Assessing the performance of the international maritime organization

• Main Author: Su, Weixiang.
• Other Authors: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Maritime studies::Maritime management and business
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/44915
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), as a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), has been the only inter-governmental body that sets standards for the maritime industry since its inception in 1958. The sheer size of ships and the scale of maritime accidents when compared to airplanes, locomotives and trucks have resulted in greater than needed attention in disasters such as the Torrey Canyon. Without an alternative to keep the IMO on its toes, it is possible for the IMO to degenerate like what the League of Nations experienced. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the IMO in promoting Safety and Security of Shipping, as well as the Prevention of Marine Pollution. With more than 50 years of work behind it, we hope to generate a report card that is untainted by cultural and political influence. This report pays special focus on the area of maritime security. The limitations of time, objective information and statistics only allow us to generate a report that can serve as a basis for future research. With extensive literature review, technical analysis, interviews and surveys with shipping professionals, qualitative and quantitative results converge to provide a well-balanced view of the IMO‟s performance. For its size, the IMO is considered fairly efficient in its efforts to set standards and this parallels the reputation of shipping as being the most regulated industry. However the quality of compliance with international standards reveals a big gap for improvement. Nonetheless, the general consensus holds that the IMO has scored well in the areas of maritime safety and prevention of marine pollution but maritime security draws mixed responses. It is thus recommended that the IMO continues its move towards establishing goal-based standards and look towards leveling the playing field by pressuring lax member states to enhance their degree of compliance.