The Establishment of the IMO - Essay Example

?IMO is the abbreviation for International Maritime Organization, which is responsible for shipping operations and preventing water pollution by ships. The shipping industry, which accounts to nearly 90% of the world’s trade, is widely considered to be a cheap and safe method for transporting cargo across the world. Ships that have been registered in one country generally move between different countries which necessitate the need for complying with international shipping standards that are being accepted and adopted by all. A number of international treaties for safety at sea were framed owing to disasters such as the sinking of the Titanic in the year 1912. The establishment of the IMO in the year 1948 was in response to the proposal made by several countries stressing the need for an international body to promote maritime safety in a more effective manner. The IMO Convention proposed an article which summarized the purpose of the organization. It called for cooperation among governments in relation to technical matters governing the shipping industry, to adopt the highest practical standards for maritime safety, and to improve navigation efficiency and to control and prevent marine pollution (Introduction to IMO, n.d). Following the convention, the IMO adopted a newer version of SOLAS (safety of life at sea), which is concerned with maritime safety, in the year 1960. It further regulated international maritime traffic and the carriage of dangerous goods and also revised the measurement of tonnage in ships. In addition, following the increasing number of oil spills by oil tankers owing to the rise in the transportation of oil across countries, the organization also laid down measures to reduce marine pollution due to tanker accidents as well as those resulting from disposal of chemical and garbage wastes into the sea. One of the important measures introduced by the IMO is the International Convention for the prevention of pollution from ships (MARPOL) which strictly regulated oil spills and also disposal of wastes into the sea (Introduction to IMO, n.d; IMO and ILO, n.d). In addition to taking measures to prevent marine pollution, IMO also adopted two treaties by which suitable compensation was provided to the victims who suffered losses due to the pollution. In the year 1970 the International Mobile Satellite Organization, which was launched as a global search and rescue system, has further improved the radio communication in ships. As a further advancement, the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, which came into existence in the year 1988, now ensures that any ship in distress can be guaranteed with immediate assistance through automatic message transmission (Introduction to IMO, n.d). The safety of the human force in ships are being taken care of by two standards, the International Safety Management Code and the amendment to the Convention for the certification and watch keeping of seafarers (STCW) (Introduction to IMO, n.d; IMO and ILO, n.d). In addition, further conventions related to maritime safety were adopted in the 2000s and several amendments have been adopted as a result changing technology or lessons learned from accidents. Some of the key issues of the IMO at present include tackling modern day piracy, reducing green house gas emissions from ships, and ensuring the safety of the seafarer. Secure, environment friendly, and maintaining sustainable cooperation in the shipping industry is the motto of the IMO and the organization is working towards achieving these objectives by adopting and implementing the right standards and legal practices (Introduction to IMO, n.d). ILO is the abbreviation for International Labor Organization which is a tripartite UN agency that oversees the labor standards, their rights and welfare across the world. It was founded in the year 1919 during the war crisis when it was strongly believed that universal peace can be achieved only through the establishment of a social justice system. Its representatives include the international labor conference, the governing body and the office which represent the governments, employers and workers respectively who jointly frame policies to promote the working conditions of laborers across the world (IMO and ILO, n.d; About the ILO, n.d). The organization has as its mission that peace among the laborers around the world is vital for promoting prosperity and brotherhood across the globe. The organization is committed to improving the working conditions and thereby the world economy. Through its tripartite representation, the ILO strives to develop better work policies and labor standards for both working men and women in order for them to progress at their workplace. Upholding the employee rights, provision of a decent working atmosphere, better opportunities, employee protection at work place and strengthening inter-personal relationships between the employer and their employees form the core mission statement of the organization. By working through a tripartite structure, the ILO ensures equal participation by the governments, employers and their employees which would enable better working standards and policies to be implemented as it would prevent any bias and further promote better social dialogue. In addition to promoting the rights of the labor forces, the organization has further extended its tripartite structure to enhance the dialogue between trade unions and employers within its member states through implementation of national policies and other social and economic issues. In addition to devising and implementing policies and programmes, the ILO also provides its member states training, education and research to further increase the efficiency of the implemented policies (About the ILO, n.d). Some of the global issues which are being addressed by the ILO include job crisis, realizing developmental goals, social protection and justice and equality in globalization (About the ILO, n.d). Through the declaration of the fundamental rights at work, the organization has enabled workers across the world to fight for their rights at work. The declaration covers rights against forced labor, freedom to organize and bargain, equal remuneration and to fight against employment discrimination, regulate the minimum age for work and abolishment of all forms of child labor. In particular the ILO has also worked for the welfare of the seafarers with the adoption of the Maritime Labor Convention in the year 2006 which serves to ensure suitable work conditions to seafarers by establishing certain standards that need to be complied by the ILO member states. The convention ensures decent working and living conditions for the seafarers, salary and working hour limit, and adequate medical facilities that need to be provided by the ship owner. Ships need to comply with these conventions through possession of certificate and compliance issued by the member state (IMO and ILO, n.d). Both the IMO and the ILO work in collaboration with regard to issues relating to seafarers. Seafarers play a vital role in an industry which contributes to nearly 90% of the world trade as they have responsibility to transport commodities across the world in an affordable rate with minimal damage to the environment (Go to Sea, 2008). Both the IMO and the ILO have introduced conventions that are concerned with the living and working conditions of the seafarers (IMO and ILO, n.d). They have further established joint working groups for their fair treatment and liability and compensation claims in case of death, injury or abandonment. Guidelines have been set up by the joint ad hoc working groups of the IMO and the ILO on the need for fair treatment to the seafarers in case of maritime accident. These guidelines need to be adhered even during detention of the seafarers by public authorities. The guidelines further stress the need for recognition of the seafarers as a special category of workers and given the various jurisdictions covered by the shipping industry across the world the need for a fair and special treatment of these men are being called for. It also provides advice on the steps that can be taken by all the parties involved in the maritime accident. The inclusion of the seafarers in the discussion is to avoid any bias or retaliation during the investigation process. In addition such a dialogue would result in a better communication as well as cooperation among all the parties involved. This ad hoc working group which was established in the year 2005 has its guidelines endorsed by both the IMO and the ILO. In addition a signed resolution has also been adopted by both organizations which states that in lieu of the growing criminal actions taken against the seafarers the guidelines would serve to ensure that fair treatment is meted out to the seafarers during such proceedings and also emphasizes that these guidelines be adopted immediately. All the member governments were requested to adopt the guidelines, which were finalized in the year 2006, and the implementation and the requirement for revision of the guidelines is overseen by a legal committee (Introduction to IMO, n.d). In addition to protecting the rights of the seafarers, the joint ad hoc working group also developed another set of guidelines that covered the financial liability of these people in case of death, injury or abandonment. These guidelines recognize abandonment as a serious issue from both the human and social perspective and for which adequate financial security should be allocated (Introduction to IMO, n.d). The provision of financial aid in case of abandonment depends on a variety of factors such as the level of abandonment, the place of occurrence, owner of the ship and the national laws that prevail in the region where the abandonment occurs (Decent work for all seafarers, 2005). According to the resolution, ship owners should take the responsibility for providing financial security in case of abandonment of the seafarers and the additional guidelines proposed include the scope and coverage of these financial issues along with the recommending certification fir such matters. The guidelines include that in case of contractual claims made by the seafarers or their families in case of injury or death, the ship owners should follow certain minimum international standards for dealing with these claims. In case of absence of an insurance cover or any other financial security with the ship owner, the seafarer would be unable to claim the amount. Hence it is the responsibility of the owner to include appropriate compensations along with provision of safe and adequate working conditions for their workers. The guidelines also propose measures to include certification for the claims as well as a model for receipts and release forms which are to be used during a claim. The working group has also constituted a database that includes information about ships abandoned in various parts of the world and the information about the abandoned seafarers and the present condition is regularly updated. Many have viewed this as a positive outcome for resolving any shipping related accidents (Introduction to IMO, n.d; Decent work for all seafarers, 2005). Such guidelines and regulations have been favored by many people who believe that it would prevent unnecessary bias and delays to rescue and compensate the seafarers. In such cases immediate action against the shipping company or others concerned with the incident can be taken in the presence of a guideline. However, despite the presence of such regulations there are other factors which are difficult to ascertain in cases of abandonment as well as injury or death of the seafarer. This includes determining the organization which would undertake the financial liability in case of abandonment and cases which limit the liability of the ship owner to bear the expenses due to injury or death of a seafarer when it occurs in a country with minimal medical facilities. In view of such problems, organizations like the ILO are working to consolidate their maritime conventions in order to ensure better protection to the seafarers. The presence of such regulations would further also reduce the burden on part of the government or the ship owner for providing decent and safe working conditions for the seafarers. Given the indispensable contribution made by the seafarers to the world, the only sound means of achieving a greater consistency in their working conditions is through implementing the right standards and with the increasing world trade via the sea it has only become imperative for such regulations to be implemented with immediate effect (Decent work for all seafarers, 2005). With the increasing demand for seafarers in the shipping industry which is expanding its business in lieu of the globalization occurring worldwide, effective measures need to be implemented in order to recruit and retain seafarers in this industry. As these men spend time away from home, it has become necessary on part of the industry to provide adequate facilities for these people so that they would be able to enjoy their stay as well as effectively perform their duties. In addition to financial security, the seafarers should also be provided with other facilities such as shorter working periods on board, frequent paid leave, social security and better communication facilities which would facilitate them to keep in contact with their kith and kin. Maintenance of the existing training programmes and constant update of the same would help them to execute their work satisfactorily and more women workers should also be encouraged to take up this profession by provision of suitable accommodation and other facilities. Additionally greater awareness about the industry among the general public can be achieved with the help of the media such as publication of books such as the Little Mo series of the IMO which provides a better understanding about the working of the shipping industry. Governments can highlight the economic benefits that can be gained through employment in this industry and thus attract young seafarers to join the workforce and also suitably encourage their services. Along with organizations such as the IMO and the ILO, the government can constantly update the training facilities through regular visits and also the seafarer’s welfare associations in order to encourage then to perform their duties without any grievances. In addition such organization can also enlighten the workers on the various career paths that can be adopted by them within the industry. Organizations like the ILO can focus on ensuring the right working conditions for the seafarers and thereby contribute to improving the growth of the shipping industry (Go to Sea, 2008). References 1. Introduction to IMO. (n.d). International Maritime Organization. Retrieved February 22, 2010, from http://www.imo.org/About/Pages/Default.aspx#2 2. IMO and ILO. (n.d). ITF Seafarers. Retrieved February 22, 2010, from http://www.itfseafarers.org/ITI-IMO-ILO.cfm#topofpages 3. About the ILO. (n.d). International Labor Organization. Retrieved February 22, 2010, from http://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/lang--en/index.htm 4. Go to Sea: A campaign to attract entrants to the shipping industry. (2008). Retrieved February 22, 2010. 5. Decent work for all seafarers: IMO-ILO prepare new guidelines on death, injury and abandonment. (2005). International Labor Organization. Retrieved February 22, 2010, from http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_075546/index.htm Read More