Updated: 1 September 2026
International Maritime Organization (IMO): Members, Council, Committees and Functions
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the global regulatory framework for international shipping. Its work focuses on maritime safety and security, efficient navigation, prevention and control of pollution from ships, legal matters, facilitation of maritime traffic and implementation of international maritime instruments.
History of the International Maritime Organization
An international conference in Geneva adopted the Convention establishing the Organization on 6 March 1948. The Convention required a specified level of State participation and shipping tonnage before entering into force, which occurred on 17 March 1958. The new Organization held its first meeting in January 1959.
The Organization was originally known as IMCO. Its name was changed to International Maritime Organization in 1982 to reflect its role more clearly.
The earlier description that IMO "operates under" the United Nations Economic and Social Council is not accurate. IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations with its own constituent Convention and governing bodies, while cooperating with the UN system and other international organizations.
Purpose and functions of IMO
Article 1 of the IMO Convention establishes a machinery for cooperation among governments on technical and regulatory matters affecting shipping engaged in international trade. IMO promotes the highest practicable standards of maritime safety, security, efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of pollution from ships, while also dealing with related legal, administrative and facilitation matters.
Maritime safety
Develops international rules on ship construction, equipment, operation, navigation, dangerous goods, collision prevention, search and rescue and safety management.
Marine environment
Develops standards to prevent pollution from ships and reduce air pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping.
Security
Addresses threats to ships and ports through international security standards, including measures under SOLAS and the ISPS Code.
Facilitation
Works to simplify and harmonize formalities and documentation for ships, cargoes, crews and passengers engaged in international maritime traffic.
Legal framework
Develops conventions on liability, compensation and other legal matters arising from international shipping.
Technical cooperation
Assists Member States, especially developing countries, in implementing IMO instruments through training, capacity development and technical assistance.
IMO governing structure
| Body | Current role |
|---|---|
| Assembly | IMO's highest governing body. It consists of all 176 Member States and normally meets once every two years to approve the work programme, budget, policy directions and Council membership. |
| Council | The executive organ of IMO. It has 40 Member States elected for two-year terms and supervises the Organization between Assembly sessions. |
| Secretariat | Headed by the Secretary-General and supported by around 300 international staff at IMO headquarters in London. |
IMO Council for 2026-2027
The 34th IMO Assembly elected the 40 Council members for the 2026-2027 biennium. The seats are divided into three categories: 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services; 10 States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade; and 20 States with special interests in maritime transport or navigation whose election ensures broad geographic representation.
India was elected in Category (b), representing States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
Five main IMO committees
1. Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)
The senior technical body for maritime safety. It considers navigation, ship design and equipment, manning, dangerous cargoes, collision prevention, casualty investigation, search and rescue, security and other matters affecting maritime safety.
2. Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
Deals with prevention and control of pollution from ships, marine-environment regulations, air pollution, energy efficiency and greenhouse-gas measures.
3. Legal Committee
Handles legal questions within IMO's remit, including liability and compensation regimes and legal consequences arising from maritime incidents.
4. Technical Cooperation Committee
Coordinates implementation of IMO's technical-cooperation and capacity-development activities for Member States.
5. Facilitation Committee
Works to reduce unnecessary formalities in international maritime traffic and oversees implementation of the FAL Convention.
Major IMO conventions
IMO has developed a large body of international maritime law. Three of its most important conventions are:
| Convention | Main purpose |
|---|---|
| SOLAS 1974 | The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea sets minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships. The current convention was adopted in 1974 and entered into force in 1980. |
| MARPOL | The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships is the principal international treaty addressing pollution from ships arising from operational or accidental causes. |
| STCW | The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers establishes global standards for seafarer training, certification and watchkeeping. |
Other major IMO instruments include the FAL Convention, Load Lines Convention, COLREGs, SAR Convention, SUA Convention, Ballast Water Management Convention, Hong Kong Convention, liability and compensation conventions and the Polar Code.
IMO climate policy and the 2023 GHG Strategy
The 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships replaced the 2018 Initial Strategy. It sets an ambition for greenhouse-gas emissions from international shipping to reach net zero by or around 2050, taking account of different national circumstances.
The strategy also contains indicative checkpoints to reduce total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, and by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared with 2008 levels. It also aims for zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies, fuels or energy sources to represent at least 5%, striving for 10%, of energy used by international shipping by 2030.
IMO's revised Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 expressly includes responding to climate change, integrating new technologies, enhancing supply-chain resilience, addressing the human element and strengthening implementation of IMO instruments.
How IMO rules become effective in Member States
IMO is a global rule-making organization, not a worldwide maritime police authority. International conventions normally bind States only after they become parties in accordance with the treaty's terms.
Member States must then implement applicable requirements through their national legal systems. Enforcement can involve flag-State control, port-State control, certification, surveys, inspections, casualty investigation and national penalties.
IMO also supports implementation through the IMO Instruments Implementation Code, the Member State Audit Scheme, capacity-development programmes and technical assistance.
Official IMO sources
For authoritative current information refer to the International Maritime Organization, IMO Member States, IMO Structure, Council Members, IMO Conventions and the IMO GHG Strategy.
Note: Membership, Council composition, treaty amendments and technical standards may change. This page reflects official IMO information available as of 1 September 2026.