News: India has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Category B, comprising 10 countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
About International Maritime Organization
- International Maritime Organization is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
- Purpose: To create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.
- Established in: It was established in 1948 and the IMO Convention entered into force in 1958.
- Headquarters: London, UK
- Member states: IMO currently has 176 Member States and three Associate Members.
- India joined the IMO in 1959.
- There are 67 intergovernmental organizations which have observer status and 88 international non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO.
- Structure of the organisation:
- IMO is led by the Secretary General.
- IMO Assembly: It consists of all Member States and is the highest governing body of the Organization.
- IMO Council: It is elected by the Assembly for a term of two years. It acts as the executive organ of IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the Organization.
