IMO Institutional Structure and Law-Making Process - Prevention of Pollution of the Marine Environment from Vessels - page 19

2.2.3 International Non-governmental Organisations

with Consultative Status

International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) play a significant a role in
the IMO law-making process despite not having any voting rights in IMO organs.
IMO Convention 1948 empowers IMO to make suitable arrangements after con-
sultation and cooperation with non-governmental international organisations on
matters within the scope of IMO. 19 In 1961, in accordance with a provision, the
IMO Assembly approved the Rules for Consultative Status of Non-Governmental
International Organizations with the International Maritime Organization . IMO
Council developed Guidelines in this regard in 1978. The Rules and Guidelines
were amended several times. 20 According to these the IMO Council, with the
approval of the IMO Assembly, may grant consultative status to an INGO if that
organisation is able to make a substantial contribution to the work of IMO. Seventy-
seven INGOs have been granted consultative status in IMO. 21 INGOs represent a
variety of interests in the IMO marine environmental discourses, including different
types of shipping interests (for example ship-owners and operators), cargo interests
(for example cargo owners and charters), seafarers and other labour organisations,
environmental organisations, research organisations, training organisations, classi-
fication societies, organisations representing marine-related industries, protection
and indemnity insurance clubs and other marine insurers.
Among these organisations, those representing ship-owners and operators
appear to be the most powerful. They even have the capacity to influence the
Member States with vested shipping interests. Another very vocal group is cargo
owners and charters, particularly big oil companies. Classification societies, pro-
tection and indemnity insurance clubs and other marine insurers are also active
participants in the IMO marine environmental law-making process. Environmental
NGOs also actively participate in the MEPC meetings and make regular
submissions.
Non-governmental organisations do not just influence the law-making process
merely by their submissions and participation in the meetings of MEPC and other
IMO organs. Their main influence comes via IMO Member States who also share
similar interests. The presence of FOC countries in the leading position of IMO
created a further avenue for shipping companies to exert influence on the IMO
law-making process, as they virtually have a client-service-provider relationship

19

IMO Convention, art 62.

20

IMO, Rules and Guidelines for Consultative Status of Non-Governmental International Orga-
nizations with the International Maritime Organization, http://www.imo.org/About/Membership/
Documents/RULES%20AND%20GUIDELINES%20FOR%20CONSULTATIVE%20STATUS.
pdf , last accessed on 14 June 2014.
21 IMO, Non-Governmental international Organizations which have been granted consultative
status with IMO, http://www.imo.org/About/Membership/Pages/NGOsInConsultativeStatus.
aspx , last accessed on 14 June 2014.