IMO Course

Lesson 1 • IMO Organisational Structure

Maps the Assembly, Council, and five main committees and their roles. Students understand how decisions are made and implemented across member states.

Lesson 2 • Key IMO Conventions at a Glance

Surveys the major safety, pollution, and liability conventions that form the regulatory backbone. Prepares students for deeper study in subsequent chapters.

Lesson 3 • International Maritime Treaty Framework

Explains how IMO conventions are drafted, adopted, and ratified. Connects treaty mechanics to flag state, port state, and coastal state obligations.

Lesson 1 • Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements

Details requirements for lifeboats, life rafts, immersion suits, and distress signals. Students evaluate LSA compliance for various vessel categories.

Lesson 2 • Radio Communications and GMDSS

Explains the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System requirements under SOLAS Chapter IV. Students match sea area designations to required equipment fits.

Lesson 3 • SOLAS Structure and Applicability

Breaks down SOLAS chapters by subject and identifies which vessel types and voyages each covers. Establishes the scope before diving into technical requirements.

Lesson 4 • Fire Safety Systems and Procedures

Examines fire detection, suppression, and structural fire protection requirements. Connects fire safety systems to onboard emergency response planning.

Lesson 1 • Oil Pollution Prevention: Annex I

Covers oil discharge standards, oily water separator requirements, and oil record book obligations. Students apply Annex I rules to tanker and non-tanker operations.

Lesson 2 • Noxious Liquid Substances: Annex II

Explains the categorisation of noxious liquid substances and prewash requirements. Students distinguish category X, Y, and Z substances and their handling rules.

Lesson 3 • Air Emissions and Energy Efficiency: Annex VI

Addresses sulphur oxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate emission limits and the energy efficiency framework. Students calculate EEDI and EEXI compliance pathways.

Lesson 4 • Garbage, Sewage, and Harmful Substances

Covers Annexes III, IV, and V governing packaged harmful substances, sewage, and garbage. Students draft compliant garbage management plans and record entries.

Lesson 1 • Special Training and Endorsements

Addresses advanced firefighting, medical care, tanker, and passenger ship endorsements. Students determine which endorsements apply to specific vessel types and trades.

Lesson 2 • Watchkeeping Standards and Hours of Rest

Explains STCW watchkeeping principles and mandatory rest hour requirements. Students identify violations and apply corrective scheduling measures.

Lesson 3 • Officer Certification Requirements

Details certification pathways for deck and engine officers at operational and management levels. Students map career progression against STCW certificate requirements.

Lesson 4 • STCW Convention and Code Structure

Distinguishes the mandatory and recommendatory parts of the STCW Code and their legal weight. Students navigate the convention to locate specific competency requirements.

Lesson 1 • Port State Control Regimes and MoUs

Maps the regional Memoranda of Understanding that coordinate PSC inspections globally. Students identify which MoU governs a given port and its targeting criteria.

Lesson 2 • Conducting a PSC Inspection

Walks through the initial inspection, more detailed inspection triggers, and expanded inspection criteria. Students practise identifying deficiencies using standard checklists.

Lesson 3 • IMO Member State Audit Scheme

Introduces the mandatory IMO audit scheme that assesses member state implementation of conventions. Students interpret audit findings and corrective action frameworks.

Lesson 4 • Flag State Responsibilities and Surveys

Covers flag state survey obligations, statutory certificate issuance, and recognised organisation oversight. Students distinguish flag state duties from those delegated to classification societies.

Lesson 1 • Non-Conformity and Accident Reporting

Covers the ISM requirements for reporting, investigating, and analysing non-conformities and accidents. Students practise root cause analysis and corrective action writing.

Lesson 2 • ISM Code Requirements and Structure

Explains the twelve elements of the ISM Code and the dual-document certification system. Students map each element to specific company and shipboard obligations.

Lesson 3 • Safety Management System Development

Guides students through drafting an SMS including policies, procedures, and emergency plans. Connects SMS documentation to operational risk control.

Lesson 4 • Internal Auditing and Continuous Improvement

Trains students to plan and conduct ISM internal audits and management reviews. Connects audit findings to SMS improvement cycles.

Lesson 1 • Ship Security Officer Duties

Details the responsibilities of the Ship Security Officer in implementing and maintaining the SSP. Students practise SSO decision-making in scenario-based exercises.

Lesson 2 • Maritime Security Threats and Countermeasures

Examines piracy, armed robbery, stowaways, and cyber threats as contemporary security challenges. Students select countermeasures appropriate to threat type and operating area.

Lesson 3 • ISPS Code Framework and Security Levels

Introduces the ISPS Code structure, its mandatory Part A, and the three security levels. Students identify triggers for level changes and required responses.

Lesson 4 • Ship Security Assessment and Planning

Guides students through conducting a ship security assessment and drafting a ship security plan. Connects threat identification to protective measure selection.

Lesson 1 • Market-Based Measures and Economic Instruments

Examines proposed IMO market-based measures including carbon levies and fuel standards. Students analyse how economic instruments incentivise emission reductions.

Lesson 2 • Regulatory Horizon Scanning and Compliance Planning

Trains students to monitor the IMO regulatory pipeline and build proactive compliance strategies. Integrates decarbonisation planning with fleet management decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Alternative Fuels and Propulsion Technologies

Surveys low- and zero-carbon fuels and the regulatory frameworks governing their use. Students assess fuel options against safety, availability, and emission reduction criteria.

Lesson 4 • Carbon Intensity and Operational Measures

Covers the Carbon Intensity Indicator rating system and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan requirements. Students calculate CII ratings and draft improvement actions.