IMO Abbreviation

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Popular abbreviations of IMO:

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What does IMO mean?

IMO is the acronym for the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency attached to the United Nations Organization (UNO). 

IMO was created to frame a guideline for safety, security, and sustainability of international shipping keeping the environmental pollution by ships and vessels under control to support the sustainable development goals taken up by UNO.

History

From the mid-19th century, many countries were suggesting creating a fair maritime play level for the cooperation between the shipping countries. Many treaties were signed for this purpose.

Finally, at the Geneva International Conference, a convention for the establishment of IMCO (Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization) was adopted in 1948. The Convention came into effect in 1958 followed by its first meeting in the following year.

Later, IMCO was rechristened, as of now, International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Aims and Goals

• To establish a level playing field in international shipping for every shipping country by framing a regulatory guideline. 
• To strive to achieve UNO’s sustainable development goals (SDGs)
• To assure compliance with the International Maritime conventions and treaties.
• To maintain peace, prosperity and fraternity among the Member States.

Structure of IMO

IMO consists of an assembly, a council (executive in nature), five main committees and several sub-committees. A brief emphasis on these bodies is given below-

Assembly

The highest Governing Body of IMO meets biennially. All Member States comprise the assembly. It is a democratic body that elects the council.

Council

Council is, as mentioned, elected by the Assembly for two years after the general meeting of the assembly until the next meeting. It is a body of 40 Member States. The number will increase to 52 as per the new amendment.

Main Committees

• Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)
• Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
• Legal Committee
• Technical Cooperation committee
• Facilitation Committee

Sub-Committees

Each Sub-Committee which is accessible to every Member state is constituted for a special purpose to assist MSC and MEPC.

Secretariat

Consists of a Secretary-General and about 300 international personnel.

Some FAQs

1. Where is the headquarters of IMO situated?

London

2. How many countries are member states of IMO?

175; India joined in 1959

3. Who is the current Secretary-General of IMO?

Kitack Lim (Republic of Korea)