163 members show the colours of the world
ON OCTOBER 28 this year the tiny Pacific Republic of Kiribati became the latest country to join the ranks of the IMO.
The number of member states now stands at 163 with three associate members — the Faroe Islands (Denmark), Hong Kong (China) and Macao (China) — representing all four corners of the earth.
The number has swelled significantly since the organisation was formed
Original members from 1958, when the IMO convention came into force, include Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, France, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, the Russian Federation (Soviet Union), Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the US.
The IMO council, the governing body in between the biennial assembly sessions, is made up of member states with extensive maritime interests plus others to ensure a truly global spread.
During the recent 23rd assembly the IMO elected its new council for the 2004-05 period. It comprises the following countries:
Category A, 10 states with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, UK, US.
Category B, 10 other states with the largest interest in international seaborne trade: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden.
Category C, 20 states not elected under A or B which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the council will ensure the representation of all main geographic areas of the world: Algeria, Australia, Bahamas, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Malta, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey, Venezuela.
Lloyd's List
