International Maritime Organization (IMO) Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea

Table of Contents

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

GS Paper 2: International Relations- Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate.

Recently, International Maritime Organization (IMO) council presented exceptional bravery at sea award to the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Master along with crew members of tugboat Ocean Bliss.
IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea was given for exceptional and courageous efforts towards the rescue operation of M/T New Diamond.
- M/T New Diamond caught fire and was drifting towards the coast, laden with inflammable.

About: IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is given in order to internationally recognize extraordinary seamanship skills and outstanding courage displayed by individuals at sea.
- IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is given annually by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Objective: IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery is conferred to individuals or groups who, at the risk to their own lives, perform acts of exceptional bravery in attempting to save life at sea or in attempting to prevent or mitigate damage to the marine environment.

Background and Formation: In 1948 an international conference in Geneva adopted a convention formally establishing International Maritime Organization (IMO).
- The original name was the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization or IMCO, but the name was changed in 1982 to IMO.
- The IMO Convention entered into force in 1958 and the new Organization met for the first time the following year.
About: International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships.
Key Mandate: As a specialized agency of the United Nations,
- IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping.
- IMO is also responsible for creating a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims-

To provide machinery for cooperation 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 maritime safety, the efficiency of navigation and prevention and control of marine pollution from ships
IMO is also empowered to deal with administrative and legal matters related to these purposes.