TRL3704
ASSIGNMENT 6
SEMESTER 1
2023
, Question 1:
1.1 The purpose of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
is to promote maritime safety, security, and environmental protection in the global maritime
industry (IMO, n.d.). The IMO achieves this through the development and implementation of
regulations, standards, and guidelines that cover various technical aspects of maritime
transport.
For example, the IMO's work on safety includes the International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS), which sets minimum safety standards for ships and their equipment
(IMO, n.d.). SOLAS has been regularly updated, with significant amendments made in recent
years, such as the introduction of mandatory requirements for the verification of container
weights (IMO, 2014).
In terms of security, the IMO established the International Ship and Port Facility Security
(ISPS) Code after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The ISPS Code aims to enhance the security of
ships and port facilities, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to detect and
prevent security threats (IMO, n.d.).
1.2 Key conventions developed by the IMO play a crucial role in shaping international
maritime regulations. These conventions address various aspects of the maritime industry
and have had a significant impact since 2015.
One notable convention is the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), adopted in 2006 and
entered into force in 2013. The MLC sets comprehensive standards for seafarers' working
and living conditions, including provisions for minimum wages, rest hours, and medical care
(IMO, n.d.). It aims to ensure decent work for seafarers and protect their rights. The MLC has
gained widespread acceptance and ratification, becoming a cornerstone of seafarers' welfare
(IMO, n.d.).
Another important convention is the International Convention for the Control and
Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM). Adopted in 2004 and entered
into force in 2017, the BWM Convention addresses the prevention of aquatic invasive species
by regulating the management of ballast water in ships (IMO, n.d.). It requires ships to install