Posted: September 8th, 2022

The role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) towards maintaining and enhancing maritime safety
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is an agency of the United Nations enacted in 1958 with the primary role of ensuring safety and security in the maritime industry. The association was initially proposed in 1948 but would only come into effect ten years later after 21 states, each having more than one million gross tons of shipping, joined the convention. As of 2020, IMO included a total of 171 member states and three associate members.
As set forth in the convention, IMO is tasked with encouraging the adoption of the most quality standards that promote maritime safety, effective navigation, and prevention and control of marine pollution. Being a United Nations Agency, IMO is tasked with ensuring that the targets set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal are met.
Over the years, IMO has devised obligatory rules to protect the marine environment from pollution and other unpleasant impacts associated with shipping activities. The three most important conventions adopted by IMO in enhancing maritime safety include;
• The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) protects the ocean from pollution by oil, chemicals being transported in large quantities, sewage and garbage from ships.
• International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) stipulates the mandatory measures to be upheld in the construction, equipment, and operation of merchant ships to ensure the safety of lives on board.
• The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) sets the minimum qualifications standards for personnel on seagoing ships.

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