UPSC & GPSC · Current Affairs
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Source: United Nations
What’s in News
Recently, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization announced plans to facilitate the evacuation of ships and thousands of stranded seafarers in the Persian Gulf amid tensions arising from the conflict in West Asia.
Key Facts
- IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping, and the global standard-setting authority for maritime transport.
- History: Established in 1948 as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO); became a UN specialized agency in 1959; renamed IMO in 1982.
- Objectives: Enhance maritime safety and security, prevent marine pollution from ships, promote efficient and sustainable shipping, and develop globally accepted maritime regulations.
- Governance: The Assembly is the highest governing body (all member states, meets every two years, approves the budget and elects the Council); the Council is the executive organ (40 elected member states, supervises work between Assembly sessions); five major Committees oversee maritime safety, marine environment protection, legal affairs, technical cooperation, and facilitation.
- Membership: 176 Member States; India has been a member since 1959. Headquarters: London.
- Funded primarily through contributions from member states, with additional voluntary contributions.
Consider the following statements regarding the International Maritime Organization (IMO):
1. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
2. Its headquarters is located in London.
3. It is responsible for setting global standards for the safety and environmental performance of international shipping.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Statement 1 is correct: IMO is a specialized agency of the UN. Statement 2 is correct: its headquarters is in London. Statement 3 is correct: IMO is the global standard-setting authority for shipping safety, security and environmental performance.
