Convention on the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
General Information
- Type: Convention
- Date of signature: 06/03/1948
- Place of signature: Geneva, Switzerland
- Depositary: Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Date of entry into force: 17/03/1958
Category
Sub category
Groups
What is it about?
This Convention establishes the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a permanent international body to cater for the needs of shipping. This instrument provides for IMO’s regulations on, inter alia: its purposes, functions, the procedures to become a Member, the competencies of the internal organs and committees, voting, legal capacity, privileges and immunities.
Why is it relevant?
The International Maritime Organization provides for international cooperation in shipping; it is the main international body dealing with this subject. It organizes cooperation amongst Governments on technical matters affecting shipping, maritime safety, marine pollution, liability and compensation. It also encourages the general adoption of the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety and efficiency of navigation and the removal of discriminatory action and unnecessary restrictions by Governments. IMO also provides for the drafting of international legal instruments recommending them to Governments and to other international organizations.
Additional Information
IMO does not engage in activities that might be regarded as economic or commercial, limiting itself to technical matters.
Related treaties
- N/A.
Download
| Country | Ratification date |
| Albania | 24/05/1993 |
| Algeria | 31/10/1963 |
| Angola | 06/06/1977 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 13/01/1986 |
| Argentina | 18/06/1953 |
| Australia | 13/02/1952 |
| Austria | 02/04/1975 |
| Azerbaijan | 15/05/1995 |
| Bahamas | 22/07/1976 |
| Bahrain | 22/09/1976 |
| Bangladesh | 27/05/1976 |
| Barbados | 07/01/1970 |
| Belgium | 09/08/1951 |
| Belize | 13/09/1990 |
| Benin | 19/03/1980 |
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 06/07/1987 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 16/07/1993 |
| Brazil | 04/03/1963 |
| Brunei Darussalam | 31/12/1984 |
| Bulgaria | 05/04/1960 |
| Cambodia | 03/01/1961 |
| Cameroon | 01/05/1961 |
| Canada | 15/10/1948 |
| Cape Verde | 24/08/1976 |
| Chile | 17/02/1972 |
| China | 01/03/1973 |
| Colombia | 19/11/1974 |
| Comoros | 03/08/2001 |
| Congo | 05/09/1975 |
| Costa Rica | 04/03/1981 |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 04/11/1960 |
| Croatia | 08/07/1992 |
| Cuba | 06/03/1966 |
| Cyprus | 21/11/1973 |
| Czech Republic | 18/06/1993 |
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 16/04/1986 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 16/08/1973 |
| Denmark | 03/06/1959 |
| Djibouti | 20/02/1979 |
| Dominica | 18/12/1979 |
| Dominican Republic | 25/08/1953 |
| Ecuador | 12/07/1956 |
| Egypt | 17/03/1958 |
| El Salvador | 12/02/1981 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 06/09/1972 |
| Eritrea | 31/08/1993 |
| Estonia | 31/01/1992 |
| Ethiopia | 03/07/1975 |
| Fiji | 14/03/1983 |
| Finland | 21/04/1959 |
| France | 09/04/1952 |
| Gabon | 01/04/1976 |
| Gambia | 11/01/1979 |
| Georgia | 22/06/1993 |
| Germany | 07/01/1959 |
| Ghana | 06/07/1959 |
| Greece | 31/12/1958 |
| Grenada | 03/12/1998 |
| Guatemala | 16/03/1983 |
| Guinea | 03/12/1975 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 06/12/1977 |
| Guyana | 13/05/1980 |
| Haiti | 23/06/1953 |
| Honduras | 23/08/1954 |
| Hungary | 10/06/1970 |
| Iceland | 08/11/1960 |
| India | 06/01/1959 |
| Indonesia | 18/01/1961 |
| Iran | 02/01/1958 |
| Iraq | 28/08/1973 |
| Ireland | 26/02/1951 |
| Israel | 24/04/1952 |
| Italy | 28/01/1957 |
| Jamaica | 11/05/1976 |
| Japan | 17/03/1958 |
| Jordan | 09/11/1953 |
| Kazakhstan | 11/03/1994 |
| Kenya | 22/08/1973 |
| Kiribati | 28/10/2003 |
| Kuwait | 05/07/1960 |
| Latvia | 01/03/1993 |
| Lebanon | 03/05/1966 |
| Liberia | 06/01/1959 |
| Libyan Arab Jamahiriya | 16/02/1970 |
| Lithuania | 07/12/1995 |
| Luxembourg | 14/02/1991 |
| Macedonia (The former Yugoslav Republic of) | 13/10/1993 |
| Madagascar | 08/03/1961 |
| Malawi | 19/01/1989 |
| Malaysia | 17/06/1971 |
| Maldives | 31/05/1967 |
| Malta | 22/06/1966 |
| Marshall Islands | 26/03/1998 |
| Mauritania | 08/05/1961 |
| Mauritius | 18/05/1978 |
| Mexico | 21/09/1954 |
| Moldova | 12/12/2001 |
| Monaco | 22/12/1989 |
| Mongolia | 11/12/1996 |
| Montenegro | 10/10/2006 |
| Morocco | 30/07/1962 |
| Mozambique | 17/01/1979 |
| Myanmar | 06/07/1951 |
| Namibia | 27/10/1994 |
| Nepal | 31/01/1979 |
| Netherlands | 31/03/1949 |
| New Zealand | 09/11/1960 |
| Nicaragua | 17/03/1982 |
| Nigeria | 15/03/1962 |
| Norway | 29/12/1958 |
| Oman | 30/01/1974 |
| Pakistan | 21/11/1958 |
| Palau | 2011 |
| Panama | 31/12/1958 |
| Papua New Guinea | 06/05/1976 |
| Paraguay | 15/03/1993 |
| Peru | 15/04/1968 |
| Philippines | 09/11/1964 |
| Poland | 16/03/1960 |
| Portugal | 17/03/1976 |
| Qatar | 19/05/1977 |
| Republic of Korea | 10/04/1962 |
| Romania | 28/04/1965 |
| Russian Federation | 24/12/1958 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 08/10/2001 |
| Saint Lucia | 10/04/1980 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 29/04/1981 |
| Samoa | 25/10/1996 |
| San Marino | 12/03/2002 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 09/07/1990 |
| Saudi Arabia | 25/02/1969 |
| Senegal | 07/11/1960 |
| Serbia | 11/12/2000 |
| Seychelles | 13/06/1978 |
| Sierra Leone | 14/03/1973 |
| Singapore | 17/01/1966 |
| Slovakia | 24/03/1993 |
| Slovenia | 10/02/1993 |
| Solomon Islands | 27/06/1988 |
| Somalia | 04/04/1978 |
| South Africa | 28/02/1995 |
| Spain | 23/01/1962 |
| Sri Lanka | 06/04/1972 |
| Sudan | 05/07/1974 |
| Suriname | 14/10/1976 |
| Sweden | 27/04/1959 |
| Switzerland | 20/07/1955 |
| Syrian Arab Republic | 28/01/1963 |
| Thailand | 20/09/1973 |
| Timor-Leste | 2004 |
| Togo | 20/06/1983 |
| Tonga | 23/02/2000 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 27/04/1965 |
| Tunisia | 23/05/1963 |
| Turkey | 25/03/1958 |
| Turkmenistan | 26/08/1993 |
| Tuvalu | 2003 |
| Uganda | 2009 |
| Ukraine | 28/03/1994 |
| United Arab Emirates | 04/03/1980 |
| United Kingdom | 14/02/1949 |
| United Republic of Tanzania | 08/01/1974 |
| United States of America | 17/08/1950 |
| Uruguay | 10/05/1968 |
| Vanuatu | 21/10/1986 |
| Venezuela | 27/10/1975 |
| Viet Nam | 12/06/1984 |
| Yemen | 14/03/1979 |
| Zambia | 2014 |
| Zimbabwe | 2004 |
| Year | Ratifications |
| 1948 | 1 |
| 1949 | 2 |
| 1950 | 1 |
| 1951 | 3 |
| 1952 | 3 |
| 1953 | 4 |
| 1954 | 2 |
| 1955 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 |
| 1958 | 9 |
| 1959 | 8 |
| 1960 | 7 |
| 1961 | 5 |
| 1962 | 4 |
| 1963 | 4 |
| 1964 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 |
| 1966 | 4 |
| 1967 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 |
| 1969 | 1 |
| 1970 | 3 |
| 1971 | 1 |
| 1972 | 3 |
| 1973 | 9 |
| 1974 | 4 |
| 1975 | 5 |
| 1976 | 9 |
| 1977 | 3 |
| 1978 | 3 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1980 | 4 |
| 1981 | 3 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 3 |
| 1984 | 2 |
| 1986 | 3 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1994 | 3 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| Total | 173 |