International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS)
Updated on 29 Nov. 2022
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The main role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally implemented and promotes safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping. However, the benefits from such a regulatory framework can only be fully achieved when all Member States carry out their obligations as required by the instruments to which they are Parties.
In order to achieve this, the IMO Member States agreed to a programme of periodic individual mandatory national audits to monitor the implementation of the obligations to which the Member States are parties. The IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) was first embodied in resolution A.946(23), adopted by the Assembly at its 23rd session in November 2003, as an Audit Scheme on a voluntary basis (VIMSAS). The IMO moved towards the adoption of a mandatory audit scheme, which was implemented starting in 2016 with the aim of determining the extent to which Member States are effectively fulfilling their obligations and responsibilities under IMO treaties.
See here for more details, including details of the Marine Meteorological elements of the IMSAS.
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