Introducing the International Maritime Organisation

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Introducing the INTERNATIONAL MARITIME
ORGANISATION
VICTOR OLERSKIY Member of the Board of Directors
at Russian Fishery LLC
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The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is
a United Nations specialised agency with
responsibility for international shipping
regulations. It was initially established
following an agreement made in 1948 in Geneva
and came into force in 1959. Until 1982, it was
known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime
Consultative Organisation.
Structure The headquarters of the IMO are in
London, UK. To date, there are 174 IMO member
states as well as three associate members.
Victor Olerskiy
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Creating a Regulatory Framework The primary
purpose of the IMO is the creation and main-
tenance of a regulatory frame- work for shipping
on a global scale. This includes issues of
safety and security, environ- mental concerns,
efficiency, technical cooperation and le- gal
matters.
Governance The IMO is governed by an assembly of
its members, with an elected council of mem-
bers in charge of financial administration. Five
committees perform the body of the work, with
support from several technical subcommittees.
Proceedings of the IMO can be observed by other
United Nations organisations.
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In 2014 the IMO adopted what is known as the
Polar Code, which regulates shipping in polar
waters.
Victor Olerskiy
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Victor Olerskiy
Learn more about the Polar Code by visiting the
blog of Russias Deputy Minister for
Transport (2009-2018), Victor Olerskiy.