Structure of IMO

IMO is a Global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair, effective, universally adopted, and universally implemented.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are agreed upon, adopted and implemented internationally. IMO is a forum at which this process takes place.    

The Organization consist of an Assembly, a Council, five main Committees and several sub-committees to support the work of the main technical committees.

Member States, IGOs and NGOs:

IMO currently has 175 Member states and three associate members. 

There are 66 intergovernmental organisations which have observed status with IMO.

There are 88 international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO.

Assembly:

• Assembly is the highest Governing body of the Organization.

• It consists of all Member States and meets once every two years in regular sessions, but it may also meet in an extraordinary session if necessary.

• The Assembly is responsible for approving the work programme, voting on the budget and determining the financial arrangements of the Organization.

• The Assembly also elects the Council.

Council:

• The Council is elected by the Assembly for two-year terms beginning after each regular session of the Assembly.

• The Council is the Executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization.

• There are 40 Council members and IMO has adopted amendments to expand the size of the IMO Council to 52.

Functions of Council:

• Coordinates the activities of the organs of the Organization.

• Consider the draft work programme and budget estimates of the organization and submit them to the Assembly.

• Receive reports and proposals from the Committees and other organs and submit them to the Assembly and Member States, with comments and recommendations as appropriate.

• Appoint the Secretary-General, subject to the approval of the Assembly.

• Enter into agreements or arrangements concerning the relationship of the Organization with other organizations, subject to approval by the Assembly.

Main Committees of IMO:

The main committees of IMO are

• Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)

• Marine Environment Protection COmmittees (MEPC)

• Technical Cooperation Committee (TC)

• Facilitation Committee (FAL)

• Legal Committee (LEG)

Maritime Safety Committee (MSC):

• MSC is the highest technical body of the Organization and it consists of all member states.

• The Maritime Safety Committee is required to provide machinery for performing any duties assigned to it by the IMO Convention or any duty within its scope of work which may be assigned to it.

• MSC also has the responsibility of considering and submitting recommendations and guidelines on safety for possible adoption by the assembly.

Functions of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC):

The function of MSC is to consider any matter within the scope of the Organization concerned with the following:

• Aids of navigation

• Construction and equipment of vessels

• Manning from a safety standpoint

• Rules for Prevention of Pollution

• Procedure for the handling of dangerous cargoes

• Procedures and Requirements on Maritime Safety

• hydrographic information 

• Maintaining log-books and navigational records

• Investigation on Marine Casualty

• Salvage and Rescue procedures

• Any other matters directly affecting maritime safety

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC):

• The MEPC consist of all member states of IMO, was established as a subsidiary body of the Assembly and was raised to full constitutional status in 1985.

• It is empowered to consider any matter within the scope of the Organization concerned with preventing and controlling pollution from ships.

• MEPC is concerned with the adoption and amendment of conventions and other regulations and measures to ensure their enforcement.

• MEPC addresses environmental issues under the IMO's remit.

• MEPC includes the control and prevention of ship-source pollution covered by the MARPOL treaty, including oil, chemicals carried in bulk, sewage, garbage and emissions from ships, including air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. 

• MEPC also covers Ballast water management, anti-fouling systems, ship recycling, pollution preparedness and response and identification of special areas and particularly sensitive sea areas.

Technical Cooperation Committee(TC):

• The Technical Cooperation Committee consists of all Member States of IMO, was established in 1969 as a subsidiary body of the Council, and was institutionalized using an amendment to the IMO Convention which entered into force in 1984.

• The Technical Cooperation Committee oversees IMO's capacity-building programme and the implementation of technical cooperation projects for which the Organization acts as the executing or cooperating agency.

• The Technical Cooperation Committee considers any other matters related to the Organization's activities in the technical cooperation field.

Facilitation Committee (FAL):

• The Facilitation Committee consists of all Member States of IMO,  was established as a subsidiary body of the council in May 1972 and became fully institutionalized in December 2008 as a result of an amendment to the IMO Convention.

• The Facilitation Committee (FAL) deals with matters related to the facilitation of international traffic, including the arrival, stay and departure of ships, persons and cargo from ports.

• The Committee also addresses electronic business, including the single window concept, and aims to ensure that the right balance is stuck between regulation and facilitation of international maritime trade. 

Legal Committee (LEG):

• The Legal Committee consists of all Member states of IMO and was established in 1967 as a subsidiary body to deal with the legal matters within the scope of the Organization.

• It deals with legal matters that include liability and compensation issues related to the operation of ships, including damage, pollution, passenger claims and wreck removal.

• The Legal Committee also addresses seafarer matters, including the fair treatment of seafarers, and issues concerning lawful activities at sea which affect the safety of navigation.

Sub-Committees:

The MSC and MEPC are assisted in their work by several sub-committees which are also open to all member states.

• Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW)

• Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III)

• Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communication and Search and Rescue (NCSR)

• Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR)

• Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC)

• Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipments (SSE)

• Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC)

Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW):

• The sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) deals with 
• The human side of shipping;
• Training and Certification;
• Reviewing, Updating and revision of IMO model courses;
• Guidance addressing issues such as Fatigue. 

Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III):

• The Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III) brings together flag, port and coastal States to consider implementation issues, including the analysis of consolidated audit summary reports from the mandatory IMO Member State Audit Scheme.

• The key role of this Sub-Committee are:

• Casualty Analysis;
• To Record and analysis on marine accidents;
• To receive and analyse port state control data;
• To review the procedures for port state control;
• Guidelines for survey and certification including the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC);

Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR):

• The Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) deals with:
• All matters related to navigation and communication.
• The analysis and approval of ships' routing measures and ship routing systems.
• Carriage requirements and performance standards for navigational and communication equipment; the Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) system and the development of e-navigation.
• The search and rescue matters and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), including recognition of service providers.

Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR):

• The Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) deals with:
• All matters relating to the prevention of pollution and response.
• Control and management of harmful aquatic organisms in ships' ballast water and sediments;
• Bio-fouling and anti-fouling system;
• Control and management of pollution preparedness;
• Response and cooperation for oil and hazardous and noxious substances;
• Safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships;
• Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards from Chemicals;

Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction  (SDC):

• The Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) considers a wide range of technical and operational matters related to ship design and construction, including subdivision and stability.

• The Sub-Committee also covers testing and approval of:
• Testing and approval of construction and materials;
• Load lines;
• Tonnage measurements;
• Safety of fishing vessels;
• Carriage of industrial personnel. 

Sub-Committee on Ship System and Equipment  (SSE):

• The Sub-Committee on Ship System and Equipment (SSE) deals with a wide range of technical and operational matters related to systems and equipment on all types of ships, vessels, craft and mobile units covered by IMO instruments. 

• This includes life-saving equipment,  appliances and arrangements; and fire detection and fire extinguishing systems.

  

Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC):

• The Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) deals with the carriage of Packaged Dangerous Goods, Solid Bulk Cargoes, Bulk Gas Cargoes and Containers.

• The Sub-Committee keeps the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases to Other Low-Flash Point Fuels (IGF Code) and the International Code for Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquified Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) updated.

• The Sub-Committee closely collaborates with other UN bodies dealing with the multimodal transport of goods.

Reference:  WWW.IMO.ORG.