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Abbreviation | IMO, OMI |
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Formation | 17 March 1948 |
Type | United Nations specialised agency |
Legal status | Active |
Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Head | Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez |
Parent organization | United Nations Economic and Social Council |
Website | imo.org |
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The International Maritime Organization (IMO; French: Organisation maritime internationale; Spanish: Organización Marítima Internacional)[1] is a specialised 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, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping. 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 organisations may observe the proceedings of the IMO. Observer status is granted to qualified non-governmental organisations.[2]
IMO is supported by a permanent secretariat of employees who are representative of the organisation'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]
IMO
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).