Maritime Traffic & Navigation Group

Today - 25 September - is World Maritime Day.  It will be celebrated at IMO's refurbished Headquarters with various events, culminating in a Reception during the evening given by IMO Secretary-General and Institute Fellow Efthimios Mitropoulos.

The theme for 2008 is 'IMO: 60 years in the service of shipping'.  This was chosen as an appropriate way in which to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the IMO Convention and the 50th anniversary of its entry into force.

The year 2008 has also seen the 100th session of the IMO Council, held in June - at the same time as the Organisation's return to its refurbished Headquarters building on the Thames.

The International Maritime Organisation was formed by a conference held in Geneva on 6 March 1948 under the auspices of the United Nations.  It was first known as the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO).

The forming Convention came into force on 17 March 1958 and IMCO held its first meeting in London in 1959.

Details from IMO