Prevention of Marine Pollution: The Contribution of IMO

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations. It was established by a constitutive Convention that was adopted in 1948 and entered into force in 1958.1 The purposes of the Organization, as stated in Article 1(a) of the Convention, are “to provide machinery for cooperation among Governments in the field of governmental regulation and practices relating to technical matters of all kinds affecting shipping engaged in international trade; to encourage and facilitate the general adoption of the highest practicable standards in matters concerning maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships”.2.