Back المنظمة البحرية الدولية Arabic Organización Marítima Internacional AST Beynəlxalq Dəniz Təşkilatı Azerbaijani Міжнародная марская арганізацыя Byelorussian Международна морска организация Bulgarian আন্তর্জাতিক সমুদ্র চলাচল সংস্থা Bengali/Bangla Međunarodna pomorska organizacija BS Organització Marítima Internacional Catalan ڕێکخراوەی نێونەتەوەییی دەریاوانی CKB Mezinárodní námořní organizace Czech
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| Abbreviation | IMO, OMI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 17 March 1948 |
| Type | United Nations specialized agency |
| Legal status | Active |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Head | Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez |
Parent organization | United Nations Economic and Social Council |
| Website | imo.org |
 Politics portal | |
The International Maritime Organization (IMO; French: Organisation maritime internationale; Spanish: Organización Marítima Internacional)[1] is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating maritime transport.[2] The IMO was established following agreement at a UN conference held in Geneva in 1948[3] and the IMO came into existence ten years later, meeting for the first time on 17 March 1958.[4] Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, the IMO, in 2024, has 176 Member States and three Associate Members.[5]
The IMO's primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes maritime safety, environmental concerns, and legal matters, among other issues. IMO is governed by an assembly of members which meets every two years.[2] Its finance and organization is administered by a council of 40 members elected from the assembly.[2] The work of IMO is conducted through five committees and these are supported by technical subcommittees.[2] Other UN organizations may observe the proceedings of the IMO. Observer status is granted to qualified NGOs.[2]
IMO is supported by a permanent secretariat of employees who are representative of the organization's members. The secretariat is composed of a Secretary-General who is periodically elected by the assembly, and various divisions such as those for marine safety, environmental protection and a conference section.[2]
- ^ "Introduction to IMO". International Maritime Organization. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Understanding UK Shipping. Witherby Publishing Group. 2017. pp. 14–29. ISBN 9781856097468.
- ^ Hoffman, Michael L. (4 March 1948). "Ship Organization Nears Final Form; U.N. Maritime Body Expected to Have 3 Principal Organs – Panama in Opposition". The New York Times. p. 51. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
- ^ "History of IMO". Britannica. 14 May 2023. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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