Imo's convention

Shipping is perhaps the most international of the world's industries, serving more than 90 per cent of global trade by carrying huge quantities of cargo cost effectively, cleanly and safely.

It has always been recognized that the best way of improving safety at sea and to avoid any perils and accidents is by developing international regulations that are followed by all shipping nations.

In 1948 the Organization of United Nations adopted a convention establishing the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the first ever international body devoted exclusively to maritime matters. The original name was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, or IMCO, but the name was changed in 1982 to IMO. The IMO Convention entered into force in 1958.

From the very beginning, the improvement of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution have been IMO’s most important objectives. In the early 2000s, maritime security became another major focus for the Organization. The overall objectives are summed up in the IMO slogan: “safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean oceans”.

The Organization currently has 170 Member States and three Associate Members. Its governing body, the Assembly, meets once every two years. IMO is a technical organization and most of its work is carried out in a number of committees and sub- committees. The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) is the most senior of these. IMO has promoted the adoption of some 50 conventions and protocols and adopted more than 1,000 codes and recommendations concerning maritime safety and security, the prevention of pollution and related matters.

Such documents as International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, International Convention on Preventing Pollution at Sea, International Regulations for Safety of Life at Sea and others are well known to all the mariners and shall be strictly obeyed in practical navigation. All these regulations impose liability on shipping companies, the vessels and their crews for non-compliance of the rules.

Much attention is paid now to preventing pollution at sea, as its consequences may threaten the vitally important problems of the mankind. The coast and coastal waters polluted with oil or poisonous substance may become uninhabitable or harmful not only for men, but for fish, birds, animals and other living creatures as well as vegetation.

Under Convention the countries, members of IMO, undertake to see to the effective execution of the rules. To control the strict observance of the Regulations special organizations have been established. The staff of these organizations has been established. The staff of these organizations is entitled to investigate the cause of pollution, to inspect the equipment aboard vessels and to impose a penalty for the violation of the Regulations.

ASWER THE QUESTIONS: 1. What part does shipping take place in world industry? 2. What is the best way of improving the safety at sea? 3. When was IMO established? 4. When did the convention come into force? 5. What are the objectives of IMO convention? 6. List some of the documents of IMO. 7. Why is so much attention paid to prevention pollution at sea? 8. What is staff of IMO entitled to do?