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Understanding IMO Conventions, resolutions and Circulars

Written by Capt Rajeev Jassal on January 25, 2016
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  understanding IMO conventions & resolution We all come across so many IMO resolution, conventions and circulars while being in shipping industry. So many that we may get confused sometimes as to what purpose each of these serve. we now take a look at each one of these, starting with IMO resolutions. 1. Resolution At IMO, Maritime resolutions are issued by the Assembly, The council and by each of the committee. Each committee brings resolutions to amend part of International convention that they are associated with. Like Maritime safety committee handles conventions related to safety. The most popular being "International convention for safety of life at Sea (SOLAS)" and STCW convention. So MSC brings resolutions to amend any part of these conventions. Similarly MEPC's resolutions amends MARPOL convention and Facilitation Committee's resolutions amends FAL convention. Each resolution of IMO looks something like this XYZ.123(34) Where the initial letter(s) shows who has passed this resolution. The letter can be A (for Assembly), C (for Council), MSC (For Maritime safety committee), MEPC (for Maritime environment pollution committee), FAL (Facilitation committee) or LEG (legal Committee). The next number shows the resolution number and it is in chronological order. The number in the bracket shows the se...

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Comments (84)

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  • sandip April 26, 2016
    Can u throw more light on how circulars are issued by MEPC and is there any standard document which describes procedure and pre requisites for issuing a circular.
    3

    Rajeev Jassal April 26, 2016
    Thanks for you comment Sandip...MEPC receives lots of informations from different sources including flag states, session meetings etc. The applicable information need to be relayed to all flag states as well other stakeholders such as classification societies so that they can communicate same to the ships as well as other stakeholder in their Jurisdiction. These information are relayed through MEPC circulars. Which information requires to be communicated is discussed in the meetings of MEPC members at IMO and the pre-requisites if any for issuing a circular will be in MEPC internal documents/guidelines and I dont think that will be publicly available.

    Nick September 1, 2016
    Can you please tell that Who decide that 30 or 40 or 50 state should ratify or this much % of world tonnage to ratify the convention , for the convention to enter in force? For a particular convention how this figures are decided and who decide this? Awaiting reply eagerly....Thanx

  • Harprit Singh May 12, 2016
    Thanks explaining basics like numbering system of circulars of Imo.
    4

    Rajeev Jassal May 13, 2016
    Glad you liked it Harprit. Let me know if you have any question regarding any topic.

    Nikhil Bhatt June 2, 2016
    Thanks a lot for explaining all the topics that you have covered so far in your highly informative blog. Could you please also cover topics on practical sight calculation as these are not very well thought in the classrooms nor at sea we much carry out calculation due to hectic schedule of ships and ever growing traffic but this remains an important question for exams and practical use too.... thanks

  • Pravin June 30, 2016
    Good notes and really appreciate also please put some light on marine insurance if you have time thanks and keep up the good work
    3

    Rajeev Jassal June 30, 2016
    Thanks Pravin. Yes, I will surely write about marine insurance

    melckzedeck April 10, 2017
    I really want to know much more about insurance on shipping and maritime labour convention

  • Ali July 23, 2016
    I want to appreciate for your efficient essay and kindly ask to explain about the CODE's proposal procedure.
    3

    Rajeev Jassal July 24, 2016
    Thank you Ali for your kind words. Process of proposal of a Code is similar to the proposal of a convention. As I said in this article that a proposal can be initiated after a need is felt by IMO or its member states. A need for a code may arise after an major incident or after an major research. For example POLAR code was proposed because there was a need felt for it. This was because of increasing shipping traffic in POLAR region which was the result of melting ice that opened the route for shipping in this area.

    ALI July 27, 2016
    Thanks for your kind reply.

  • ziaudeen August 1, 2016
    Thanks for the nice explanation. Can you please explain the legal difference between ratification,signature,acession,approval. As these are always confusing.
    3

    Rajeev Jassal August 2, 2016
    I am a country representative and I am presented few resolutions. I sign a proposed resolution. By signing I am only agreeing to discuss it with at my home country in the parliament. I am not legally bound by that signature. I go to my home country and discuss this in parliament and parliament accepts this to be included in the local laws. I have ratified the convention. Once the required number of states ratifies the convention, it comes in force. Once the convention is in force, another state (country) decides to be part of the convention and they discuss it in their parliament and agrees to make it a domestic law in their country. Since this convention is already ratified, the process will not be called ratification but it is called accession. The only difference between ratification and accession is that ratification is the act involved in conventions not yet ratified and accession is the act involved in the conventions already ratified.

    ziaudeen August 13, 2016
    Thanks for the clear reply. Can you please explain about M.S Act, M.S. Rule, M.S.Notice, M.S.Circular.

  • Yingdi Gou August 2, 2016
    Thanks a lot for the comprehensive interpretation. Could you further explain when a resolution need be made by the assembly but not the MSC/MEPC. And how ofen the assembly conference is held?
    3

    Rajeev Jassal August 4, 2016
    Assembly's resolutions are mainly administrative in nature. But Assembly also brings resolutions related to safety and security. All IMO committees has set guidelines (guidelines documents are not available for viewing by public) and if some proposed resolution is out of those guidelines, assembly's node is required to pass that MSC/MEPC resolution. Assembly conference (called session) is held every 2 years. Last was 28th Session held in 2014.

    Yingdi Gou August 5, 2016
    I just read below article. What is the "sub-committee", what relationship btw it and MSC/MEPC? "Update from the 3rd session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III 3) Published: 2016-08-02 The Sub-Committee met in London from 18 to 22 July 2016. ....."

  • Basavaraju August 6, 2016
    very well explained with practical approach. My question is for appearing for class 1 exams is it necessary to refer or research so much in depth of all these topics.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal August 9, 2016
    For exams it may not be required to have in depth knowledge of these, but more the knowledge is no harm either..Thanks for reading and all the best for your exams Basavaraju..

  • Shreekant Sharma August 6, 2016
    WHat is the meaning of letter "E" on the right hand side corner of the circular ??
    3

    Rajeev Jassal August 9, 2016
    I never thought about that Shreekant. Let me see if I can find that information for you..

    Nick September 1, 2016
    Can you please tell that Who decide that 30 or 40 or 50 state should ratify or this much % of world tonnage to ratify the convention , for the convention to enter in force? For a particular convention how this figures are decided and who decide this? Awaiting reply eagerly....Thanx

  • Rahul September 4, 2016
    Sir, I am confused with the definition of Protocol. Could you please explain what a protocol is?
    2

    Rajeev Jassal September 7, 2016
    Protocol are the set of rules of conduct. These are the rules as to how each party is supposed to behave with respect to a convention. For example, protocol to SOLAS convention are the rules for all the parties detailing general obligation, how the amendments will be brought etc

    Avdhesh June 5, 2020
    Sir, i have doubt on this.. plz clarify.. Even when a protocol enters into force, it will only be binding to the countries that have ratified the protocol. It will not be binding on all the contracting states to the original convention. So, even if protocol comes in force and not applied globally as law, than we will remain in the same picture. I did not get this statement sir. It would be appreciated if you plz clear it. thanks and regards

  • James Victory September 17, 2016
    sir, can you please illuminate me on the definition of the following terms--treaty, protocols, codes and memoradum of understanding relating to IMO.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal January 28, 2017
    Yes James, I am currently writing a blog on that and you will find it soon..

  • Sadat January 20, 2017
    Sir, can u tell me a chemical tanker requied Clc insurance and if a big pollution occured, is it coverable by clc or need LOF
    1

    Rajeev Jassal January 28, 2017
    No..A chemical tanker do not require CLC insurance as CLC is only for oil pollutions. But considering most of the chemical tankers are also designated to carry oil, you will find these ships to have CLC certificate. For chemical pollutions, HNS convention has been adopted by IMO but not yet ratified.

  • Nikola January 28, 2017
    Sir, can you help me with understanding of meaning of circular. If the certain circular is adopted by the IMO committee is this circular automatically binding in the county, party of the convention with this circular is associated with. On the other hand, if certain circular is adopted in national legislation / rules regulating this matter, should we apply rule directly from circular or from the national rule which included requirements from circulat? Thank you!
    1

    Rajeev Jassal January 28, 2017
    Circulars only clarifies rules. Circulars are released when IMO committees feels the need for better interpretation of any regulation. Circulars are not rules or regulation in itself. So Circulars do not need to be adopted or ratified.

  • Shivkumar Patil February 9, 2017
    Very nicely explained such useful topic. THANK YOU RAJIV SIR
    1

    Rajeev Jassal February 10, 2017
    Glad you found it useful Shivkumar..

  • Devendra Nemade February 12, 2017
    Excellent explanation , Keep it up sir ..
    1

    Rajeev Jassal February 13, 2017
    Thank you Devendra..

  • Peyman March 6, 2017
    Excellent explanation. Appreciated if you clarify the following; A.1021(26) adopted on 2 December 2009. It is not mandatory for all ships, isn’t it? Because acceptance still is pending In other word, it is mandatory only for the governments who gave positive vote for the resolution. Please clarify, Thanks!
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 28, 2017
    Ratification and not Adoption make it Mandatory. If it is just adopted and not ratified yet, it is not mandatory to anyone. Once ratified, it is mandatory to everyone, even those countries who opposed it but have ratified the convention for which this resolution is for.

  • krishna March 24, 2017
    thats a brilliant article sir, can you please throw some light upon how the resolutions of london convention and london protocol are passed. it would be of a great help
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 28, 2017
    The process of Ratification of london convention is same as with any other convention...

  • Rajeev Jassal March 28, 2017
    You can send the queries on the email however I would recommend to use our SEAQA section so that other mariners can also benefit from your questions..
    0

  • Manmohan April 10, 2017
    Sir,Is the proposal,adoption,acceptance of resolution is same as for convention. pls explain procedure for convention to come in force.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal April 11, 2017
    The procedure for proposal, adoption and acceptance of a resolution and that of a convention have many similarities. The difference is that while resolution can be accepted by "Tacit Acceptance" method, acceptance of a new convention is only after certain percentage of tonnage and certain number of flag states have ratified the convention by submitting the acceptance document to the IMO.

  • mayur more April 25, 2017
    Sir thanks for making us understand the concept of convention and how to amend a convention. My doubt is , other than the two methods mentioned n the article about how to amend a convention, is there any other way to amend , is Protocol a way to amend a convention .I would appreciate if you could clear my doubt.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal April 30, 2017
    When a convention require any major change or a change that affects all the chapters, the change is brought by a Protocol. The process of ratification of protocol is kind of same as the process of ratification of a convention. A flag state may be party to the convention at the same time they may not ratify the protocol.

  • captain safey eldin salah May 10, 2017
    Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) NOT MEPC (for Maritime environment pollution committee). and by the way very important article nice work.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    Thank you Captain Safey...

  • Aruna Liyanage June 30, 2017
    You have written very useful blogs in here. Can you please explain how classification societies react to new amendments to an existing convention? Do they implement as class rules?
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    Yes, classification societies need to amend their class rules to reflect the changes because of amendments in the existing convention.

  • Rajesh agashe August 19, 2017
    Thanks rajeev Sir for nice and clearly explained.very informative and useful
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    Glad you found it useful Rajesh...

  • Michael Gnanam September 27, 2017
    Thank you so much for the much needed clarification. Given good insight into understanding the process involved / behind it. Absolutely useful and will share same
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    Glad you found it useful Michael...

  • DUK-HWAN KANG October 18, 2017
    Thank you so much for the clarification. So, as I understand, respective circular adresses any changes or news on relavant codes or conventions. Resolution is made when any changes needed and made through the contract government. At this point what is mainly diffrence of them in terms of role? Appreciate if you could explain this.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    Circular is not a regulation but clarification or any other detailed information on a resolution.

  • MOHAMMAD MOKTARUZZAMAN January 18, 2018
    DEAR CAPT,THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY STUNNING WRITING.SIR,CAN I SAY ANY MSC CIRCULAR IS A PART OF SOLAS CONENTION.THAT IS MY EXAMINER ASKED ME IS CIRCULAR PART OF SOLAS OR NOT.PLEASE CLEAR ME THIS POINT. HOPE A QUICK REPLY.THANK IN ADVANCE.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    Yes, MSC circulars are part of SOLAS as relevant circulars are mentioned in the SOLAS wherever required.

  • A March 2, 2018
    Very lucid explanation. Keep up the good work.
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    Thanks...

  • Abishek March 8, 2018
    Thanks for this article....Sir can you please state the convention that are under MARPOL...?
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    MARPOL itself is a convention....Conventions are independent... There are no other conventions under MARPOL...

  • Peng March 29, 2018
    Thank you so much for sharing your expertise Captain Jassal! This is of absolutely great value! Do you also know if MEPC.2/Circulars (provisional categorization of noxious liquid substances) are immediately applicable ? (answers from knowledgable readers are also most welcome). thank you very much in advance,
    1

    Rajeev Jassal March 30, 2018
    As circulars are just the detailed guidance on the regulations and not a regulation in itself, these are immidiately applicable if the resoltion it is referring to is already in force.

  • SUMIT JHA February 22, 2019
    Dear Sir, thanks for nice blog. Can you plz explain difference between resolution and amendment
    0

  • Jujhaar September 21, 2019
    Ty sir,,, Very informative
    0

  • Shyam September 26, 2019
    Thank you sir for giving so nice explanation. could you please explain if any convention is already ratified by required number of states to enter into force and already that convention is in force. does this mean all other governments are bound to ratify that convention?
    0

  • Atanu Ghosh November 6, 2019
    Excellent article sir. This helped me a lot .Could you please state the difference between contracting sate and parties to a convention. Thank in advance.
    0

  • AKSHAY T DSOUZA November 11, 2019
    Great explanation sir... Cleared much of my doubts. Keep up the good job
    0

  • Yaman December 1, 2019
    Sir Can you explain the difference between Explicit And tacit acceptance procedures?
    0

  • Umakant swain March 29, 2020
    Sir can you tell pls ..When tacit acceptance introduces?
    0

  • Dayanch July 27, 2020
    +99363552880
    0

  • Abir October 16, 2020
    Sir how to understand which regulation is adopted by IMO or not?
    0

  • P. R. Fernando November 1, 2020
    Dear sir, I am waiting for Masters orals. Can you please tell me how we can find imo new resolutions. Examiner said other than web and MSN. Ths
    0

  • Habibur Rahamn December 9, 2020
    Excellent presentation. Very narrative and informative. Thanks and much appreciate for a good work.
    0

  • Henrik Bragge April 24, 2021
    Hello, Rajeev! I’m writing my bachelor thesis at the Maritime University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and I really like your explanation about the conventions and resolutions. What I don’t understand really is if a resolution becomes a regulation when it is ratified by a government of a state. I’ve searched for an answer, but I’m not sure about this. Could you clarify this? Thanks
    0

  • Vikas malik June 6, 2022
    Many thanks for such a clarification on this confusing topic. Sir , will be much appreciated if you can clarify difference between a protocol and resolution . As you have defined resolution as a means to ammend convention , same is the case for protocol as well . Please clarify their differences.Thanks in advance sir .
    0

Capt Rajeev Jassal

About Capt Rajeev Jassal

Capt. Rajeev Jassal has sailed for over 24 years mainly on crude oil, product and chemical tankers. He holds MBA in shipping & Logistics degree from London. He has done extensive research on quantitatively measuring Safety culture onboard and safety climate ashore which he believes is the most important element for safer shipping.

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