International Maritime Organisation
- 1948: The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on regulating shipping and preventing marine pollution from ships.
- Membership: The organization includes 175 Member States and three Associate Members, with headquarters in London, UK. India has been a member since 1959.
- Key Roles:
- The IMO is responsible for creating a fair, universally adopted, and implemented regulatory framework for the shipping industry.
- It addresses legal matters, liability, compensation, and the facilitation of international maritime traffic.
Structure and Functioning of IMO
- Governing Bodies: The IMO is governed by an assembly of members meeting biennially and a council of 40 members elected for two years.
- Assembly Role: The Assembly is the highest governing body of the IMO.
- Council Responsibilities: The Council, as the executive organ, supervises the organization’s work, focusing on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
Why in News:
- India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council for the 2024–25.