The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), established as an institution to regulate global shipping. The IMO was created to solve the problem of diverse national standards in maritime trade, which were counter-productive to safety and efficiency. The convention establishing the IMO was adopted in Geneva in 1948, and the body, then called the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO), first assembled on January 6, 1959, after the convention came into force on March 17, 1958. Its name was formally changed to the IMO in 1982.
The IMO works by developing and maintaining a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping, covering maritime safety, environmental concerns, and legal matters. This framework is primarily implemented through international treaties and conventions that member states adopt into their national laws. Key conventions include the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), and the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). The IMO is governed by an Assembly that meets biennially and a Council of 40 members.
Recently, the IMO has focused on environmental regulations through amendments to MARPOL Annex VI. The Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) requirements entered into force on November 1, 2022, with the requirements taking effect from January 1, 2023. Furthermore, the Mediterranean Sea was designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for Sulphur Oxides and Particular Matter under MARPOL Annex VI, with the requirements taking effect on May 1, 2025. Other amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning low-flashpoint and gas fuels are set to enter into force on August 1, 2025.