IMO - International Maritime Organization

4 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7SR
United Kingdom

Website

Fax: +44 171 587 3210

The International Maritime Organization is the United Nations' specialized agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. IMO's work is described in the following headings.

• With a staff of 300 people IMO is one of the smallest of all United Nations agencies. But it has achieved considerable success in achieving its aim of "safer shipping and cleaner oceans."
• The rate of serious casualties at sea fell appreciably during the 1980s and estimates indicate that oil pollution from ships was cut by around 60% during the same period.
• The challenge now facing IMO and its 158 Member States is how to maintain this success at a time when shipping is changing more rapidly than ever before.

The adoption of maritime legislation is still IMO's best known responsibility. Around 40 conventions and protocols have been adopted by the Organization and most of them have been amended on several occasions to ensure that they are kept up to date w

Ports of Presence:
United Kingdom - London

safety SOLAS shipping standards of training, certification and watchkeeping environment ballast water clean seas