TABLE OF CONTENTS The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It has as its most important objectives the improvement of maritime safety and the prevention of marine pollution. The functions of IMO, only as it affects ship construction, are dealt with in this book.
The Assembly which is the supreme governing body of IMO and consists of representatives of all member states (165 in September 2005) meets every two years and determines policy, the work programme, votes the budget, approves all recommendations made by IMO and elects members of the Council. The Council consists of an agreed number (40 in 2005) of representatives of member states elected for a term of two years. It normally meets twice a year and is IMO's governing body between Assembly sessions. The Maritime Safety Committee deals with the technical work of IMO and in order to facilitate this work various sub-committees are set up to deal with specific subjects such as fire protection, ship design and equipment, etc. The Marine Environmental Protection Committee is responsible for coordinating IMO activities in the prevention of pollution from ships. The latter two committees meet once, or sometimes twice, a year and all member states may participate in their activities and those of their sub-committees.
The IMO is responsible for convening and preparing international conferences on subjects within its...
