About IMO and World Maritime Day Parallel Event
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating shipping on a global scale. Established in 1948 and headquartered in London, the IMO's primary mission is to ensure safe, secure, and environmentally sound international shipping.
The organization develops and maintains a comprehensive regulatory framework covering maritime safety, environmental protection, legal matters, technical cooperation, and maritime security. Its conventions—such as SOLAS, MARPOL, and STCW—are the cornerstone of international maritime law and are adopted and implemented by over 170 Member States.
Through cooperation, standard-setting, and capacity-building, the IMO plays a critical role in supporting sustainable shipping and protecting the global ocean for future generations.
The World Maritime Day Parallel Event is one of the most prestigious gatherings in the global maritime calendar, organized in collaboration with the IMO. Each year, a host country is selected to convene international stakeholders under a unifying theme that reflects the challenges and aspirations of the global maritime community.
The World Maritime Day Parallel Event was celebrated for the first time in Lisbon, Portugal in 2005, and is hosted in a different country each year.