Convention on the International Maritime 

Organization (IMO) [*] 

Done at: Geneva 

Date enacted: 1948-03-06

In force: 1958-03-17

Content

 Part I - Purposes of the Organization 

 Part II - Functions 

 Part III - Membership 

 Part IV - Organs 

 Part V - The Assembly 

 Part VI - The Council 

 Part VII - Maritime Safety Committee 

 Part VIII - Legal Committee 

 Part IX - Marine Environment Protection Committee 

 Part X - Technical Co-operation Committee 

 Part XI - The Secretariat 

 Part XII - Finances 

 Part XIII - Voting 

 Part XIV - Headquarters of the Organization 

 Part XV - Relationship with the United Nations and other Organizations 

 Part XVI - Legal capacity, privileges and immunities 

 Part XVII - Amendments 

 Part XVIII - Interpretation 

 Part XIX - Miscellaneous provisions 

 Part XX - Entry into force 

The States Parties to the present Convention hereby establish the International Maritime 

Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the Organization"). 

Part I - Purposes of the Organization 

Article 1

The purposes of the Organization are: 

a. To provide machinery for co-operation 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 the maritime safety, efficiency of navigation and 

prevention and control of marine pollution from ships; and to deal with administrative and 

legal matters related to the purposes set out in this Article; 

b. To encourage the removal of discriminatory action and unnecessary restrictions by 

Governments affecting shipping engaged in international trade so as to promote the 

availability of shipping services to the commerce of the world without discrimination; 

assistance and encouragement given by a Government for the development of its national 

shipping and for purposes of security does not in itself constitute discrimination, provided 

that such assistance and encouragement is not based on measures designed to restrict the 

freedom of shipping of all flags to take part in international trade; 

c. To provide for the consideration by the Organization of matters concerning unfair restrictive 

practices by shipping concerns in accordance with part II; 

d. To provide for the consideration by the Organization of any matters concerning shipping and 

the effect of shipping on the marine environment that may be referred to it by any organ or 

specialized agency of the United Nations; 

e. To provide for the exchange of information among Governments on matters under 

consideration by the Organization. 

Part II - Functions 

Article 2

In order to achieve the purposes set out in part I, the Organization shall: 

a. Subject to the provisions of Article 3, consider and make recommendations upon matters 

arising under Article 1 (a), (b) and (c) that may be remitted to it by Members, by any organ 

or specialized agency of the United Nations or by any other intergovernmental organization 

or upon matters referred to it under Article 1 (d); 

b. Provide for the drafting of conventions, agreements, or other suitable instruments, and 

recommend these to Governments and to intergovernmental organizations, and convene such 

conferences as may be necessary; 

c. Provide machinery for consultation among Members and the exchange of information among 

Governments; 

d. Perform functions arising in connexion with paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Article, in 

particular those assigned to it by or under international instruments relating to maritime 

matters and the effect of shipping on the marine environment; 

e. Facilitate as necessary, and in accordance with part X, technical co-operation within the 
scope of the Organization. 

Article 3

In those matters which appear to the Organization capable of settlement through the normal 

processes of international shipping business the Organization shall so recommend. When, in the 

opinion of the Organization, any matter concerning unfair restrictive practices by shipping 

concerns is incapable of settlement through the normal processes of international shipping 

business, or has in fact so proved, and provided it shall first have been the subject of direct 

negotiations between the Members concerned, the Organization shall, at the request of one of 

those Members, consider the matter. 

Part III - Membership 

Article 4 

Membership in the Organization shall be open to all States, subject to the provisions of part III. 

Article 5

Members of the United Nations may become Members of the Organization by becoming parties 

to the Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 71. 

Article 6 

States not Members of the United Nations which have been invited to send representatives to the 

United Nations Maritime Conference convened in Geneva on 19 February 1948, may become 

Members by becoming parties to the Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 71. 

Article 7

Any State not entitled to become a Member under Article 5 or 6 may apply through the 

Secretary-General of the Organization to become a Member and shall be admitted as a Member 

upon its becoming a party to the Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 71 

provided that, upon the recommendation of the Council, its application has been approved by 

two-thirds of the Members other than Associate Members. 

Article 8 

Any Territory or group of Territories to which the Convention has been made applicable under 

Article 72, by the Member having responsibility for its international relations or by the United 

Nations, may become an Associate Member of the Organization by notification in writing given 

by such Member or by the United Nations, as the case may be, to the Secretary General of the 

United Nations. 
Article 9

An Associate Member shall have the rights and obligations of a Member under the Convention 

except that it shall not have the right to vote or be eligible for membership on the Council and 

subject to this the word "Member" in the Convention shall be deemed to include Associate 

Member unless the context otherwise requires. 

Article 10

No State or Territory may become or remain a Member of the Organization contrary to a 

resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations. 

Part IV - Organs 

Article 11

The Organization shall consist of an Assembly, a Council, a Maritime Safety Committee, a Legal 

Committee, a Marine Environment Protection Committee, a Technical Co-operation Committee 

and such subsidiary organs as the Organization may at any time consider necessary; and a 

Secretariat. 

Part V - The Assembly 

Article 12 

The Assembly shall consist of all the Members. 

Article 13 

Regular sessions of the Assembly shall take place once every two years. Extraordinary sessions 

shall be convened after a notice of sixty days whenever one-third of the Members give notice to 

the Secretary-General that they desire a session to be arranged, or at any time if deemed 

necessary by the Council, after a notice of sixty days. 

Article 14

A majority of the Members other than Associate Members shall constitute a quorum for the 

meetings of the Assembly. 

Article 15 

The functions of the Assembly shall be: 

a. To elect at each regular session from among its Members, other than Associate Members, its 
President and two Vice-Presidents who shall hold office until the next regular session; 

b. To determine its own Rules of Procedure except as otherwise provided in the Convention; 

c. To establish any temporary or, upon recommendation of the Council, permanent subsidiary 

bodies it may consider to be necessary; 

d. To elect the Members to be represented on the Council as provided in Article 17; 

e. To receive and consider the reports of the Council, and to decide upon any question referred 

to it by the Council; 

f. To approve the work programme of the Organization; 

g. To vote the budget and determine the financial arrangements of the Organization, in 

accordance with part XII; 

h. To review the expenditures and approve the accounts of the Organization; 

i. To perform the functions of the Organization, provided that in matters relating to Article 2 

(a) and (b), the Assembly shall refer such matters to the Council for formulation by it of any 

recommendations or instruments thereon; provided further that any recommendations or 

instruments submitted to the Assembly by the Council and not accepted by the Assembly 

shall be referred back to the Council for further consideration with such observations as the 

Assembly may make; 

j. To recommend to Members for adoption regulations and guidelines concerning maritime 

safety, the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships and other matters 

concerning the effect of shipping on the marine environment assigned to the Organization by 

or under international instruments, or amendments to such regulations and guidelines which 

have been referred to it; 

k. To take such action as it may deem appropriate to promote technical co-operation in 

accordance with Article 2 (e), taking into account the special needs of developing countries; 

l. To take decisions in regard to convening any international conference or following any other 

appropriate procedure for the adoption of international conventions or of amendments to any 

international conventions which have been developed by the Maritime Safety Committee, 

the Legal Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Technical Cooperation Committee, or other organs of the Organization. 

m. To refer to the Council for consideration or decision any matters within the scope of the 

Organization, except that the function of making recommendations under paragraph (j) of 

this Article shall not be delegated. 

Part VI - The Council 

Article 16
The Council shall be composed of forty Members elected by the Assembly.

Article 17 

In electing the Members of the Council, the Assembly shall observe the following criteria: 

a. Ten shall be States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services;

b. Ten shall be other States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade;

c. Twenty shall be States not elected under (a) or (b) above which have special interests in 

maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the 

representation of all major geographic areas of the world.

Article 18 

Members represented on the Council in accordance with Article 16 shall hold office until the end 

of the next regular session of the Assembly. Members shall be eligible for re-election. 

Article 19

a. The Council shall elect its Chairman and adopt its own Rules of Procedure except as 

otherwise provided in the Convention. 

b. Twenty-six Members of the Council shall constitute a quorum. 

c. The Council shall meet upon one month's notice as often as may be necessary for the 

efficient discharge of its duties upon the summons of its Chairman or upon request by not 

less than four of its Members. It shall meet at such places as may be convenient. 

Article 20

The Council shall invite any Member to participate, without vote, in its deliberations on any 

matter of particular concern to that Member. 

Article 21

a. The Council shall consider the draft work programme and budget estimates prepared by the 

Secretary-General in the light of the proposals of the Maritime Safety Committee, the Legal 

Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the Technical Co-operation 

Committee and other organs of the Organization and, taking these into account, shall 

establish and submit to the Assembly the work programme and budget of the Organization, 

having regard to the general interest and priorities of the Organization. 

b. The Council shall receive the reports, proposals and recommendations of the Maritime Safety 
Committee, the Legal Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, the 

Technical Co-operation Committee and other organs of the Organization and shall transmit 

them to the Assembly and, when the Assembly is not in session, to the Members for 

information, together with the comments and recommendations of the Council. 

c. Matters within the scope of Articles 28, 33, 38 and 43 shall be considered by the Council 

only after obtaining the views of the Maritime Safety Committee, the Legal Committee, the 

Marine Environment Protection Committee, or the Technical Co-operation Committee, as 

may be appropriate. 

Article 22 

The Council, with the approval of the Assembly, shall appoint the Secretary-General. The 

Council shall also make provision for the appointment of such other personnel as may be 

necessary, and determine the terms and conditions of service of the Secretary-General and other 

personnel, which terms and conditions shall conform as far as possible with those of the United 

Nations and its specialized agencies. 

Article 23 

The Council shall make a report to the Assembly at each regular session on the work performed 

by the Organization since the previous regular session of the Assembly. 

Article 24 

The Council shall submit to the Assembly financial statements of the Organization, together with 

the Council's comments and recommendations. 

Article 25

a. The Council may enter into agreements or arrangements covering the relationship of the 

Organization with other organizations, as provided for in part XV. Such agreements or 

arrangements shall be subject to approval by the Assembly. 

b. Having regard to the provisions of part XV and to the relations maintained with other bodies 

by the respective Committees under Articles 28, 33, 38 and 43, the Council shall, between 

sessions of the Assembly, be responsible for relations with other organizations. 

Article 26 

Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council shall perform all the functions of the 

Organization, except the function of making recommendations under Article 15 (j). In particular, 

the Council shall co-ordinate the activities of the organs of the Organization and may make such 

adjustments in the work programme as are strictly necessary to ensure the efficient functioning 

of the Organization. 
Part VII - Maritime Safety Committee 

Article 27

The Maritime Safety Committee shall consist of all the Members. 

Article 28

a. The Maritime Safety Committee shall consider any matter within the scope of the 

Organization concerned with aids to navigation, construction and equipment of vessels, 

manning from a safety standpoint, rules for the prevention of collisions, handling of 

dangerous cargoes, maritime safety procedures and requirements, hydrograpic information, 

log-books and navigational records, marine casualty investigation, salvage and rescue, and 

any other matters directly affecting maritime safety. 

b. The Maritime Safety Committee shall provide machinery for performing any duties assigned 

to it by this Convention, the Assembly or the Council, or any duty within the scope of this 

Article which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and 

accepted by the Organization. 

c. Having regard to the provisions of Article 25, the Maritimes Safety Committee, upon request 

by the Assembly or the Council or, if it deems such action useful in the interests of its own 

work, shall maintain such close relationship with other bodies as may further the purposes of 

the Organization. 

Article 29

The Maritime Safety Committee shall submit to the Council:

a. Proposals for safety regulations or for amendments to safety regulations which the 

Committee has developed; 

b. Recommendations and guidelines which the Committee has developed; 

c. A report on the work of the Committee since the previous session of the Council. 

Article 30

The Maritime Safety Committee shall meet at least once a year. It shall elect its officers once a 

year and shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure. 

Article 31

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Convention, but subject to the provisions of 

Article 27, the Maritime Safety Committee when exercising the functions conferred upon it by or 
under any international convention or other instrument, shall conform to the relevant provisions 

of the convention or instrument in question, particularly as regards the rules governing the 

procedures to be followed. 

Part VIII - Legal Committee 

Article 32

The Legal Committee shall consist of all the Members. 

Article 33

a. The Legal Committee shall consider any legal matters within the scope of the Organization. 

b. The Legal Committee shall take all necessary steps to perform any duties assigned to it by 

this Convention or by the Assembly or the Council, or any duty within the scope of this 

Article which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and 

accepted by the Organization. 

c. Having regard to the provisions of Article 25, the Legal Committee, upon request by the 

Assembly or the Council or, if it deems such action useful in the interests of its own work, 

shall maintain such close relationship with other bodies as may further the purposes of the 

Organization. 

Article 34

The Legal Committee shall submit to the Council: 

a. Drafts of international conventions and of amendments to international conventions which 

the Committee has developed; 

b. A report on the work of the Committee since the previous session of the Council. 

Article 35

The Legal Committee shall meet at least once a year. It shall elect its officers once a year and 

shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure. 

Article 36

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Convention, but subject to the provisions of 

Article 32, the Legal Committee, when exercising the functions conferred upon it by or under 

any international convention or other instrument, shall conform to the relevant provisions of the 

convention or instrument in question, particularly as regards the rules governing the procedures 

to be followed. 
Part IX - Marine Environment Protection Committee 

Article 37

The Marine Environment Protection Committee shall consist of all the Members. 

Article 38 

The Marine Environment Protection Committee shall consider any matter within the scope of the 

Organization concerned with the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships and in 

particular shall: 

a. Perform such functions as are or may be conferred upon the Organization by or under 

international conventions for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships, 

particularly with respect to the adoption and amendment of regulations or other provisions, as 

provided for in such conventions; 

b. Consider appropriate measures to facilitate the enforcement of the conventions referred to in 

paragraph (a) above; 

c. Provide for the acquisition of scientific, technical and any other practical information on the 

prevention and control of marine pollution from ships for dissemination to States, in 

particular to developing countries and, where appropriate, make recommendations and 

develop guidelines; 

d. Promote co-operation with regional organizations concerned with the prevention and control 

of marine pollution from ships, having regard to the provisions of Article 25; 

e. Consider and take appropriate action with respect to any other matters falling within the 

scope of the Organization which would contribute to the prevention and control of marine 

pollution from ships including co-operation on environmental matters with other 

international organizations, having regard to the provisions of Article 25. 

Article 39

The Marine Environment Protection Committee shall submit to the Council: 

a. Proposals for regulations for the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships and 

for amendments to such regulations which the Committee has developed; 

b. Recommendations and guidelines which the Committee has developed; 

c. A report on the work of the Committee since the previous session of the Council. 

Article 40 
The Marine Environment Protection Committee shall meet at least once a year. It shall elect its 

officers once a year and shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure. 

Article 41

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Convention, but subject to the provisions of 

Article 37, the Marine Environment Protection Committee, when exercising the functions 

conferred upon it by or under any international convention or other instrument, shall conform to 

the relevant provisions of the convention or instrument in question, particularly as regards the 

rules governing the procedures to be followed. 

Part X - Technical Co-operation Committee 

Article 42 

The Technical Co-operation Committee shall consist of all the Members. 

Article 43

a. The Technical Co-operation Committee shall consider, as appropriate, any matter within the 

scope of the Organization concerned with the implementation of technical co-operation 

projects funded by the relevant United Nations programme for which the Organization acts 

as the executing or co-operating agency or by funds-in-trust voluntarily provided to the 

Organization, and any other matters related to the Organization's activities in the technical 

co-operation field. 

b. The Technical Co-operation Committee shall keep under review the work of the Secretariat 

concerning technical co-operation. 

c. The Technical Co-operation Committee shall perform those functions assigned to it by this 

Convention or by the Assembly or the Council, or any duty within the scope of this Article 

which may be assigned to it by or under any other international instrument and accepted by 

the Organization. 

d. Having regard to the provisions of Article 25, the Technical Co-operation Committee, upon 

request by the Assembly and Council or, if it deems such action useful in the interests of its 

own work, shall maintain such close relationships with other bodies as may further the 

purposes of the Organization. 

Article 44

The Technical Co-operation Committee shall submit to the Council: 

a. Recommendations which the Committee has developed; 
b. A report on the work of the Committee since the previous session of the Council. 

Article 45

The Technical Co-operation Committee shall meet at least once a year. It shall elect its officers 

once a year and shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure. 

Article 46

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Convention, but subject to the provisions of 

Article 42, the Technical Co-operation Committee, when exercising the functions conferred upon 

it by or under any international convention or other instrument, shall conform to the relevant 

provisions of the convention or instrument in question, particularly as regards the rules 

governing the procedures to be followed. 

Part XI - The Secretariat 

Article 47

The Secretariat shall comprise the Secretary-General and such other personnel as the 

Organization may require. The Secretary-General shall be the chief administrative officer of the 

Organization and shall, subject to the provisions of Article 22, appoint the above-mentioned 

personnel. 

Article 48

The Secretariat shall maintain all such records as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of 

the functions of the Organization and shall prepare, collect and circulate the papers, documents, 

agenda, minutes and information that may be required for the work of the Organization. 

Article 49

The Secretary-General shall prepare and submit to the Council the financial statements for each 

year and the budget estimates on a biennial basis, with the estimates for each year shown 

separately. 

Article 50

The Secretary-General shall keep Members informed with respect to the activities of the 

Organization. Each Member may appoint one or more representatives for the purpose of 

communication with the Secretary-General. 

Article 51 
In the performance of their duties the Secretary-General and the staff shall not seek or receive 

instructions from any Government or from any authority external to the Organization. They shall 

refrain from any action which might reflect on their position as international officials. Each 

Member on its part undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the 

responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the 

discharge of their responsibilities. 

Article 52

The Secretary-General shall assume any other functions which may be assigned to him by the 

Convention, the Assembly or the Council. 

Part XII - Finances 

Article 53

Each Member shall bear the salary, travel and other expenses of its own delegation to the 

meetings held by the Organization. 

Article 54 

The Council shall consider the financial statements and budget estimates prepared by the 

Secretary-General and submit them to the Assembly with its comments and recommendations. 

Article 55

a. Subject to any agreement between the Organization and the United Nations, the Assembly 

shall review and approve the budget estimates. 

b. The Assembly shall apportion the expenses among the Members in accordance with a scale 

to be fixed by it after consideration of the proposals of the Council thereon. 

Article 56

Any Member which fails to discharge its financial obligation to the Organization within one year 

from the date on which it is due, shall have no vote in the Assembly, the Council, the Maritime 

Safety Committee, the Legal Committee, the Marine Environment Protection Committee or the 

Technical Co-operation Committee unless the Assembly, at its discretion, waives this provision. 

Part XIII - Voting 

Article 57 
Except as otherwise provided in the Convention or in any international agreement which confers 

functions on the Assembly, the Council, the Maritime Safety Committee, the Legal Committee, 

the Marine Environment Protection Committee, or the Technical Co-operation Committee, the 

following provisions shall apply to voting in these organs: 

a. Each Member shall have one vote. 

b. Decisions shall be by a majority vote of the Members present and voting and, for decisions 

where a two-thirds majority vote is required, by a two-thirds majority vote of those present. 

c. For the purpose of the Convention, the phrase "Members present and voting" means 

Members present and casting an affirmative or negative vote. Members which abstain from 

voting shall be considered as not voting. 

Part XIV - Headquarters of the Organization 

Article 58

a. The headquarters of the Organization shall be established in London. 

b. The Assembly may by a two-thirds majority vote change the site of the headquarters if 

necessary. 

c. The Assembly may hold sessions in any place other than the headquarters if the Council 

deems it necessary. 

Part XV - Relationship with the United Nations and other 

Organizations 

Article 59

The Organization shall be brought into relationship with the United Nations in accordance with 

Article 57 of the Charter of the United Nations as the specialized agency in the field of shipping 

and the effect of shipping on the marine environment. This relationship shall be effected through 

an agreement with the United Nations under Article 63 of the Charter of the United Nations, 

which agreement shall be concluded as provided in Article 25. 

Article 60 

The Organization shall co-operate with any specialized agency of the United Nations in matters 

which may be the common concern of the Organization and of such specialized agency, and shall 

consider such matters and act with respect to them in accord with such specialized agency. 

Article 61
The Organization may, on matters within its scope, co-operate with other intergovernmental 

organizations which are not specialized agencies of the United Nations, but whose interests and 

activities are related to the purposes of the Organization. 

Article 62

The Organization may, on matters within its scope, make suitable arrangements for consultation 

and co-operation with non-governmental international organizations. 

Article 63 

Subject to approval by a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly, the Organization may take 

over from any other international organizations, governmental or non-governmental, such 

functions, resources and obligations within the scope of the Organization as may be transferred 

to the Organization by international agreements or by mutually acceptable arrangements entered 

into between competent authorities of the respective organizations. Similarly, the Organization 

may take over any administrative functions which are within its scope and which have been 

entrusted to a Government under the terms of any international instrument. 

Part XVI - Legal capacity, privileges and immunities 

Article 64

The legal capacity, privileges and immunities to be accorded to, or in connexion with, the 

Organization, shall be derived from and governed by the General Convention on the Privileges 

and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies approved by the General Assembly of the United 

Nations on 21 November 1947, subject to such modifications as may be set forth in the final (or 

revised) text of the Annex approved by the Organization in accordance with Sections 36 and 38 

of the said General Convention. 

Article 65

Pending its accession to the said General Convention in respect of the Organization, each 

Member undertakes to apply the provisions of Appendix II to the present Convention. 

Part XVII - Amendments 

Article 66

Texts of proposed amendments to the Convention shall be communicated by the SecretaryGeneral to Members at least six months in advance of their consideration by the Assembly. 

Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly. Twelve months 

after its acceptance by two thirds of the Members of the Organization, other than Associate 

Members, each amendment shall come into force for all Members. If within the first 60 days of 

this period of twelve months a Member gives notification of withdrawal from the Organization 
on account of an amendment the withdrawal shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 73 

of the Convention, take effect on the date on which such amendment comes into force. 

Article 67

Any amendment adopted under Article 66 shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the 

United Nations, who will immediately forward a copy of the amendment to all Members. 

Article 68

A declaration or acceptance under Article 66 shall be made by the communication of an 

instrument to the Secretary-General for deposit with the Secretary-General of the United 

Nations. The Secretary-General will notify Members of the receipt of any such instrument and of 

the date when the amendment enters into force. 

Part XVIII - Interpretation 

Article 69

Any question or dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention shall be 

referred to the Assembly for settlement, or shall be settled in such other manner as the Parties to 

the dispute may agree. Nothing in this Article shall preclude any organ of the Organization from 

settling any such question or dispute that may arise during the exercise of its functions. 

Article 70

Any legal question which cannot be settled as provided in Article 69 shall be referred by the 

Organization to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion in accordance with 

Article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations. 

Part XIX - Miscellaneous provisions 

Article 71

Signature and acceptance 

Subject to the provisions of part III the present Convention shall remain open for signature or 

acceptance and States may become parties to the Convention by: 

a. Signature without reservation as to acceptance; 

b. Signature subject to acceptance followed by acceptance; or 

c. Acceptance. 
Acceptance shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument with the Secretary-General of the 

United Nations. 

Article 72

Territories 

a. Members may make a declaration at any time that their participation in the Convention 

includes all or a group or a single one of the Territories for whose international relations they 

are responsible. 

b. The Convention does not apply to Territories for whose international relations Members are 

responsible unless a declaration to that effect has been made on their behalf under the 

provisions of paragraph (a) of this Article. 

c. A declaration made under paragraph (a) of this Article shall be communicated to the 

Secretary-General of the United Nations and a copy of it will be forwarded by him to all 

States invited to the United Nations Maritime Conference and to such other States as may 

have become Members. 

d. In cases where under a Trusteeship Agreement the United Nations is the administering 

authority, the United Nations may accept the Convention on behalf of one, several, or all of 

the Trust Territories in accordance with the procedure set forth in Article 71. 

Article 73

Withdrawal

a. Any Member may withdraw from the Organization by written notification given to the 

Secretary-General of the United Nations, who will immediately inform the other Members 

and the Secretary-General of the Organization of such notification. Notification of 

withdrawal may be given at any time after the expiration of twelve months from the date on 

which the Convention has come into force. The withdrawal shall take effect upon the 

expiration of twelve months from the date on which such written notification is received by 

the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 

b. The application of the Convention to a Territory or group of Territories under Article 72 may 

at any time be terminated by written notification given to the Secretary-General of the United 

Nations by the Member responsible for its international relations or, in the case of a Trust 

Territory of which the United Nations is the administering authority, by the United Nations. 

The Secretary-General of the United Nations will immediately inform all Members and the 

Secretary-General of the Organization of such notification. The notification shall take effect 

upon the expiration of twelve months from the date on which it is received by the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. 
Part XX - Entry into force 

Article 74 

The present Convention shall enter into force on the date when 21 States, of which seven shall 

each have a total tonnage of not less than 1,000,000 gross tons of shipping, have become parties 

to the Convention in accordance with Article 71. 

Article 75

The Secretary-General of the United Nations will inform all States invited to the United Nations 

Maritime Conference and such other States as may have become Members, of the date when 

each State becomes party to the Convention, and also of the date on which the Convention enters 

into force. 

Article 76 

The present Convention, of which the English, French and Spanish texts are equally authentic, 

shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who will transmit certified 

copies thereof to each of the States invited to the United Nations Maritime Conference and to 

such other States as may have become Members. 

Article 77 

The United Nations is authorized to effect registration of the Convention as soon as it comes into 

force. 

In witness whereof the undersigned [signatures omitted] being duly authorized by their 

respective Governments for that purpose have signed the present Convention.

Done in Geneva on 6 March 1948. 

[*] As amended 1964-09-15, in force 1967-10-06; 1965-09-28, in force 1968-11-03; 1974-10-

17, in force 1978-04-01; 1975-11-14, in force 1982-05-22; 1977-11-17, in force 1984-11-10; 

1979-11-15, in force 1984-11-10; 1991-11-07, not in force; 1993-11-04, in force 2002-11-07.

This Organization was formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative 

Organization (IMCO). Its name was changed to IMO by 1975 amendments in 1982-05-22.