International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, promotes cooperation among governments in matters involving international shipping. The organization, commonly known as IMO, works to establish international shipping regulations designed to raise safety standards and to prevent pollution from ships. It also furthers the exchange of technical information on ocean shipping.
Representatives from member countries attend IMO meetings, which deal with such subjects as maritime safety and security, including piracy; ship design and equipment; crew standards; and pollution control. An increasingly important concern of IMO is technical assistance to help developing countries operate maritime programs that meet international standards.
The agency began to operate in 1959 as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization. It took its present name in 1982. IMO headquarters are in London.
