IMO and its functions

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·         IMO is the United Nations' specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships.

·         IMO mainly aims to improve standards on safety of navigation, Radio communication, lifesaving, search and rescue, STCW, Carriage of dangerous goods, Ship design and equipment, fire protection, stability, Load lines, containers and cargoes.

·         In order to achieve its objectives, IMO has promoted the adoption of some 40 conventions and protocols and adopted well over 800 codes and recommendations concerning maritime safety, the prevention of pollution and related matters.

·         Taking measures to implement its proactive policy’s agreed more effectively than in the past.

·         To identify at the earliest feasible stage on trends which might adversely affect the safety of ships and those on board or the environment and take necessary action to avoid or mitigate such effects.

·         Shifting such emphasis regarding safety onto people.

·         Ensuring the effective uniform implementation of existing IMO standards and regulations, in particular revised   STCW conventions, ISM code, ISPS code, MARPOL 73/78 and FAL convention.

·         The latest resolution addresses on safety and environmental protection issues, by ship types, with particular emphasis on passenger ships (including high-speed passenger craft) and bulk carriers.

·         Putting in place the necessary infrastructure for the implementation of the global SAR plan and the MARPOL requirements concerning reception facilities for ship-generated waste.

·         Ensuring the wide early acceptance of those Annexes to the MARPOL Convention which have not yet entered into force.

·         Developing a safety culture and environmental conscience in all activities undertaken by the Organization

·         Avoiding excessive regulation.

·         Strengthening the Organization's technical co-operation programmes.

·         Efforts to prevent and suppress unlawful acts which threaten the security of ships, the safety of those on board and the environment. (In particular, terrorism at sea, piracy and armed robbery against ships, illicit drug trafficking, illegal migration by sea and stowaway cases).

·         The organisations technical work is carried by number of committees, the most senior of which is the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC).

·         The resolution also notes the special contribution of the World Maritime University, the IMO International Maritime Law Institute and the IMO International Maritime Academy in achieving the IMO objectives.

·         Other areas of concern of IMO are facilitation on marine traffic to reduce unnecessary delays in maritime traffic and thereby improve port efficiency.

·         Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims for ship owners, those for loss of life or personal injury and property claims, such as damage to ships, property or harbour works.

Such other conventions like International convention on Salvage, International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage. Convention to regulate civil liability in respect of damage arising from the maritime carriage of nuclear substances.