International Maritime Organization / IMO

The IMO – International Maritime Organization, in German: International Maritime Organization – is a special organization of the UN based in London. The IMO has existed since 1959. The organization currently has 174 full member states. The Federal Republic of Germany joined the IMO on January 7, 1959.

The IMO aims to regulate all matters of international shipping that are not purely economic. The focus is on ship safety, the safety of seafaring and measures against environmental pollution caused by ship operations. Protection against piracy and terrorism is also on the IMO agenda.

Since its inception, the IMO has achieved more than 40 international agreements in the areas mentioned. These include, among others

• the STCW Convention: International convention governing standards of training for seafarers, certification and watchkeeping;
• the SOLAS Convention: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea;
• the MARPOL Convention: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships