IMO Institutional Structure and Law-Making Process - Prevention of Pollution of the Marine Environment from Vessels - page 27

6. Subcommittee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE); and
7. Subcommittee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC). 44

Among these subcommittees, the subcommittee on Pollution Prevention and
Response (PPR) is the most significant for the prevention of marine pollution. The
PPR is entrusted with the duty to consider technical and operational matters related
to:

• prevention and control of pollution of the marine environment from ships and other
related maritime operations;
• safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships;
• evaluation of safety and pollution hazards of liquid substances in bulk transported by
ships;
• control and management of harmful aquatic organisms in ships ' ballast water and
sediments, and biofouling; and
• pollution preparedness, response and cooperation for oil and hazardous and noxious
substances. 45
The activities of the Subcommittee on Implementation of IMO Instruments is
also very important as many IMO marine environmental instruments lack the
proper implementation at the national level, particularly in developing and least
developed countries. Before the recent restructuring of subcommittees, there were
nine subcommittees assisting the MEPC and MSC. 46 The recent structuring clearly
reflects the changing pattern of IMO activities related to the marine environment.

2.3.9 Secretariat

The Secretariat is one of the original organs of IMO. It consists of a Secretary
General and such other personnel as may be required. Presently, the IMO Secre-
tariat is supported by about 300 international personnel. 47 The Secretariat is
responsible for the overall administrative activities of the organisation, including
record keeping. 48

44 IMO, IMO Sub-Committee restructuring agreed by MSC, http://www.imo.org/MediaCentre/
PressBriefings/Pages/26-restructuring.aspx#.U5pVnRCtRek , last accessed on 13 June 2014.
45

Ibid.

46

These include: “the Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG); Sub-Committee on
Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers (DSC); Sub-Committee on Radio communica-
tions, Search and Rescue (COMSAR); Sub-Committee on Navigation (NAV); Sub-Committee on
Ship Design and Equipment (DE), Sub-Committee on Fire Protection (FP), Sub-Committee on
Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessels Safety (SLF); Sub-Committee on Flag State Implemen-
tation (FSI); and Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping”. Ibid.
47 IMO, Structure, http://www.imo.org/About/Pages/Structure.aspx last accessed on 13 June 2014.
48 Apart from these organs IMO also oversees the activities of the Consultative Meeting of
Contracting Parties to the London Dumping Convention.