Introducing the International Maritime Organisation
                     Introducing the 
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME 
ORGANISATION
VICTOR OLERSKIY
Member of the Board of Directors at
Russian Fishery LLC
The International Maritime 
Organisation (IMO) is a 
United Nations specialised 
agency with responsibility 
for international shipping 
regulations. It was initially 
established following an 
agreement made in 1948 in 
Geneva and came into force in 
1959. Until 1982, it was known 
as the Inter-Governmental 
Maritime Consultative 
Organisation. 
Structure
The headquarters of the 
IMO are in London, UK. 
To date, there are 174 IMO 
member states as well as 
three associate members.
Victor Olerskiy
Creating a Regulatory 
Framework
The primary purpose of the 
IMO is the creation and main-
tenance of a regulatory frame-
work for shipping on a global 
scale. This includes issues of 
safety and security, environ-
mental concerns, efficiency, 
technical cooperation and le-
gal matters.
Governance
The IMO is governed by an assembly of its 
members, with an elected council of mem-
bers in charge of financial administration. 
Five committees perform the body of the 
work, with support from several technical 
subcommittees. Proceedings of the IMO 
can be observed by other United Nations 
organisations.
"
In 2014 the IMO adopted 
what is known as the Polar 
Code, which regulates 
shipping in polar waters.
Victor Olerskiy
Victor Olerskiy
Learn more about the Polar Code by visiting the 
blog of Russia’s Deputy Minister for Transport 
(2009-2018), Victor Olerskiy.