IMO In 1948 an international conference in Geneva adopted a convention formally establishing the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The original name was Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization, or IMCO, but the name was changed in 1982 to IMO. The IMO Convention entered into force in 1958. IMO is the United Nations specialized agency in charge with the development of a safe, efficient and regulated international shipping industry and the prevention of the marine pollution by ships. The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code was developed as an international Code for the maritime transport of Dangerous Goods in packaged form, in order to enhance and harmonize the safe carriage of Dangerous Goods and to prevent pollution to the environment. The Code sets out in detail the requirements applicable to each individual substance, material or article, covering matters such as packing, container traffic and stowage, with particular reference to the segregation of incompatible substances. IMDG Code was initially adopted in 1965 as a recommendatory instrument, becoming in 2002 mandatory under SOLAS Convention, from 1 January 2004. It was definitely adopted in Italy with DPR dated June 6th 2005 no. 134, therefore a further Decree for its adoption is not mandatory. Sede legale Piazza Conciliazione n.1, c.a.p. 20123 Milano - Italy Uffici amm.vi e comm.li Via R. Cozzi n.44/46, 20125 Milano – Italy Tel. +39 026431275 - fax +39 0264100319 -
[email protected] - www.overpack.it SOLAS The IMO’s Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) addresses maritime safety and its most recent update is from 1974. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001, the members of the IMO agreed to develop security measures for ships and ports.