Becoming an IMO Member

Membership in the Organization is open to all States, subject to the provisions contained in the Convention on the International Maritime Organization.

In this regard, Members of the United Nations may become Members of the Organization by simply accepting the IMO Convention. An instrument to that effect would have to be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Other rules may be applicable if a State is not a Member of the UN.

If a State wishes to become an IMO Member, it is advisable that it contacts the IMO Secretariat through a diplomatic channel prior to depositing the instrument of acceptance of the IMO Convention with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. IMO will provide it with an estimate of the payable fees, i.e. a calculation of the contribution for that year and the advance to the Working Capital Fund. Interested States may note that contributions to the IMO budget are based on a formula which is different from that used in other United Nations agencies: the amount paid by each Member State depends primarily on the tonnage of its merchant fleet.

Once the instrument of acceptance of the IMO Convention is deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the State will be welcomed as a new Member by the Organization.

Any enquiries may be directed to ero@imo.org, with copy to info@imo.org