LEG711 / LEG601 / LEG511

Maritime Legislation – IMO

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What is the IMO?
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the
specialized agency of the United Nations (U.N.) concerned
with Maritime Affairs located in London, England.

IMO (Formerly known as IMCO) was established under a

1948 United Nations convention that entered into force on 17
March 1958.

IMO currently has 168 member states, 2 associate members,

51 Inter-Governmental Organizations which have concluded
agreements of cooperation, and 66 Non-Governmental
Organizations in Consultative Status with IMO.
Why is there a need for IMO?
Shipping moves a huge amount of assets between
jurisdictions, and underpins world trade. IMO is needed
precisely because shipping has become a truly international
activity, and needs universally applied standards.
Before IMO, it had long been recognized that the best way of
improving safety at sea was developing international
regulations to be followed by all shipping nations.
Once momentum grew enough, the IMO was established
under the UN and began to create the international rules –
through agreements called conventions – which underpin
most international maritime law.
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What Does IMO Do?
IMO’s main objective is to facilitate
cooperation among governments on
technical and legal matters affecting
international shipping to achieve the
highest level of international standards
for:
• maritime safety
• maritime security and
• protection of the marine environment.

This is accomplished through the development of

international conventions, codes, and recommendations.
These are usually collections of rules which are agreed upon
by the nations of IMO.
IMO Conventions
When the states meet to discuss the draft of rules, it is called a convention. They
debate over some of the rules, and a final version is created called a convention,
which is deposited with the IMO.
SOLAS, COLREG, STCW-F and the Torremolinos Conventions, which you will learn
about in this course are all examples of IMO conventions.

However, just because a convention exists with the IMO doesn’t make it binding.
States have to sign and then ratify it as a domestic government. Once enough states
have ratified the convention, it becomes binding on all the states which have ratified
it.

Only once it reaches this stage does it affect how you have to operate your vessel.
But it’s important to remember that even if New Zealand hasn’t ratified a
convention, other states may have and it can still apply to your vessel when on
international voyages.
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Currently IMO Has Adopted 55 Conventions &
Protocols, Including:
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
Preventing Collisions at Sea
(COLREGS)
Loadlines
Standards of Training, Certification &
Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)
Prevention of Pollution from Ships
(MARPOL)
Tonnage Measurement Source https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lifeboat_tender.jpg

Safety of Fishing Vessels

Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response,
IMO Has Developed 25 Codes, including:
Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS)
Standards for Training and Watchkeeping (STCW)
Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG)
Solid Bulk Cargoes; Safety Management (ISM); High Speed
Craft
Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling
Units
Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous
Chemical in Bulk

By Ingrid Taylar from San Francisco Bay

Area - California, USA (Hanjin Container
Ship) [CC BY-SA 2.0
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Examples of IMO guidelines
Securing Arrangements for the Transport of Road Vehicles
on Ro-Ro Ships
Packing Cargo in Freight Containers
Intact Stability for Passenger & Cargo Ships under 100
meters in length
Safe Access to and Working in Large Tanks & Large Cargo
Holds
Emergency Towing Requirements – Tankers
Provisions and Display of Maneuvering Information on
Board Ships
Safe Use of Pesticides in Ships
Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents involving
Major Issues on IMO’s Agenda
Maritime Security
Role of the Human Element
Goal-based new ship construction
standards
Member State Assessment
Ballast Water Management
Air Pollution from Ships
Recycling of Ships

By Stéphane M Grueso [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via

Wikimedia Commons
IMO Secretariat
SECRETARY GENERAL

M a ritim e L e g a l A ffa ir s a n d
S a fe ty E x te r n a l R e la tio n s
D iv is io n D iv is io n

A d m in is tr a tiv e C o n fe re n c e
D iv is io n D iv is io n

M a r in e T e c h n ic a l
E n v ir o n m e n t C o o p e r a tio n
D iv is io n
Structure of IMO A s s e m b ly ( A )

C o u n c il ( C )

Legal M a r in e F a c ilit a t io n M a r it im e S a f e t y T e c h n ic a l
C o m m it t e e E n v ir o n m e n t a l C o m m it t e e C o m m it t e e C o o p e r a t io n
P r o t e c t io n (M S C ) C o m m it t e e
C o m m it t e e ( M E P C )

F ir e S h ip D e s ig n Subcommittees S a fe ty o f B u lk L iq u id s
P r o t e c t io n and N a v ig a t io n and G ases
(F P ) E q u ip m e n t (N A V ) (B L G )
(D E )

D a n g e ro u s G o o d s , R a d io T r a in in g & S t a b ilit y o f F la g S t a t e
S o lid C a r g o e s & C o m m u n ic a t io n s W a t c h k e e p in g L o a d lin e s & Im p le m e n t a t io n
C o n t a in e r s ( D S C ) (C O M S A R ) (S T W ) F is h in g V e s s e l (F S I)
S a fe ty (S L F )
IMO Process

Proposal by Maritime Approval by

Member Safety Assembly or
other Action
State Committee as
Appropriate

Appropriate
Subcommittee

Working Group
IMO Facts
Annual Budget – 24+ Million GBP
Member States fund IMO budget through assessments
based largely on size of fleet
(% of world’s gross tonnage)
Secretariat –
320 Staff Members
50 Nationalities

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World’s Gross Tonnage Top Ten – 1982

1. Liberia 6. USSR
2. Greece 7. Norway
3. Japan 8. United States
4. Panama 9. France
5. United Kingdom 10. Italy
World’s Gross Tonnage Top Ten – 2007
1. Panama 6. Singapore
2. Liberia 7. Greece
3. Bahamas 8. Malta
4. United Kingdom 9. China
5. Marshall Islands 10. Cyprus
 World’s Gross Tonnage Top Ten - 2015

1. Panama 6. Malta
2. Liberia 7. Greece
3. Marshall Islands 8. Bahamas
4. Hong Kong 9. China
5. Singapore 10. Cyprus

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