BIMCO,IMO,IAPH Prof.V.M.Mohamed ali

BIMCO The Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) is the largest of the international shipping associations representing ship-owners. Its membership controls around 65 percent of the world’s tonnage and it has members in more than 120 countries, including managers, brokers and agents. The association’s main objective is to protect its global membership through the provision of quality information and advice, and while promoting fair business practices, facilitate harmonisation and standardization of commercial shipping practices and contracts.

…….. In support of its commitment BIMCO is accredited as a Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO) with all relevant United Nations organs. In an effort to promote its agenda and objectives, the association maintains a close dialogue with governments and diplomatic representations around the world, including maritime administrations, regulatory institutions, and other  stakeholders  within the areas of EU, the United States, and Asia. BIMCO also conducts various training programmes around the world for the Maritime Community.

……… BIMCO is the world’s largest international shipping association, with more than 2,200 members globally. BIMCO’s core objective is to facilitate the commercial operations of our members by developing standard contracts and clauses, and providing quality information, advice and education. 

IMO The International Maritime Organization (IMO), known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) until 1982,is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. The IMO was established in Geneva in 1948 and came into force ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959. Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, the IMO has 171 Member States and three Associate Members.

. The IMO's primary purpose is to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit today includes Safety Environmental concerns Legal matters Technical co-operation Maritime security and Efficiency of shipping.

. IMO is governed by an assembly of members and is financially administered by a council of members elected from the assembly. The work of IMO is conducted through five committees and these are supported by technical subcommittees. Member organizations of the UN organizational family may observe the proceedings of the IMO. Observer status is granted to qualified non-governmental organizations.

. To become a member of the IMO, a state ratifies a multilateral treaty known as the Convention on the International Maritime Organization. As of 2015, there are 171 member states of the IMO, which includes 170 of the UN membersand the Cook Islands. The first state to ratify the convention was the United Kingdom in 1949. The most recent member to join was Zambia, which became an IMO member in 2014. The three associate members of the IMO are the Faroe Islands, Hong Kong and Macao.

. The governing body of the International Maritime Organization is the Assembly which meets every two years. In between Assembly sessions a Council, consisting of 40 Member States elected by the Assembly, acts as the governing body. The technical work of the International Maritime Organization is carried out by a series of Committees. The Secretariat consists of some 300 international civil servants headed by a Secretary-General