The status quo in IMO representation is retained in the current elections conducted at the IMO Assembly meeting in London. It continues the regime of a low level of representation across Africa and South America and an over representation amongst the EU.
The Council is the executive of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except the function of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention which is reserved for the Assembly.
The Council is elected by the Assembly for a two-year term.
Liberia contributes 8.6% to the IMO annual budget but failed to achieve sufficient votes to gain a position in the new Council.
Council members for the 2009-10 biennium in three categories of voting are as follows.
Category (a): 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services:
China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United states
Category (b): 10 other States with the largest interest in international seaborne trade:
Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden
Category (c): 20 States not elected under (a) or (b) above which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation, and whose election to the Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world:
Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia , Malta, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Turkey
The top ten contributors for 2008 were assessed as follows (the figures show the amount payable in £s and as a percentage of the total budget):
Panama – 4,683,032 – 19.20
Liberia – 2,100,248 – 8.61
Bahamas – 1,227,968 – 5.03
United Kingdom – 1,146,457 – 4.70
Greece – 1,000,898 – 4.10
Marshall Islands – 996,598 – 4.08
Singapore – 994,487 – 4.08
Japan – 841,854 – 3.45
China – 797,893 – 3.27
United States -790,016 – 3.24
The attached report covers key achievements of IMO in the last two years.
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