India re-elected as Member of International Maritime Council

• India has been re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) under Category ‘B’ at 29th session of the IMO Assembly held in London. India’s membership of the IMO Assembly supports India’s status as one of the countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade. Presently, India ranks amongst the top 20 shipping countries of the world in terms of Gross Tonnage capacity (GT) as well as Deadweight capacity.
•  About International Maritime Organization (IMO) 
• IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping. 
• Established: 1948 in Geneva and came into force in 1959. 
• Headquarter: London, United Kingdom. 
• Member Countries: IMO has 171 member states and 3 associate members. India was one of the earliest members of the IMO and had joined it as a member-state in 1959.
•  Functions: To develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and its remit. 
• This framework should address various areas like safety, legal matters, environmental concerns, technical co-operation, maritime security and efficiency of shipping. 
• IMO Council: Consist of 40 member countries who are elected by the IMO Assembly. It plays a crucial role in deciding various matters related to global shipping industry.