The layers
Shipping is governed by an unusual arrangement: international rules made by one body, enforced by many states, delegated in large part to private organisations, and checked by yet another set of states in port. Understanding who does what saves a great deal of time when you need an answer.
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| IMO | UN agency setting international rules on safety, security and environment |
| ILO | UN agency setting labour standards, including the MLC, 2006 |
| Flag administrations | The state of registration; issues certificates, sets manning, investigates casualties |
| Recognised Organisations (class societies) | Perform surveys and certification delegated by flag states |
| Port State Control regimes | Inspect foreign ships in port; Paris MoU, Tokyo MoU and others |
| Coastal state authorities | Traffic management, pollution response, security in their waters |
| Regional bodies (e.g. EU) | Regional regulation such as EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime |
| National maritime authorities | Domestic licensing, seafarer certification, cabotage, domestic fleets |
| Industry bodies | BIMCO, ICS, OCIMF, INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, CLIA, IACS — standards and guidance |
The IMO
The International Maritime Organization develops and maintains the conventions that govern ships internationally: SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, COLREG, the ISM and ISPS Codes, the BWM Convention and the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling, in force since 26 June 2025.
Crucially, the IMO does not enforce. It sets rules; states implement and enforce them. That is why the same convention can be applied with different rigour in different places, and why port state control exists as a cross-check.
The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee is where the Net-Zero Framework sits. Approved in April 2025, its adoption was adjourned at an extraordinary session in October 2025, with deliberations postponed for twelve months and the session due to reconvene in late 2026.
The bars indicate rulemaking weight; the line indicates enforcement weight. Note the asymmetry: the body that writes the rules enforces almost nothing, and the body that enforces most writes almost nothing.
Classification societies
Class societies are private organisations that set technical rules for ship design and construction, survey ships throughout their lives, and — as Recognised Organisations — perform statutory certification on behalf of flag states. IACS coordinates among the major societies, including through Unified Requirements such as UR E26 and E27 on cyber resilience, applicable to ships contracted for construction on or after 1 July 2024.
The Paris MoU's 2025 report noted elevated detainable deficiencies associated with certain Recognised Organisations — a reminder that delegated certification quality varies and is monitored.
Port State Control
PSC regimes inspect foreign ships in their ports. In 2025 the Paris MoU conducted 16,474 inspections, finding deficiencies in 9,879 of them, recording 51,797 deficiencies and detaining 688 vessels — a 4.18% detention rate.
Ships are targeted by risk profile combining type, age, flag performance, Recognised Organisation performance and company history.
Who to contact for what
| Question | Contact |
|---|---|
| Is this training programme approved? | The national maritime administration |
| Can my officer sail on this flag? | The flag administration (endorsement) |
| Is this equipment acceptable? | Class society, then flag |
| How do I resolve a PSC deficiency? | The inspecting authority, with flag and class support |
| What are my EU ETS obligations? | Your administering authority and verifier |
| Who investigates this casualty? | The flag state, with coastal state involvement |
| Where do I report a seafarer rights issue? | Flag state, port state, ITF, or the onboard complaint route |
inspection data from the Paris MoU Annual Report 2025; IMO Net-Zero Framework status per IMO briefings as of August 2026; IACS UR E26/E27 apply to ships contracted from 1 July 2024. Role chart is conceptual. Reviewed by the Zeaclub Editorial Team, 24 August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does the IMO enforce its own rules?
No. The IMO develops conventions; flag states implement and enforce them, port states check compliance, and Recognised Organisations perform much of the survey and certification work.
What is a Recognised Organisation?
A classification society or similar body authorised by a flag state to perform statutory surveys and issue certificates on its behalf.
Who regulates seafarer working conditions?
The ILO through the MLC, 2006, implemented by flag states and enforced by both flag and port state inspection.
Which authority approves maritime training?
The relevant national maritime administration. Always verify a programme's approval with that authority rather than relying on institutional claims.