IMO number

The IMO number of the International Maritime Organization is a generic term covering two distinct meanings. The IMO ship identification number is a unique ship identifier; the IMO company and registered owner identification number is used to identify uniquely each company and/or registered owner managing ships of at least 100 gross tons (gt). The schemes are managed in parallel, but IMO company/owner numbers may also be obtained by managers of vessels not having IMO ship numbers. IMO numbers were introduced to improve maritime safety and reduce fraud and pollution, under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).[1][2]

"IMO 8814275" on Eendracht
Stern of Evangelia displaying "IMO 9176187"

The IMO ship number scheme has been mandatory, for SOLAS signatories, for passenger and cargo ships above a certain size since 1996, and voluntarily applicable to various other vessels since 2013/2017.[1] The number identifies a ship and does not change when the ship's owner, country of registry (flag state) or name changes, unlike the official numbers used in some countries, e.g. the UK.[3] The ship's certificates must also bear the IMO ship number. Since 1 July 2004, passenger ships are also required to carry the marking on a horizontal surface visible from the air.[1]

History

IMO resolutions (1987–2017)

In 1987 the IMO adopted Resolution A.600(15) to create the IMO ship identification number scheme aimed at the "enhancement of maritime safety and pollution prevention and the prevention of maritime fraud" by assigning to each ship a unique permanent identification number.[4] Lloyd's Register had already introduced permanent numbers for all the ships in their published register in 1963, and these were modified to seven-digit numbers in 1969.[5] It is this number series that was adopted as the basis for IMO ship numbers in 1987.[1]

Unique and permanent numbers are needed due to the frequent changes in ships' names or other details. As one example, the vessel with IMO ship number "IMO 9176187" was built in Japan, has been through the names Asia Melody, Cornelie Oldendorff, Maxima, Jaydee M, Evangelia, Evangeli, Shinsung Dream and Orange Dream, has operated under the flags of Panama, Liberia, Marshall Islands, the Republic of Korea and Sierra Leone, with numerous different owners/operators, and has had home ports of Majuro, Freetown and Cheju, but its IMO number has remained unchanged throughout.[6][7][8]

The original resolution applied to cargo vessels (meaning "ships which are not passenger ships"[9]) at least 300 gt and passenger vessels of at least 100 gt.[1]

This resolution was revoked in 2013, being replaced by Resolution A.1078(28), which allowed application of the Scheme to ships of 100 gt and above, including fishing vessels. That in turn was revoked in 2017 and replaced by Resolution A.1117(30), which allows its application to ships of 100 gt and above, "including fishing vessels of steel and non-steel hull construction; passenger ships of less than 100 gt, high-speed passenger craft and mobile offshore drilling units [...]; and all motorized inboard fishing vessels of less than 100 gt down to a size limit of 12 metres in length overall (LOA), authorized to operate outside waters under the national jurisdiction of the flag State". IMO resolutions are "for implementation on a voluntary basis".[10][11]

Although not mandatory under SOLAS, since IMO ship numbers became available also to fishing vessels in 2013, some regional fisheries management organisations, the European Union and other organizations or states have made them mandatory for fishing vessels above a certain size.[12]

SOLAS regulation (1994)

SOLAS regulation XI-1/3 was adopted in 1994 and came into force on 1 January 1996, making IMO ship numbers mandatory for those countries that have ratified (or acceded to, accepted, approved, adopted, etc.[13]) SOLAS.[14]

The IMO scheme and hence SOLAS regulation does not apply to:[1]

"IMO 9319466" on the helideck of M/S Finnmaid

Security enhancements 2002

In December 2002, the Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security adopted a number of measures aimed at enhancing security of ships and port facilities. This included a modification to SOLAS Regulation XI-1/3 to require the IMO ship numbers to be permanently marked in a visible place either on the ship's hull or superstructure as well as internally and on the ship's certificates. Passenger ships should also carry the marking on a horizontal surface visible from the air.[1] The enhanced regulations came into effect on 1 July 2004.

Company and Registered Owner Regulation 2005

In May 2005, IMO adopted a new SOLAS regulation XI-1/3-1 on the mandatory company and registered owner identification number scheme, with entry into force on 1 January 2009.[15]

The regulation provides that every ship owner and management company shall have a unique identification number. Other amendments require these numbers to be added to the relevant certificates and documents in the International Safety Management Code (ISM) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).[1] Like the IMO ship identification number, the company identification number is a seven-digit number with the prefix IMO. For example, for the ship Atlantic Star (IMO 8024026), IMO 5304986 referred to the former ship manager Pullmantur Cruises Ship Management Ltd and IMO 5364264 to her former owner, Pullmantur Cruises Empress Ltd.[16]

Assignment

S&P Global is the manager of the scheme and, as such, identifies and assigns IMO numbers without charge.[1] The organization was previously known as Lloyd's Register-Fairplay, IHS Fairplay and IHS Maritime.

For new vessels, the IMO ship number is assigned to a hull during construction, generally upon keel laying. Many vessels which fall outside the mandatory requirements of SOLAS have numbers allocated by Lloyd's Register or IHS Markit in the same numerical series, including fishing vessels[17] and commercial yachts.[18]

Structure

An IMO number is made of the three letters "IMO" followed by a seven-digit number. This consists of a six-digit sequential unique number followed by a check digit. The integrity of an IMO number can be verified using its check digit. This is done by multiplying each of the first six digits by a factor of 2 to 7 corresponding to their position from right to left. The rightmost digit of this sum is the check digit. For example, for IMO 9074729: (9×7) + (0×6) + (7×5) + (4×4) + (7×3) + (2×2) = 139.[19][20]

See also

References
  1. "IMO identification number scheme". International Maritime Organization. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  2. "Implementation of resolution A.1078(28) - IMO ship identification number scheme" (PDF). Letter to All IMO Member States. International Maritime Organization. 8 August 2016. Circular Letter No.1886/Rev.6.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "The Merchant Shipping (Official Log Books) Regulations 1981". UK Statutory Instruments. The National Archives on behalf of HM Government. 1 May 1981. Retrieved 21 May 2022. ENTRIES REQUIRED TO BE MADE IN THE OFFICIAL LOG BOOKS KEPT IN SHIPS REGISTERED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM [...] The name of the ship, its port of registry, official number and gross or register tonnage.
  4. "Resolution A.600(15): IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme". Resolutions and Other Decisions (Resolutions 596 – 635): Assembly, Fifteenth Session, 9–20 November 1987. International Maritime Organization. 1988. pp. 17–20. ISBN 92-801-1234-1.
  5. "Infosheet No. 45: Lloyd's Register/International Maritime Organisation Numbers" (PDF). Lloyd's Register. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  6. "Ship Particulars / IMO 9176187". GISIS: Ship and Company Particulars. IMO. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  7. "IMO 9176187". Baltic Shipping. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  8. "IMO 9176187". www.shipspotting.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  9. "Amendments to SOLAS Conventions" (PDF). Class NK. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  10. "Resolution a.600(15) - IMO Ship Identification Number Scheme" (PDF). International Maritime Organization. 4 January 1988. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  11. "RESOLUTION A.1117(30) - IMO SHIP IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SCHEME" (PDF). International Maritime Organization. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  12. "The IMO Number Explained" (PDF). The Pew Charitable Trusts. May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  13. "United Nations Treaty Collection: Glossary". treaties.un.org. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  14. "INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA 2004" (PDF). Arctic Portal. Retrieved 21 May 2022. Every ship shall be provided with an identification number which conforms to the IMO ship identification number scheme adopted by the Organization.
  15. "IMO International Convention Calendar". Class NK. 25 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  16. "Atlantic Star (8024026)". Equasis. French Ministry for Transport. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  17. "Unique Vessel Identifier (UVI) - Global Record". Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  18. "Setting Industry Standards". IHS Fairplay. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  19. Vuori, Teppo (21 August 2013). "How to compute check characters for Coden and IMO Number". Teppovuori.fi. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  20. "Error messages table". LRIT DB User Manual. European Maritime Safety Agency. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
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