Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 2
IMO Institutional Structure
and Law-Making Process
2.1
Introduction
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has a very distinctive process of
facilitating adoption and amendment of international legal instruments for the
prevention of marine pollution from ships. The actors who influence the process
of IMO law-making are also diverse, including both state and non-state actors.
Nevertheless, IMO is one of the most successful organisations in developing
international law for the conservation and protection of the marine environment,
particularly in preventing vessel-source marine pollution. This chapter will present
a brief overview of the IMO law-making process and institutional structure of the
organisation.
Section
2.2
of this chapter discusses the various state and non-state actors
involved or influential in the law-making process in IMO. They include Member
States, United Nations and other intergovernmental organisations and international
non-governmental organisations. Together these actors represent different types of
interests, including coastal, port, shipping, cargo, international business, security
and environmental, amongst others. IMO
'
s Institutional framework and institu-
tional politics is another important factor in the law-making process. Section
2.3
of this chapter covers this issue by presenting an overview of the institutional
structure of the organisation and the role of different organs in the law-making
process. Section
2.4
of this chapter highlights the IMO law-making process with a
particular emphasis on the specialised character of IMO law-making and its
uniqueness. This foundation discussion will help to contextualise the discussion
in the subsequent chapter dealing with specific marine environmental issues.
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