India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, marking its continuous service at IMO.This re-election, part of the 2024–25 biennium, places India among the Category of 10 states with “the largest interest in international seaborne trade,” reaffirming its pivotal role in global maritime affairs.
International Maritime Organisation
- The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that is responsible for regulating shipping and preventing marine pollution from ships.
- IMO was established in 1948 following a UN conference in Geneva and came into existence in 1958.
Members
- IMO has 175 Member States and three Associate Members, and its headquarters are in London, United Kingdom.
- India joined the IMO in 1959.
Role
- Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.
- It is also involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
- IMO celebrates World Maritime Day every last Thursday of September, to highlight the importance of shipping and maritime activities.
Structure of IMO
- IMO is governed by an assembly of members, which meets every two years, and a council of 40 members, which is elected by the assembly for a two-year period.
- The Assembly is the highest Governing Body of the IMO.
- The IMO Council, being the executive organ, is responsible for supervising the organization’s work, especially in maritime safety and pollution prevention.
- IMO’s work is conducted through five committees and several subcommittees, which develop and adopt international conventions, codes, resolutions, and guidelines.
India and IMO
- India maintains to be in Category B of IMO Council, highlighting its consistent commitment to maritime affairs.
- India’s Vision 2030 aims to enhance representation at IMO by appointing permanent representatives at IMO London.
- The Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 outlines goals to strengthen India’s global maritime presence.
- Initiatives include establishing a dedicated IMO cell, appointing a permanent representative at IMO headquarters, and implementing the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Master Plan.