India registers win in International Maritime Organisation elections

Arnima Dwivedi
Published on: 2 Dec 2017 5:21 AM GMT
India scores 2nd highest in International Maritime elections
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London: India on Friday won the election to the Council of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in Category-B which represents the developing countries and countries with largest interests in international sea-borne trade.

A senior official said that India won with second highest margin securing 144 votes of member countries while the highest was secured by Germany.

Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom YK Sinha represented India at the assembly where India secured the second-highest number of votes (144) from member-countries, just after Germany's 146 and ahead of Australia's 143.

The other countries to make the cut included France (140), Canada (138), Spain (137), Brazil (131), Sweden (129), The Netherlands (124) and the UAE (115)

India had on Tuesday forwarded its candidature for re-election to the IMO Council in Category-B. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari was in London to address IMO's annual session.

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"India's campaign at highest level has ensured record votes," the government official said.

The IMO, known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) until 1982, is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping.

What is Council of International Maritime Organisation (IMO)?

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) was known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) until 1982.

It is the specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping.

Established in Geneva in 1948, IMO came into force ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959.

It is headquartered in London, United Kingdom and has 172 Member States and three Associate Members.

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IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is financially administered by a council of members elected from the assembly.

What purpose does IMO serves?

To develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping.

Check Safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping.

Work structure:

The IMO consists of an Assembly, a Council and five main Committees: the Maritime Safety Committee; the Marine Environment Protection Committee; the Legal Committee; the Technical Co-operation Committee and the Facilitation Committee. A number of Sub-Committees support the work of the main technical committees

The work is conducted through five committees and these are supported by technical subcommittees.

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Other United Nations organisations may observe the proceedings of the IMO. Observer status is granted to qualified non-governmental organisations.

Recent issues:

Recent initiatives at the IMO have included amendments to SOLAS, which upgraded fire protection standards on passenger ships, the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) which establishes basic requirements on training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers and to the Convention on the Prevention of Maritime Pollution (MARPOL 73/78), which required double hulls on all tankers.

Arnima Dwivedi

Arnima Dwivedi

A journalist, presently working as a sub-editor with newstrack.com. I love exploring new genres of humans and humanity.

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