in consultative status with the IMO.

Organisational Structure of the IMO

With more than 170 members, the IMO is headed by a secretary general. They serve a four-year term and oversee a secretariat staff of around 300 people. They have one of the smallest staff in the entire UN agency. The IMO also consists of an Assembly, a Council, and five main Committees. The primary policy-making body of the IMO meets once every two years, where all members are represented in the Assembly. The IMO also features a Council, which consists of 40 members. This Council meets twice every year and is responsible for governing the organisation between different sessions of the Assembly. 

The Council Membership is divided into the following three categories:

• The eight countries with the ‘largest interest’ in offering international shipping services.
• The eight countries with the ‘largest interest’ in offering international seaborne trade.
• Sixteen countries with a ‘special interest’ in maritime transport. These countries must be selected to ensure equitable geographic representation. 

The Maritime Safety Committee meets annually and submits safety proposals to the Assembly. 

The IMO comprises various committees and subcommittees. They deal with very specific issues:

• Environmental issues 
• Legal issues 
• Radio communications
• The transport of dangerous goods
• Fire protection
• Life-saving equipment
• Ship design and equipment
• Cargoes and containers 

IMO’s Global Maritime Distress and Safety System is an integrated communications system. It was established in 1992. However, it became fully operational in 1999. It uses satellites and terrestrial radio communications to assist ships in distress, even when the the crew cannot send a manual distress signal.

Funding the International Maritime Organisation: Who Pays?

The IMO secures financial support from various sources:

• The Technical Cooperation (TC) Fund of the IMO. The resources of this fund are used to help countries build facilities to implement the global maritime standards set by the IMO.
• Multi-donor Trust Funds (MDTFs) are established to encourage contributions based on specific issues. There are currently seven MDTFs in operation. They support different technical cooperation programmes designed to address these specific issues.
• Bi-lateral arrangements with governments and organisations to provide financial and in-kind support for different programmes. 
• One-off cash donations and other arrangements. 

ShiprocketX: Simplifying Global Shipping

ShiprocketX is an end-to-end cross-border shipping solution designed to help businesses expand their global footprint. It makes international shipping easier and helps you grow your business by offering a comprehensive set of following features:

• Multiple shipping methods with end-to-end visibility
• Effortless customs clearance with transparent billing and tax compliance
• Automated workflows to facilitate quick international deliveries
• Real-time updates to keep your customers informed about every stage of the shipping
• Insightful data and analytics on courier performance, shipping metrics, best-selling products, country-wise distribution, etc., to help you make data-backed decisions
• A widespread courier network of more than 220 global regions to increase your reach and grow your customer base
• Establish brand loyalty with a customisable branded tracking page
• Dedicated account manager and cross-border experts to quickly resolve your queries

With ShiprocketX, you can grow your business globally at affordable shipping rates, check out our international shipping rate calculator for estimated shipping rates.

Conclusion

The IMO will continue to be pivotal in shaping global maritime regulations. Its efforts extend beyond establishing standards, working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting marine biodiversity, and preventing pollution. The IMO’s strategies and evolving regulations are necessary to meet emerging challenges such as climate change, new shipping technologies, and the need for greener practices. As international trade continues to rely heavily on shipping, the IMO’s work remains indispensable in promoting safe, secure, and sustainable maritime operations for the benefit of current and future generations.